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Can You Really Whiten Teeth with Charcoal?

Posted on by writeradmin.

My sister-in-law has been whitening her teeth using charcoal. She swears by it. I haven’t seen a ton of difference in her teeth, but I think there has been some. I have a couple of questions, though. One, does this actually work? Two, if so, is it safe?

Mandy L.

Dear Mandy,

An image of charcoal

Is Charcoal Safe for Teeth Whitening?

There are always fads in things like teeth whitening and wrinkle cream. This particular fad is because of a group of YouTubers. I worry about the impact this is having and how many people will end up ruining their teeth because of it. It’s important to ALWAYS consult your dentist before trying anything on your teeth. You obviously know to do that because you wrote the blog.

The first thing you should know is charcoal whitening is referring to activated charcoal and not the kind you use to grill your favorite burger. So, I wouldn’t run down to home depot to stock up thinking you’ll get a bright, white smile.

Here are some good things about activated charcoal:

  • It’s non-toxic, so ingesting it is perfectly safe. Some people swear by it as a detox agent.
  • It’s absorbent. This is one of the reasons people use it for detox. It also may be why it sometimes works for whitening. Certain stains can be soaked up.

Here is why you DON’T want to use charcoal for your teeth.

Everything has an abrasiveness rating. Charcoal is more abrasive than toothpaste. It’s so abrasive that it can scratch your enamel. That will lead to your teeth picking up more stains, which is counterproductive.

Safe and Effective Options to Whiten Your Teeth

If you want to do something without a dentist, those over-the-counter teeth whitening strips, such as Crest, actually do work. There are some downsides.

1. They’re not as strong as professional teeth whitening, so you have to use quite a few boxes to get the effects you can get with a dentist. With the number of boxes you’d have to purchase to get your teeth really white, you’re likely going to end up spending more money instead of saving money.

2. It only covers a few teeth (I think about six). Most people have a much wider smile than six teeth.

If you want to whiten all of your teeth at the same time with professional strength teeth whitening gel, you can do teeth whitening through your dentist. It’s still possible to do it in the privacy of your own home during a time which is convenient for you. Just tell him you want whitening trays for at-home whitening.

Finally, you can have all your teeth as white as they can possibly get in just one appointment with Zoom Whitening. This is done in-office, but usually only takes about an hour. Most offices use Zoom Whitening for this procedure, but there are other brands as well.

If You Want to do More than Whitening

If there are other things you’d love to change about your smile, porcelain veneers can give you a total smile makeover. With a skilled cosmetic dentist, they can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth all in one swoop.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Is it Normal to Need a Root Canal Because of Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I had porcelain veneers placed. I really love them. The change they’ve made to my smile makes me feel beautiful. The only problem I’ve run into is tooth sensitivity, especially cold substances. My dentist said this can happen and I’ll need a root canal treatment. Shouldn’t he have warned me this was a possibility? I’m terrified of the idea of a root canal. Is it absolutely necessary, or ore there other options to explore first?

Corrine – Maryland

Corrine,

The need for a root canal treatment is actually very rare with porcelain veneers. Your teeth are made up of layers. Those layers protect the nerves in your teeth. Exposed or bothered nerves cause the sensitivity. If someone has thin enamel or larger than normal pores, that can lead to sensitivity. Porcelain veneers usually help with that because even though there might be some minor shaving for tooth preparation, the veneer itself adds extra protection.

The nerves respond to their environment. If nothing is going on around it, it will generally stay pretty happy. Initially, when you had your veneers placed, your nerves could have popped their heads up wondering what was going on, but that should have settled down fairly quickly. If several weeks have gone by and it’s still acting up, some investigating needs to be done— before you get a root canal treatment. The cause of the sensitivity needs to be nailed down.

I can think of two things right off the bat which should be looked into.
1. The bond between the veneers and your teeth could be damaged allowing things to get between the teeth.

2. Your bite could be off. If your bite has never been off before, improperly placed veneers can throw it off. If your bite is off, the teeth can be continually bumping up against one another angering the nerve. If it’s from the veneers, some adjustments can be made to repair that.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Can Children Have White Fillings?

Posted on by writeradmin.

My pediatric dentist says that children cannot have white fillings. I’m not too keen on putting the silver fillings in their mouth. I heard they’re made mostly of mercury. He says they’re perfectly safe and are made mostly of silver, but I just don’t have a good feeling about it. Is it true that children can’t have the white fillings?

Sasha M. – Wisconsin

Sasha,

Your pediatric dentist is being a little misleading. While amalgam fillings are often called silver fillings, that decision was made for marketing purposes. There is silver in the fillings, but the largest ingredient is mercury.

The American Dental Society has declared amalgam fillings are perfectly safe. There have been numerous studies to back them up. However, that doesn’t’ make many patients feel any better about putting a toxin in their bodies. Mercury free dentists understand that and provide composite (white) fillings for their patients.

As far as white fillings for children, it is possible, but it isn’t easy. They have to stay perfectly still during the procedure to ensure no moisture gets on the filling. That is difficult for most children. Only you’ll know if your child can handle that. If so, call around to pediatric dentists and ask if they do white fillings. You’re bound to find one. If you don’t, try a general dentist who enjoys treating children. If your child would have trouble sitting still, but you’re still determined to do white fillings, try a mercury free dentist who also does sedation dentistry.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

How Can I Avoid Nuclear Teeth if I Get Them Whitened?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I’ve been considering whitening my teeth. They’re showing their age. Plus, I drink a lot of coffee. The only thing holding me back is an episode of the TV show “Friends” where one of the characters has his teeth whitened so much they practically glow in the dark. Is there a way to avoid nuclear teeth if I do decide to get them whitened?

Sam Q. – Nevada

Sam,

A lot of it depends on what type of whitening you do. Zoom Whitening, an in-office procedure, whitens your teeth as much as they can be whitened. At first, they seem super, super white, but the color generally calms down after a week.

However, if you want total control over the level of whitening, then you may consider take-home whitening. It will whiten in increments. You wear it a certain amount of time every day, then when you reach the level of whitening you desire, you’re done. It’s that simple. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on how stained your teeth are.

Most dentists will want to do an examination first, to make sure you’re a good candidate for teeth whitening. If you have any fillings, they’ll check those and make sure they’re healthy, etc.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Is Jaw Pain Diet Related?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I have pretty severe jaw pain, especially in the mornings. My sister said it’s my diet and I need to eat only whole foods. I switched to a whole foods diet. I’ve been on it a few weeks and haven’t had any relief. Do I need to give it more time? I can’t decide if this is diet related or dental related?

Carla T. – Georgia

Carla,

There are some conditions that are thought to be diet related and while, if you eat something that aggravated your jaw it can cause pain, diet will not cause the type of pain you’re describing.

Because it’s stronger in the morning, and I suspect you probably get morning headaches as well. I’d look into night grinding and TMJ.

See a dentist who’s received significant training in TMJ diagnosis and treatment. It’s not a recognized specialty, so a general dentist will have to put forth specific effort to receive the training. Don’t be shy about asking them where they studied TMJ. We’re not talking about where they studied in dental school. This needs to be post-graduate training. For instance, Dr. Delaune, studied at the Dawson Academy.

If it turns out that you’re grinding your teeth at night, that would explain your jaw pain. A simple night guard should solve the problem.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

One of my Lumineers Keeps Changing Colors

Posted on by writeradmin.

I don’t understand what’s going on with one of my Lumineers. All the rest of them are fine. This one keeps turning bluish. My dentist says it’s fine and I’m imagining it, but I know I’m not. Even my husband agrees. What do I do?

Elaine E. – Denver, CO

Elaine,

Bear in mind that I haven’t examined your Lumineers, but based on what you’ve described, I think it’s possible the Lumineer you’re having trouble with didn’t get completely bonded. They’re very thin, so if the bond is broken, things will get between the Lumineers and the teeth. That will give it the bluish tint you’re describing.

If your dentist isn’t being cooperative, get a second opinion from another dentist. Some dentists give free second opinions. Having another dentist verify your claim will give you grounds to have your dentist re-do that Lumineer.

Give your dentist a chance to make it right. If he doesn’t, then maybe the other dentist will put some pressure on him. Dentists, like most professionals, care about what their peers think.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Is It Possible to Replace My Metal Crowns with Porcelain Veneers?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I see these gorgeous pictures of porcelain veneers, then look in the mirror at my horrible ugly crowns and get discouraged. Is there a way I could replace my crowns with veneers? They’re cloudy looking to me. Now they’ve developed some kind of weird line at the gumline. I don’t want to be ashamed every time I smile.

Sandy M. – Little Rock, AR

Sandy,

I have bad news and good news. I always start with the bad news so we end on a hopeful note. It is impossible to replace crowns with porcelain veneers. When you had your crowns placed, your dentist had to grind down a good deal of your tooth structure to make room for the crowns. Porcelain veneers need to be bonded to intact teeth. With that tooth structure gone, there’s nothing for the veneers to bond to.

However, that doesn’t mean you are stuck with an unattractive smile. A good cosmetic dentist can give you a stunning smile using all-porcelain crowns. Based on what you described, you have metal-based crowns. They’re the ones that develop a gray line at the gumline. It also explains the cloudy look you mentioned. The crown is made more opaque to cover the metal.

All-porcelain crowns solve all of those problems. They can be as translucent as natural teeth. Combine that with the artistry of a great cosmetic dentist and you have a recipe for a smile you’ll be proud to show.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Can I Go to an Office Once for Free Zoom Whitening?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I love my dentist. I’m not wanting to switch offices. However, I’ve wanted Zoom Whitening for a while. It’s out of my price range. While driving back from the grocery store, I noticed an advertisement for a dentist offering free Zoom Whitening to new patients. Is it okay to just go for the one appointment and then switch back to my dentist?

Chloe S. – Atlanta

Chloe,

My first thought is the dentist is probably not offering Zoom Whitening, but professional take-home whitening.  However, I’m not certain. With Zoom, you do one appointment, with a few quick sessions under a light and you’re done. With the take-home trays, you’ll wear the trays a little while each day for a few weeks.

With either procedure, the dentist will require and exam and x-rays.  If you have insurance that covers that, it likely only covers that so many times a year, so call the office and find out exactly what they will require for you to get the whitening special. Then check with your insurance to see what will be covered and what won’t. Otherwise, the free teeth whitening could cost you several hundred dollars.

As for the ethics of going to the dentist for one appointment only, that’s something you’ll have to decide in your conscience. It’s obviously not why the dentist is offering the special. He may be a new dentist just starting up his practice and trying to draw in patients.

Your best bet may be to speak with your current dentist and see if he’ll let you do a Zoom procedure with payment plans. I’m sure he’d be willing to work with you.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

How Do I Whiten My Teeth Without Glow in the Dark Teeth?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I’m considering getting my teeth whitened. I had a friend do it and it seemed like she came out of the office with glow in the dark teeth. Is it possible to get white teeth without being visible from outer space?

James – Missouri

James,

Your friend likely had Zoom Whitening. When you first complete the treatment, which is done in one appointment, in-office, the results are startlingly white.  However, it does calm down after a week. They’re still very white, but won’t be “glow-in-the-dark”.

If you’re still concerned, maybe you want white teeth, but not your whitest teeth, than instead of doing Zoom, you could do professional take-home teeth whitening.

Your dentist will custom design whitening trays for your bite. You’ll wear them a minimum of 20 minutes a day, though many people prefer to just sleep in them.  You can decide on the level of whitening you want. When you reach it, simply stop wearing the aligners. You’re in complete control.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.

Can I Substitute My Teeth Whitening Trays for My Retainer?

Posted on by writeradmin.

I lost my retainer. It’s almost Christmas time, so of course I have no money left whatsoever. I have my old teeth whitening trays. Can I use those as my retainer until after Christmas?

Ben – Kansas

Ben,

Unfortunately, your teeth whitening trays are not a good substitute for your retainer. The whitening trays are soft and flexible, specifically designed not just to cover your teeth, but to be comfortable as well.

Your retainer, on the other hand, is made of solid, stiff material designed to keep your teeth locked into place. Your teeth will start shifting without it.  Depending on how long you’ve been wearing your retainer, they may not shift far. But, they will shift.

If I were in your place, I’d call your dentist and let him know what happened. They can likely work with you on payment for a new retainer.

Hopefully you’ll find it soon. If not, call your dentist.

I hope you have a great Christmas.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Duane Delaune.