You’ve probably already tried one of the grandma’s recipes found on the Internet or advised by a relative to have beautiful white teeth or relieve toothaches. The truth is that these remedies do not work most of the time. Some of them can even be very dangerous for your oral hygiene. We’ve found three grandma tricks that you should avoid:

Baking Soda and Charcoal Toothpaste

You’ve probably heard that baking soda and charcoal are effective tooth whitening remedies. This is because baking soda and charcoal contain abrasive materials. Thus, they quickly remove ugly stains on teeth.

However, according to scientific analysis, their miracle properties are not without risk. It turns out that baking soda and charcoal powder quickly damage the teeth. Apart from abrasive materials, these solutions also contain acidic particles that, in large quantities, make your teeth porous and brittle.

Moreover, they do not only act on the teeth but also attack the enamel. This mucous membrane being more fragile, the teeth are likely to dry out and even fall out. This enamel does not grow back. So, they quickly remove the ugly stains on your teeth.

Also, if you have halitosis, you should know that bicarbonate and charcoal do not remove bad breath as claimed. On the contrary, they facilitate the decomposition of bacteria responsible for this phenomenon.

Homemade Toothpaste

These kinds of toothpaste are mainly composed of natural products. This means that the risk of intoxication is low. However, the risk of getting cavities is more considerable with this type of toothpaste. It is essential to understand that homemade toothpaste does not contain fluoride, the fundamental element in protecting teeth. Therefore, they nourish your teeth but do not protect them from microorganisms.

That’s why dentists always advise brushing with industrial toothpaste. Industrial toothpaste contains antiseptic agents that can protect the gums from the adverse effects of acid. In addition, bacteria will have a hard time acting on your teeth because 90% of industrial toothpaste has an anti-bacterial action. So, by protecting your teeth from bacterial attack, this type of toothpaste helps keep them firm.

Finally, industrial toothpaste can whiten your teeth as much as homemade toothpaste. They contain a surfactant that allows you to remove tartar from your teeth easily. Although the results are not spontaneous, gum abrasion is unlikely with industrial toothpaste.

Prosecco

If a family member tries to extol the benefits of wine, especially prosecco, on your teeth at a dinner party, stop them. Like bicarbonate, wine whitens teeth but not correctly.

The cocktail of residual sugars-acidity-alcohol in prosecco has a destructive rather than restorative effect on teeth and enamel. More concretely, it removes the essential elements of our teeth, such as fluorine, in addition to the dental plaque. As a result, it leaves your teeth defenseless, and they will be more vulnerable to bacterial attacks.

Nothing Better Than the Recommendations of Your Dentist

Dental hygiene is a delicate subject to be treated with simple grandmotherly remedies. Consulting a dentist remains the only solution to prevent and cure dental problems. On the other hand, it is strongly advised against changing dentists, as the recommendations may differ depending on the consultation.