Month: July 2020

Having acne can be a painful and discomforting ordeal. While there are plenty of probable reasons for having acne, the main culprit behind the break out might be your toothpaste. As weird as it sounds, toothpaste can be harsher on your skin than you know. But can toothpaste cause pimples?

The age old remedy of using toothpaste to get rid of a zit turns out to be just a myth. In reality, it can act as a trigger for pimples and cause irritation to the skin.

WHAT CAUSES PIMPLES?

The main reason people have pimples is because of exposure of the skin to damaging chemicals. One such harmful chemical is an ingredient of toothpaste. Sodium lauryl sulfate, which helps the toothpaste in foaming can have some side effects like acne. SLS is a surfactant whose job is to trap and remove any harmful product deposited in your mouth. This is a detergent which will eventually lead your skin to become dry and irritable. SLs based toothpaste may significantly help in removing the plaque deposited on your teeth but might also be the trigger for all the painful acne and mouth sores.

To curb the dryness caused by this sulfate detergent, the skin produces more oil which leads to the development of acne. While SLS can be really effective in cleaning the teeth, it can also be the cause behind the inflammation of the skin around your mouth. Many brands have now realized the need to use natural and harmless ingredients in their products.

HOW TO AVOID THIS?

The reason most people get acne around their mouth is that they cleanse their face before brushing. To make sure that your skin isn’t brought into contact with the damaging ingredients of toothpaste, wash your face immediately after brushing your teeth. This prevents the area around your mouth from getting exposed to the harmful chemicals and thus avoiding any potential damage.

The most significant way to avoid acne caused by toothpaste is by being cautious of what you purchase. Many brands have shifted to better and safer alternatives that are not free of any sulfate product. Choosing toothpaste that is free of such chemicals can help your skin be clear and free of irritation. So before you pick out a brand of toothpaste to buy, remember to check the label. Making a conscious choice in choosing the daily care products that you expose your skin to can lessen the number of pimples you have.

It is time you forget the home remedy of using toothpaste to get rid of the zits on your face. It can be counterproductive to use a potential trigger of acne to help you clear the existing ones. So the answer to the question “can toothpaste cause pimples” is a big yes. With safer alternatives available in the market, you do not have to be stuck with the acne around your mouth anymore.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

The benefits of using baking soda or sodium bicarbonate as a cleaning agent for your teeth go a long way past simply brightening the teeth. It also acts as an inexpensive remedy for various gum diseases and mouth sores. Given these significant advantages, why is brushing with baking soda harmful for your teeth?

What Is Baking Soda?

Baking soda finds its use in various household activities, from baking to deodorizing things. This mild bleaching agent also works wonders in getting rid of difficult stains. A lot of people use this to maintain their dental hygiene. The alkaline nature of the soda helps in removing stains and cavity-causing bacteria from your teeth. It also eliminates the plaque that gets gradually deposited on the teeth due to the breakdown of food.

Thus, baking soda is used in the preparation of many types of toothpaste. Since it is readily available at home, a lot of people use it in various combinations such as mixed with water, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar or coconut oil to get the best possible results.

Disadvantages Of Brushing With Baking Soda

Even though it has many benefits, baking soda might be doing more harm to your teeth than good. Excessive brushing with baking soda is harmful due to the following reasons:

• The abrasive nature of this compound will eventually degrade the protective outer covering of your teeth or the enamel. Since it cannot be repaired after damage, it is essential to avoid any such chemicals such as baking soda that may cause the degradation of this layer.
• It is devoid of fluoride which seeps into the weaker sections of the teeth and gets deposited there, preventing the formation of any cavity. It thus cannot protect you from cavities or tooth decay.
• Continual use of baking soda may even prove to be damaging for the soft gum part.
• Another disadvantage of using baking soda as an alternative for toothpaste is its unpleasant taste. The gritty texture of the compound can also be troublesome.
• Using baking soda more than twice a week for cleaning the teeth may even result in sensitivity and severe toothache.

Alternative:

You do not have to depend on abrasive chemicals to get brighter teeth. Thorough cleaning in between the teeth and regular flossing can go a long way with regards to keeping up dental wellbeing.

Everyone desires whiter teeth that complement their smile. Baking soda may help brighten your teeth, but its excessive use may lead to the erosion of the outer layer of the teeth. If the enamel gets degraded, it becomes easier for the harmful bacteria to deposit between the teeth and cause cavities or tooth decay.

Baking soda may produce excellent short term results, but using it too frequently or vigorously may cause irreversible damage to your oral health. It is thus advisable to use safer alternatives that are easy on your teeth.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.