We are committed to continuously improving access to our goods and services by individuals with disabilities. This website is currently being updated to enhance the usability and experience for persons with disabilities. If you are unable to use any aspect of this website because of a disability, please call 603.890.4004 for Salem or 978.358.8576 for Newburyport and we will provide you with prompt personalized assistance.

Artisan Dentistry's Blog

Activated Charcoal: Safe or Scary?

Aug 15th, 2017

You’ve probably seen this new dental trend on your social media feeds: beauty influencers sporting pitch black smiles and swearing the result is cleaner, whiter teeth. The product? Activated charcoal powders, applied and brushed onto teeth in lieu of toothpaste. No one can deny its popularity, but is this craze hot, or hazardous?

Activated charcoal has long been used medicinally thanks to its absorbency. In fact, hospitals usually have the black stuff on hand to soak up poisonous substances a patient may have accidentally ingested. The idea behind using charcoal in your mouth is similar; if it can absorb poison, surely it can absorb stains and bacteria from teeth, right? Not necessarily. The mixture is so gritty, it can actually erode enamel, leading to a greater risk of tooth decay and cavities.

In addition to being uncomfortable and hazardous, the erosion of enamel can have another side effect: darker colored teeth! Your enamel is the part of the tooth that’s actually white, so the more you wear it away, the dingier your teeth will be.

Rather than risk permanent damage to your teeth for counterproductive results, contact your dentist today for information about safe whitening treatments. Your mouth will thank you!

Warranty

Our 5 Year Warranty

Anyone can train to be a technician, but few have the talent to become an artist. That’s why Dr. Mathew is able to guarantee his cosmetic dentistry work for a full 5 years. If anything goes wrong with the work, Dr. Mathew will fix it free of charge, as long as you continue with your regular 6 month preventative care cleaning and check up for the duration of the warranty.

Treatment Room

Individualized
Treatment Rooms

Our individualized treatment rooms and operatories provide patients with maximum privacy and comfort. The treatment rooms were built specifically with your comfort in mind.

Schedule Appointment (Paginated)

  • Fill out the form below.
Choose Location

Salem, MA

Call Now

Newburyport, MA

Call Now

Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

X

Here at Paul Mathew, D.D.S. we work diligently to protect our patients' privacy. Requesting an appointment via our Internet portal is considered part of what the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) has identified as electronically protected healthcare information or ePHI. Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, there are people or entities that may attempt to intercept the data you transmit to us. By checking the "I agree" box, and electronically making an appointment request, you acknowledge that you are making an appointment over the internet and that Paul Mathew, D.D.S. will keep this information confidential but cannot guarantee that others, outside of our practice, may illegally intercept this communication. By accepting these terms and conditions and sending this request via our Internet portal, you accept the inherent risk(s) associated with making this request for an appointment. If you do not accept the terms and conditions, you are always welcome to contact our office via telephone to schedule your appointment.

X

The information presented here is not intended or implied to be medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. It should be used for informational purposes only.