There always seem to be something new in the health and beauty business. The newest trend to hit the market is the use of activated charcoal to cleanse skin, improve your health and whiten teeth. What exactly is activated charcoal? It’s simply a form of carbon that has been treated to make the surface of its particles porous. When the surface is porous, it acts as a magnet for other particles and washes it away when it’s in contact with water. It binds everything in its path. This kind of technique has long been used in ancient times. This type of charcoal sounds so good to be true, but not everyone is sold on this idea.
Will It Damage My Teeth?
That is a good question. A lot of people are concerned about the abrasiveness of charcoal. Some dentists who are not sold on using activated charcoal say that using it will damage the tooth enamel. Since it also absorbs everything, it may also get rid of the efficiency of medication if you are taking any. Experts also say that using it won’t provide any long-term benefits since it would only come in contact with your teeth for a few seconds up to a minute. It is said to be good to use for stain removal, but not for teeth whitening.
Fail or Holy Grail?
A lot of users usually get confused between the difference of “stain removal” and “teeth whitening”. Let’s set the record straight. Stain removal is the process of getting rid of extrinsic stains such as coffee, red wine, dark-colored food and tobacco stains. Teeth whitening, however, is a bit different. It is the process of whitening the surface of the teeth by using harsh bleaching treatments that will penetrate below the outer surface of the teeth. Using activated charcoal to remove stains is effective but you’ll never get your teeth to go a shade or two lighter by simply using this product. Nothing will equal an in-office whitening treatment if you want drastic results.
Product Recommendation
There are a lot of oral care products that are readily available in the market today. Here are some of the best ones out there.
- Lush Boom! Toothy Tabs – these cola-flavored tabs are great if you travel a lot. Just move it around with your brush like a regular toothpaste. The activated charcoal in this product will take away all types of stains to reveal cleaner looking teeth.
- Binchotan Charcoal Toothbrush – the bristles of this toothbrush are infused with activated charcoal to effectively remove the stain and reveal whiter teeth. Another good thing? It’s just $7!
- Rocky Mountain Essentials Tuxedo Natural Teeth Whitener for Sensitive Teeth – this tooth scrub is your best bet if you want an organic product that’s safe for everyday use. It’s said to have detoxifying ingredients that can help improve your oral health the more you use it.
- Curaprox Black is White Toothpaste and Brush – the lime-and-mint-flavored paste contains sparkling blue optic filters that help boost the activated charcoal’s whitening effects. Use together (brush and toothpaste) for more dramatic results.
