Charcoal Teeth Whitening: Does It Really Work

Charcoal teeth whitening powder is what many people claim to be the secret to a Hollywood smile.

Everyone wants to look good and flashing a beautiful smile is a true head turner. However, discoloured teeth can cause severe embarrassment, at times compelling people to cover their mouth to hide their teeth when smiling. This can have a detrimental effect on the self-confidence of a person and needs serious attention.

Why Teeth Get Discoloured 

There are many causes of discolouration and it is different for each individual.  Some people have naturally yellow dentition and there is nothing much which can be done in such cases. The tooth consists of a layer of dentin which is covered by another layer of enamel which forms the outermost part of the tooth. Translucent and thin enamel is what gives teeth a yellowish appearance, because the dentin is yellow. This is what causes naturally yellow teeth.

There are however, many other causes of discoloured teeth. Beverages such as tea and coffee, over a period of time, impart colour to the teeth and stain them, as does smoking. When combined with poor hygiene, this can lead to accumulation of plaque and tartar which can worsen the damage.

As teeth begin to age, the enamel starts to wear down and further accentuates the yellowish tinge on the teeth.

Treating Discoloured Teeth 

The first step in treatment of yellow dentition is to identify the cause. Usually improving dietary habits and proper maintenance of dental hygiene is good enough to stop the progress of yellowing.

If this doesn’t solve the problem, the next recourse is to use other methods to whiten teeth. One of the popular options is to whiten teeth professionally at a clinic. While this option is effective, it can be expensive costing between $600 to $1000.

Another solution is to use over-the-counter teeth whitening products. There is a broad range of products such as teeth whitening trays, kits dispensed by dentists and teeth whitening toothpastes. These products are a lot more affordable than professional teeth whitening and save you from taking time off work to visit a clinic.

Most teeth whitening products contain a bleaching agent such as carbamide peroxide which breaks down into urea and hydrogen peroxide, which is the active bleaching agent. A teeth whitening product containing 10% carbamide peroxide, yields around 3.5% hydrogen peroxide which has been known to cause side effects such as tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. In addition poorly fitting trays can also cause tissue irritation.

Charcoal Teeth Whitening – A Safe and Effective Teeth Whitening Option 

Although it appears counterintuitive, rubbing black powder over discoloured teeth can take stains away instead of worsening their. People are quite surprised how rubbing powdered activated charcoal over teeth can leave them whiter.

The charcoal used in the teeth whitening powder isn’t ordinary charcoal, activated charcoal which is formed after the expansion of the surface area of charcoal by a combination of heat and gas treatment. This changes the composition of the charcoal into activated charcoal.

Activated charcoal has antioxidant properties which pull toxins from the tooth’s surface and mouth. It also binds with toxins which are eventually removed from the mouth by rinsing. While your mouth will look black and feel a bit dirty when you use activated charcoal, one you rinse with water it will leave your teeth feeling clean and your mouth feeling fresh. Regular brushing with activated charcoal can make teeth appear up to 3 shades lighter.

Aside from whitening teeth, brushing with activated charcoal changes the pH of your mouth and gets rid of bacteria and germs which cause disease. Since bacteria and germs are unable to thrive and reproduce in the mouth, the mouth is cleaner and safer. This helps in protecting the mouth from infections which can be caused by harmful organisms and bacteria.

Using the Right Brushing Technique 

Brushing your teeth with activated charcoal may appear like brushing with a black coloured toothpaste. If you watch a few YouTube videos you’ll get some idea of what this looks like.

To begin with, get a good quality charcoal teeth whitening powder which has been specially formulated for brushing teeth. You will also need a separate toothbrush. Mix the charcoal teeth whitening powder with water until it forms an even paste. Brush gently using the paste for two to three minutes.

Carefully spit out the paste, taking care not to spill anything over your clothes or all around the bathroom. Rinse your mouth with water until it is fully clean and there is no charcoal teeth whitening powder in your mouth.

Although the process can be a little messy, depending on the type and extent of discolouration, visible results will be seen in a few weeks of consistent brushing. If at all you have any concerns, consult your dentist who will be able to advise you whether brushing with activated charcoal is the right solution for getting rid of stained and yellowing teeth.

Charcoal for brushing has been used for centuries for combating toxins. Romans used, ground charcoal as an ingredient in making toothpaste. While the purpose was not specifically for teeth whitening, this goes to show that the use of charcoal for oral hygiene has been around for a long time and there will always be new uses for it in the future.

Author Bio: Aiza Tordil is a beauty and health blogger from Love Thyself offering helpful advice on beauty tips and healthy living which she practices to keep looking healthy and attractive. She is passionate about sustainable living and always up on the hottest natural and organic skincare trends. Ultimately, she hopes to tell stories that strike a chord with people and provide them the importance of using only natural and organic products.

2 COMMENTS

  1. That’s great article! yellow teeth are now a days one of the biggest headache for all beauty seekers.The biggest cause what i think is people’s undisciplined way of eating. and eating to much garbage like cold drinks, wine,excessive tea, coffee,.I think these things play important role in teeth discoloration. I personally never found these” kya apke toothpaste me charcoal hai” type toothpaste very useful because i still use wahi desi formula( “haldi +alum+ namak +mustard oil” -) (plz dont laugh). But if science has proved it..may be it can happen!
    what do you say??

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