There has been a recent trend on social media of people whitening their teeth using activated charcoal. If you have ever wondered if you can really whiten your teeth this way, what the process might entail, or whether or not it really works, then you have come to the right place.
Activated charcoal is very similar to the regular charcoal you can fire up your braai with, however it is specifically used for medical applications. It’s created by heating up charcoal using a gas that creates large pores in the mineral which trap chemicals. Activated charcoal is more traditionally used to treat intestinal gas, cholestasis during pregnancy, and lower cholesterol levels. It is odourless, tasteless, and can be purchased from health food stores and pharmacies in the form of tablets.
How does it work?
The activated charcoal’s pores bind with rough parts on teeth, usually surface stains and plaque, making it easier to remove the yellowing substances. Once the charcoal has been given enough time to stick to your teeth, it can be removed and when it is, the mineral takes the plaque, food particles, and surface stains with it. This is how the activated charcoal succeeds in whitening teeth, by getting rid of surface stains in one fell swoop. However, because it latches onto grittiness found on the teeth, activated charcoal does not change the colour of teeth that are deeply stained or naturally yellowing. For this, more drastic whitening measures need to be taken such as professional in-chair teeth whitening.
In the true style of Dr. Corne Smith keeping up with all the innovations for the best oral care possible, visit Corne Smith Dentistry in Cape Town Claremont and check this out!
“Black is White,” is an all new black toothpaste manufactured by the Swiss company, Curaprox. The toothpaste contains activated charcoal, a natural whitening agent, which is also less abrasive and the activated carbon which makes the toothpaste pitch black, keeps your teeth pearly white.
