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Recently, there has been a lot of attention on the Internet about a new, home method of teeth whitening. It consists in replacing the traditional toothpaste with a paste based on water and powdered activated carbon. Many people are convinced to use this method due to its low cost, ease of daily use, and the fact that it is based on a natural ingredient. Nevertheless, brushing teeth with activated charcoal is also not free from controversy. How to use activated charcoal on teeth and is it sure it is an effective and safe way to have a nicer smile?
How does activated carbon work on teeth?
Active carbon it is a substance composed of carbon atoms in an amorphous state, that is, arranged in an irregular manner. Thanks to this active carbon it has a porous structure which translates into a very high surface area to weight ratio. If I were to “expand” the gram activated carbon on a flat surface, it could cover an area of up to 3300 m2, i.e. over 12 tennis courts! Thanks to this property active carbon it is widely used as a filter – it can be found, among others, in home water conditioners, gas masks or water filters in aquariums.
The principle of operation is similar activated carbon on the teeth. It is supposed to absorb the deposits left on the teeth by coffee, tea, cigarettes or red wine, which are responsible for unsightly discoloration. Unfortunately, this is where the effectiveness of this method ends – active carbon it cannot cope with tartar, nor does it penetrate the enamel, so it cannot change its color. Of course, we are talking about both whitening and coloring with the substance itself. Despite the black color active carbon leaves no discoloration after rinsing.
Try Bioherba’s 100% natural toothpaste containing activated carbon, green tea and coconut oil.
Also read: What causes tooth discoloration?
How to use activated charcoal to whiten teeth?
Some drugstores and pharmacies offer toothpaste with activated carbon. However, it is better to avoid these products. Many of them are not properly tested, and moreover, their price is usually many times higher than the cost of self-preparation pastes with active carbon.
Active carbon it is available at any pharmacy. The cost of one package is about PLN 4. It is sold on the market in the form of tablets and capsules. Tablets are a less convenient form activated carbonif you want to whiten your teeth with it, because you must first crush them very thoroughly. Capsules, however, just open and sprinkle the powdered already carbon.
Made of powdered activated carbon you need to prepare a paste. For this purpose, to coal a little (no more than a teaspoon) amount of water is added. It is also popular to use coconut oil in place of water, as it is believed to have antibacterial and antiseptic properties. So prepared pasta should be stored in a tightly closed container that will protect it from moisture.
There are two application methods activated carbon on the teeth. The first is use active carbon pastes instead of regular toothpaste, eg Perlax Antibacterial Toothpaste with Activated Carbon. When brushing your teeth, you should be careful not to rub the toothpaste too hard because of fine particles coal can damage the enamel. Even if, despite caution, we notice after a few days that the teeth have become more sensitive to temperature changes, it is best to switch to the second method of application activated carbon on the teeth. It consists of overlapping pastes with coal and leaving it on the teeth for about 2-3 minutes. Then rinse your mouth thoroughly.
Followers teeth whitening with activated charcoal most often they recommend using it for the first three days in a row, and then repeating the treatment every week to maintain the effect.
Activated carbon can also be found in cosmetics, e.g. Bioherba Activated Carbon Cleansing Gel for oily and acne-prone skin. Activated carbon absorbs all impurities and helps to remove them from the skin surface.
Does activated carbon effectively whiten teeth?
Opinions on the effectiveness of this method are very divided. Some people believe active carbon for a very effective, cheap and ecological way to have a beautiful smile. However, there are many people who have not noticed any whitening effects after using this remedy. It is also worth remembering that most of the news on the topic teeth whitening with activated charcoal comes from online forums and blogs as there is no scientific research into the effectiveness of this method.
Read more about enamel lightening methods: How do I whiten my teeth? The effectiveness of treatments and home remedies
Is activated carbon safe for teeth?
Dentists come up to teeth whitening with activated carbon with a lot of reserve. They indicate a high risk of mechanical damage to the enamel with particles coal. This is a serious objection because the enamel does not have the ability to regenerate, so its destruction may require a costly procedure of applying veneers. Overlap method coal without brushing there is no such risk, but some dentists indicate that in both cases the absorbent properties may be problematic activated carbon. It is not certain whether carbon apart from sediments, it also does not absorb other substances that naturally occur in the oral cavity and are responsible for its health. Therefore, this method should be used with great care and for the shortest possible time period.