Activated charcoal has been a topic on social media. Many people have been giving positive testimonies after using it for teeth whitening, oral health, skin care, and as a deodorant. If you have been wondering whether activated charcoal can safely whiten your teeth, what the process entails, or whether it really works you have come to the right page. Below is all you need to know about activated charcoal and teeth whitening.
What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is almost similar to regular charcoal only that it has been activated. The process of activation involves heating carbon-rich materials to high temperatures. This reduces the size of pores and increases the number of pores in every molecule to increase the surface area. Regular charcoal is manufactured to be used as fuel and it emits carbon dioxide when heated but activated charcoal doesn’t contain these toxins making it safe for human use.
Activated charcoal and teeth whitening
Activated charcoal is not a new product, it has been in use for many years. It has several medical uses apart from teeth whitening. Any dental product containing activated charcoal has the ability to remove dental plaque, red wine stains, and coffee stains.
When applied to the teeth it binds with the rough parts of the teeth (plaque and surface stains). Once it has been given time to stick, its minerals take plaque, surface stains and food particles on the teeth surface with it when it is being removed.
It binds the toxins instead of neutralizing them making it a natural teeth whitener. Activated charcoal whitens your teeth by removing the surface stains, it can be able to whiten deeply naturally yellowing teeth. Authority Dental has some great tips on how to whiten your naturally yellowing or deep stained teeth. More drastic whitening measures such as professional bleaching is required to whiten naturally yellowing teeth.
The basic chemistry of how activated charcoal works
Activated charcoal has a negative electronic charge while toxins have a positive charge, this makes it possible for activated charcoal to absorb toxins. Activated charcoal is highly porous, this adds its efficiency in trapping unwanted products. Activated charcoal cannot be absorbed into your body, this allows it to effectively carry toxins out of your body via excretion.
Is activated charcoal safe?
It has been approved by the FDA for human use but when using it as a teeth whitener you need to consult your dentist. The only problem with activated charcoal is its abrasiveness. To avoid damaging the enamel, activated charcoal should be smeared to the teeth but not roughly rubbed against the teeth. Always check the abrasiveness of the charcoal paste and go for the less abrasive.
How to use activated charcoal for teeth whitening?
You can buy the activated charcoal mineral tablet from your local pharmacy or health food store. Put 1 or 2 tablets in a container and ground them into a fine powder, add enough water to form a paste.
Apply the paste to your teeth by dapping and tapping the paste onto your teeth. Don’t rub the paste on the tooth to avoid damaging the enamel. Leave it for 3 to 5 minutes to allow it to bind with stains and then rinse your mouth for several seconds before brushing.
The best way to keep your teeth healthy is to continue with regular dental appointments. Before using any product to whiten your teeth always consult your dentist to make sure it is safe for you.