
Dental Expert Activated Charcoal and Coconut Oil toothpaste
Amazon
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Used since the days of ancient Greece, activated charcoal is nothing new. However, it is making a resurgence today in oral health.
This natural and porous substance is said to cleanse by absorbing chemicals and toxins. When used on your teeth, it can remove bacteria in the mouth for fresher breath and scrub stubborn stains on your pearly whites for a brighter, whiter appearance.
Charcoal teeth whitening products include tooth powders, tooth pastes, toothbrushes and tooth tablets. They use “activated” charcoal, which is charcoal that’s been treated to make it more porous and therefore more absorbent.
Common forms of charcoal include activated coconut shell charcoal and Binchotan charcoal.
Powders and pastes are applied to your teeth like regular toothpaste. Dip a clean, wet toothbrush into the charcoal container and pick up some of the charcoal. Brush for a around two minutes, then rinse your mouth.
Tablets work in a similar way, only you chew them first until frothy before brushing your teeth. Charcoal toothbrushes are infused with charcoal and can be used like normal toothbrushes.
Product manufacturers recommend that you use charcoal products regularly, claiming you should be able to see results within a few days. But, depending on the consistency of your stains, you may only choose to use charcoal when required.
You should notice a difference after a few days of consecutive use, as the charcoal will absorb toxins every time you brush. However, the exact amount of time it’ll take to improve your teeth can vary depending on the severity of your stains and the extent of discolouration.
While activate charcoal powder and regular toothpaste serve the same purpose, there are a few key differences that are important to understand:
Activated charcoal powder is praised for being a natural product, which is great if you’re trying to lead a more ecofriendly lifestyle. It’s often organic and vegan, using natural ingredients to absorb stains.
On the other hand, regular toothpaste is scientifically formulated with multiple chemicals to clean and strengthen teeth.
Both activate charcoal powder and regular toothpaste contain abrasives to scrub stains and plaque from your teeth. According to a CBC report, the Canadian Dental Association (CDC) recognizes that, as an abrasive substance, activated charcoal will allow the natural colour of teeth to show by removing stains. However, since charcoal has no demonstrated health benefits, the CDC does not recommend using it for oral hygiene.
It should be noted that activated charcoal doesn’t change the colour of teeth like bleaching products. Additionally, there hasn’t been enough research showing the long-term effects of using charcoal products regularly. Some experts are concerned that prolonged use of charcoal may strip tooth enamel or harm gums. Regular toothpaste is designed to be gentle on enamel.
If you still want to give activated charcoal a try, consider a soft-headed brush, which will be gentler on your teeth. Use it only when necessary, or use a less abrasive form of activated charcoal like mouthwash or oral sprays.
Check with your dentist before using charcoal products, and maintain regular dental check-ups to monitor its effects on your oral health.
Regular toothpaste has fluoride to protect teeth from decay. Whereas, many activated charcoal teeth whitening products do not.
Charcoal is a form of carbon, and carbon filters can be used to remove fluoride and impurities from water. In fact, a solid carbon block can remove around 60-70% of fluoride from water. Some dental experts claim that activated charcoal has the ability to remove fluoride from toothpaste due to its high absorption abilities.
Which works better — activated charcoal or regular toothpaste? The answer is somewhat subjective.
On Amazon.ca, Dental Expert Activated Charcoal and Coconut Oil toothpaste is the only charcoal product listed under top-rated teeth whitening products. It has a stellar overall rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars based on over 1,900 reviews. Some reviewers said they saw improvements within several weeks of use. For teeth whitening, specifically, the product has an aggregate rating of 3.9 out of 5 stars. (Data is current as of February 22, 2021.)
Many other charcoal teeth whitening products on Amazon also get positive reviews including Organika Activated Charcoal Powder, Fairywill Coconut Charcoal Toothpaste and o1brand Soft Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrushes.
Among the negative reviews are claims that some users’ gums and teeth became more sensitive after using charcoal whitening products. Many customers say that charcoal products are messy to handle, requiring greater rinsing and more time spent cleaning the sink after brushing.
Some of the most common teeth whitening products are:
We’ve tracked down some of the best beauty and health retailers stocking products with this natural ingredient.
We’ve rounded up some of the best teeth whitening kits in Canada.
Keep your teeth pearly white with a quality toothpaste from one of these great retailers.