Dental Expert Activated Charcoal and Coconut Oil toothpaste
Amazon
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Charcoal teeth whitening guide
Discover a new and natural way to brighten and clean your pearly whites.
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.
How to use charcoal for teeth whitening
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.
How long does it take charcoal to whiten your teeth?
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.
Activated charcoal powder vs toothpaste
While activate charcoal powder and regular toothpaste serve the same purpose, there are a few key differences that are important to understand:
Ingredients
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.
Abrasives
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.
Fluoride
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.
Results
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.
What charcoal teeth whitening products are available?
Some of the most common teeth whitening products are:
- Tooth powder: This activated charcoal powder is used to clean teeth much like you would standard toothpaste.
- Toothpaste: Activated charcoal is mixed with other ingredients, often coconut oil, to form a paste, which makes it easier to brush. Charcoal toothpaste can be flavoured with spearmint and be made with silica and vitamin C to promote good gum health.
- Toothpaste tablets: A charcoal infused tablet you chew to dissolve then brush onto your teeth. It can feature cleaning ingredients such as sodium bicarbonate and cream of tartar.
- Toothbrush: Brushes where the bristles are infused with activated charcoal to cleanse your teeth and mouth. You can use them with standard toothpaste or with charcoal based toothpaste. Handles can be made from bamboo for the eco-conscious or plastic.
- Mouth wash: A mouth rinse to support your brushing routine that you can use to wash out nasties. On top of activated charcoal, ingredients can include coconut oil, aloe vera juice and spearmint essential oils which is anti-inflammatory.
- Dental floss: Used to clean between teeth, charcoal dental floss is often made charcoal fibers mixed with thread, often bamboo filament or polyester yard. It is coated with wax (beeswax and Candelilla wax are common) and oil (e.g. coconut oil, peppermint oil) to make it waxy enough to slide between teeth.
- Oral spray: In between brushes, oral sprays are used to freshen your breath. The activated charcoal in these sprays naturally draws out bacteria which can cause your breath to smell.
Where can I buy charcoal teeth whitening products?
- Molr Dental Club: Tooth powder, toothpaste, toothbrush, teeth whitening pens, electric toothbrush replacement heads and dental floss.
- Amazon: Tooth powder, toothpaste, toothbrushes and dental floss.
- eBay: Tooth powder, toothpaste, toothbrushes, mouthwash and dental floss.
- Well.ca: Tooth powder, toothpaste, toothbrush, mouthwash and dental floss.
- Walmart: Tooth powder, toothpaste and toothbrushes.
- iHerb: Tooth powder, toothpaste, toothpaste tablets, toothbrushes, mouthwash and dental floss.
Shop for charcoal teeth whitening products
Charcoal toothpaste
Charcoal teeth whitening powder
Organika Activated Charcoal Powder Cleanser, 40 g
Amazon
Active Wow 24K Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder, 20g
iHerb
Charcoal toothbrushes
o1brand Soft Charcoal Bamboo Toothbrushes, 5pk
Amazon
Oral-B Charcoal Whitening Therapy Toothbrushes, 2 pack Soft
Well.ca
Charcoal teeth kits
NiuSmile Teeth Whitening Kit
Amazon
Crest 3D Whitestrips Charcoal Mint Dental Whitening Kit
Amazon
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