As an active ingredient, charcoal has made a grand entrance into the world of oral care even more than it has in the beauty world. In recent years this ingredient has been incorporated into treatments, scrubs, and face masks. Then came the charcoal toothpaste made its debut. Many didn’t anticipate whether it would remain in the market, but the toothpaste is still here a few years later. Seemingly, to stay.
Activated charcoal tubes of toothpaste are still in the market because they are marketed as a more natural teeth whitener. Since it is still a relatively new product in the market, dentists are not exactly quick to recommend it to their patients. A reputable dentist will usually seek as much science-backed information beforehand to ensure that whatever they recommend is effective and safe for their patients.
What is it?
Activated charcoal, unlike ordinary charcoal, is a very fine and black powder. This ingredient is obtained from processing organic matter such as coconut shells, wood, and coal under very high heat. Millions of minute holes are created through this heating, hence activated charcoal, an abrasive and uniquely porous ingredient.
Activated charcoal as a teeth whitener
When comparing ways to make your teeth whiter, professional tooth whitening in a dental clinic is the best way to go. However, people want to try new things, and maybe you are curious about the effectiveness of this toothpaste. Moreover, nowadays, people are gravitating more towards products marketed as natural. Some kinds of toothpaste with activated charcoal have been seen to whiten teeth to some level and remove some tooth discoloration. As most hyped products, however, this exciting new ingredient has garnered a fair share of controversy.
There is little evidence supporting its whitening power and its ability to freshen breath. Also, there have been concerns about the abrasiveness of activated charcoal and concern over its use on teeth because they are very sensitive. Seeing that your teeth are black when using charcoal toothpaste, rinsing them may give you an illusion that the teeth are whiter than they actually are.
If you want a long-term whitening solution and wish to go the activated charcoal way, it is essential to first do your research as with everything else. Check with your local practitioner or clinic for a professional’s advice. If you still want to proceed and use this toothpaste anyway, there are ways to do it more safely.
1.Alternating with fluoride toothpaste
Usually, activated charcoal toothpaste doesn’t have fluoride. Yet, your teeth need fluoride to be protected from decay. If you want to go ahead and still use this toothpaste, ensure that you use the one with fluoride more often. That way, you can alternate it with the one containing activated charcoal.
2.Using it sparingly
Another way to use this toothpaste more safely is to ensure that you use it sparingly, at most twice each week. While at it, ensure that you also brush gently since activated charcoal is very abrasive.
Everyone wants to have perfectly white teeth. If you’re going to get your teeth whiter, you should have a professional do it. There are no stark white natural teeth, and what matters is ensuring that you are taking the proper steps always to keep your teeth clean and healthy.
