DENTISTS WEIGH IN ON WHITENING YOUR TEETH WITH CHARCOAL

YouTubers abound who swear by it. Others are fascinated by it but skeptical about whether it works. Still, others want to try it but they’re not sure it’s safe.

What we’re talking about here is brushing your teeth with charcoal to make them whiter. It’s a trend that has recently forked off from a larger, charcoal-themed trend in beauty circles. There are charcoal facial wipes, face peels, and soaps. Even big brands like Clinique have absorbed charcoal into their product lineups.

But we’re here to talk about your teeth. Their degree of whiteness, to be exact. Charcoal — no, let’s be correct: activated charcoal — can also whiten your teeth. Or so they claim. Does it really work? We checked in with some accredited dentists to find out the real story of whitening your teeth with charcoal.

Here Is What Dentist Community Says

Dentists are trained to follow guidelines set forth by the American Dental Association or the equivalent in other countries. As such, they won’t go too far to recommend activated charcoal because as of this writing, this method has not been approved.

But the ADA doesn’t advise against it, either. They simply warn patients to be careful and not overdo it (1).

“Our biggest concern is abrasiveness—you don’t want it to wear away at the enamel.”

Some dentists(1) have tried the method themselves and seem to be all for it…

“I was super skeptical until I tried it—it’s quite messy, but it does strip away stains and plaque to make your teeth appear whiter.”

Dentists will caution against overuse and can help their patients with guidelines to safely use it on their teeth. Here’s what dentists recommend if you’re going to try to whiten your teeth at home.

– Dab the charcoal paste on your teeth, covering all of the exposed areas.
– Leave the paste on for three minutes.
– Rinse

This method, which doesn’t involve brushing, greatly reduces the amount of abrasion on your tooth enamel.

Activated Charcoal – Nothing to Be Afraid Of

Activated charcoal is nothing new in the medical community. Dentists may be flummoxed by its recent entry into the annals of teeth-whitening methodology, but doctors are long familiar with the substance.

It’s in the porous qualities that the power of the activated charcoal lie. Like a sponge, which also works because it’s porous, activated charcoal can trap chemicals in the human body — chemicals that shouldn’t be there, like poisons. Doctors also use it as a remedy for intestinal gas and cholestasis, a bile flow problem that arises during pregnancy(2).

Conclusion – The Jury Is Still Out on Endorsement

So, while activated charcoal does have some legitimate, doctor-approved uses, teeth whitening is not yet one of them. That’s not to say it’s ineffective, however. And it’s not to say there isn’t a safer way to try it out (see above for the safest method).

It’s just that as a process, using this method for whitening one’s teeth hasn’t yet passed through the lengthy and rigorous routines that enable endorsement from the traditional medical community and governmental institutions. In the meantime, though, curious dentists all over are trying it for themselves and seeing results.

References:

https://www.prevention.com/beauty/a20427963/charcoal-for-whitening-teeth/
Activated Charcoal, MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/269.html

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