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Activated charcoal is all over the place ranging from detox pills to face masks and teeth whitening toothpaste. A lot of hype around it, but does it live up to its promises?
In this article, we are going to review its teeth-whitening efficacy, to let you see if it works and if it is safe. We are going to check its properties and its efficiency against other methods.
What Is Activated Charcoal?
It is practically the same as normal charcoal – which is obtained via burning a carbon-containing material such as wood, bamboo or coconut at high temperatures – only that it is activated thanks to oxidization.
Furthermore, its texture is also different because its surface is notoriously more porous. Such features allows it to filter pollutants and contaminants effectively, which is why it is used as a filter, for detoxing and also for teeth whitening.
Activated Charcoal – Not Really a New Trend
Activated charcoal has been around for several thousand years, and the Egyptians were the first to use it for treating ailments (1500 B.C.).
The Phoenicians and ancient Hindus also used it thanks to its antiseptic properties (400 B.C.). Such features also make them popular in modern medicine, including water purification.
Hippocrates and Pliny also used activated charcoal for treating a wide myriad of diseases such as epilepsy and infections (50 A.D.).
Therefore, it is not a new trend as you can see, because old civilizations were already using it.
Nowadays, thanks to the same features, it is being used as a supplement but also in more serious aspects of medicine.
Does It Really Work for Teeth Whitening?
The most distinctive feature of activated charcoal is its porous surface, which is also why it is sold as a teeth whitening solution. Such structure allows it to capture and filter out toxins and pollutants, and that also happens when it comes in contact with your teeth.
By using an activated charcoal toothpaste, you can remove stains like other pollutants. Therefore, it acts as an abrasive agents, which similar to others, does its job: it removes stains and makes your teeth look better.
In addition, thanks to its abrasive action, it can also remove the discoloration of your teeth. Therefore, it handles the problem from all angles, since it solves all the factors that make your teeth look yellowish.
In simple terms, it works due to its porous surface. You can use it as a toothpaste, powder or mouthwash or rinse and you will get results. It will remove the stains present in your teeth and wash away the discoloration.
Nonetheless, is it safe to use? A very important question we are going to answer below, to let you see if it is the right method for you or not, via examining a very important risk it contains.
Is It Safe to Use Activated Charcoal for Teeth Whitening?
As we said, activated charcoal acts as an abrasive agent when it comes in contact with your teeth, which even though works, also carries its own set of risks.
Again, due to its porous surface and also its gritty and grainy substance, it can damage your gums and teeth in the long term. Think of its cumulative damage, since it can start producing erosion, and that is one of the reasons why many dentists recommend their clients to be wary of activated charcoal.
Some of the consequences would include tooth sensitivity and periodontal disease, which will affect the quality of your life severely.
Based on this, you can see that even though it works, it is not necessarily the best option, especially if you want a solution that helps you to keep your teeth white for the long term.
Therefore, now let us compare it against professional teeth whitening, to let you see why it is a much better option than activated charcoal.
Comparison to Professional Teeth Whitening
To summarize everything, let us check the advantages of professional teeth whitening over activated charcoal, so you can invest your time and money into something that truly works without damaging your teeth.
In the first place, it is an actual treatment rather than a simple supplement. Therefore, it has been especially designed for making your teeth whiter. In our case, we use a combination of whitening gel boosted by an UV-free LED light, which makes your teeth whiter in only 20 minutes!
The results last much longer and they take less time. As you have seen, with our treatment you get results in only 20 minutes, and your teeth will be several shades whiter. Whereas with activated charcoal, you will not obtain such a profound result, and it will take much longer.
Better return for your money. Because you only have to undergo the treatment once and only take care of your oral hygiene to maintain the results for the long term, whereas with activated charcoal you have to buy new toothpaste or your supplement of choice every certain number of days.
Less risk for your teeth enamel or gums. The problem with abrasive agents is that they can end up causing a lot of damage to your mouth, and fortunately, it does not happen with professional teeth whitening. You can make your teeth look whiter and better without putting your health in risk.
In conclusion, if you want to make your teeth whiter for real without risk, and in record time, then go for professional teeth whitening. It will bring you the results you expect and fulfill all of your expectations!
Teeth whitening is not a game, and therefore, handle it seriously.
Bottom Line and Final Words
We have arrived to the end of this article. It is always wise to read more about a certain supplement before using it, and activated charcoal is not the exception.
As you have seen, it works but it also possesses certain risks for your health, and since professional teeth whitening is a better option, now you know what route to take.
