Teeth Whitening: Is Activated Charcoal all it’s cracked up to be?
We all want to be able to flash that confident smile full of clean, white teeth; although modern lifestyles and ill health can contribute to discolouration of our teeth, and a loss of confidence.
It’s developed into a whole industry – you can have a procedure at the dentist to whiten your teeth, there’s take home products to try and even some toothpaste manufacturers claim extra teeth whitening with added hydrogen peroxide. The most recent arrival is the naturally derived activated charcoal – is it worth it and what does it do?
Let’s cover the conventional teeth whitening products first.
Teeth whiteners use a combination of bleaching agents to whiten your teeth. They can be useful to remove staining on the teeth itself. It can be harmful if the gums are exposed to the product. Further, these bleaches aren’t selective in just treating the stains. They are deadly to the bacteria in our mouth – our oral microbiome. This can create issues with our first stage of digestion, and lead to further digestive disturbance.
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL TOOTHPASTE AND POWDERS – FAD OR FAB?
Activated charcoal is very effective against established staining on teeth enamel. If used excessively, it can also create an imbalance in mouth microflora, so should be used occasionally, with a regular fluoride free, sugar free toothpaste as the main method of cleaning.
Other natural supports for your mouth include oil pulling, apple cider vinegar, and baking soda. It’s best to understand the right natural support for your family. Oil pulling can be great where the oil is tolerated, and similarly with apple cider vinegar and baking soda. Investigate further before selecting a treatment if you carry fillings in your mouth.
For those interested in the natural teeth whitening benefits of activated charcoal, the best approach is occasional use.
To learn more about activated charcoal, look out for our upcoming article on using Activated charcoal as a detoxifying agent.