Can Brushing with Activated Charcoal Whiten Teeth?
Learn the facts behind the latest at-home whitening fad.
There are all kinds of home remedies out there for getting whiter, brighter teeth. One that has become increasingly popular over the past year is brushing with activated charcoal. Something about applying a pitch-black paste to make teeth whiter just appeals to people—probably because it almost seems to work like magic.
So what’s the deal? Does activated charcoal work? Is it safe?
The truth about activated charcoal is:
It works on some stains, but you should not brush with it.
Activated charcoal has natural adhesive qualities, which enable it to bind with materials that are causing surface staining on your teeth. It can lighten stains left by coffee, tea, red wine, and cigarettes, as well as strip away the film of plaque that makes teeth look yellow.
What activated charcoal cannot do is improve stains caused by discoloration beneath the surface of the enamel. This means that stains caused by medications, fluorosis, and age cannot be removed with activated charcoal. Instead, a professional teeth whitening treatment that uses a bleaching product will be required to lift these stains.
The main risk of using activated charcoal to whiten your teeth is that the powder is abrasive, and you could damage your enamel if you are not careful. This is why it is not recommended to actually brush your teeth with activated charcoal. Instead, simply apply the charcoal to teeth, let it set, and then rinse.
Is Activated Charcoal Safe?
Activated charcoal is actually a food-safe product that some people take as a supplement. While the odorless and tasteless powder is safe for your health, it has not been approved by the American Dental Association for use on teeth. Their main concern is that the abrasive qualities of activated charcoal have not yet been studied.
How to Use Activated Charcoal
If you want to try activated charcoal, make sure you do it safely. Here are the steps advised by expert cosmetic dentists:
- Break one or two tablets of activated charcoal open and pour the powder into a cup
- Add about a teaspoon of water and stir to form a paste
- Dab the paste over the teeth you want to whiten
- Let it set 3 minutes and rinse with water
Alternatives to Activated Charcoal
As mentioned previously, activated charcoal is not effective on all types of tooth stains. Therefore, you may be looking for another way to whiten that will help diminish the appearance of all your tooth stains. The best way to do this is to visit a cosmetic dentist for professional teeth whitening treatments. At California Dental Group, we offer a safe, convenient, and effective treatment that will enable you to improve the color of your teeth in just about an hour. Call any of our clinic locations today to make your appointment.
