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Used since the days of ancient Greece, activated charcoal is nothing new. However, it is making a resurgence today in oral health.
This natural and porous substance is said to cleanse by absorbing chemicals and toxins. When used on your teeth, it can remove bacteria in the mouth for fresher breath and scrub stubborn stains on your pearlers for whiter-looking teeth.
Charcoal teeth whitening products include tooth powders, tooth pastes, toothbrushes and tooth tablets. They use "activated" charcoal, which is charcoal that's been treated to make it more porous and therefore more absorbent.
Common forms of charcoal used is activated coconut shell charcoal and Binchotan charcoal.
Powders and pastes are used as you would traditional toothpaste, by dipping a clean wet toothbrush into the pot and picking up some of the charcoal. Then, brush for a few minutes (generally two is recommended) and rinse your mouth out.
Tablets work in a similar way, only you first chew them until frothy before brushing. The toothbrushes are infused with charcoal and are used like normal toothbrushes.
Regular use is often recommended by the product manufacturers and they claim you should be able to see results within a few days. However, depending on the consistency of your stains, you may choose to use charcoal only when required.
It's expected you'll notice a difference after a few days of consecutive use as the charcoal absorbs toxins with every brush. However, it depends on the severity of your stains and discolouration.
While they serve the same purpose, there are a few key differences that are important to know between activated charcoal powders and your standard toothpaste:
Activated charcoal powder is praised for being a natural product, which is great if you're trying to lead a more green lifestyle. It's often organic and vegan and uses its natural ingredients to absorb stains.
Standard toothpaste, on the other hand, is a scientifically formulated product that contains multiple chemicals to clean and strengthen your teeth.
Both have abrasives to scrub stains and plaque from your teeth. However, the Australian Dental Association (ADA) has told the ABC that activated charcoal may strip tooth enamel. Toothpaste is formulated to be gentle on it.
That being said, if you're still keen on trying activated charcoal, consider a soft-headed brush which is gentler on teeth. Use it only when required, or use a less abrasive charcoal product such as mouthwash and oral sprays.
Chat to your dentist before using charcoal products and maintain regular check-ups in case it negatively affects your tooth health.
Toothpaste has fluoride to protect teeth from decay whereas many activated charcoal teeth whitening products do not.
In fact, the ADA says that activated charcoal has the ability to remove fluoride from toothpastes due to its high absorption abilities.
As to which actually works better? That's a more subjective answer.
On ProductReview.com.au Carbon Coco Teeth Whitening is the only charcoal teeth whitening product listed. It has a stellar 3.7/5 review across 170+ respondents. Many said they saw improvements within seven days and that their mouths felt cleaner and their breath fresher from using the product.
Of the teeth whitening toothpastes on ProductReview, there are a generous mix of positive and negative reviews. Those with the most reviews though, didn't include such high praise. For example, White Glo Express Whitening System has a 2.7/5 star rating across 75 users and White Glo Professional Choice Whitening had a 3.1 rating across 69 users.
Some of the most common teeth whitening products are:
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