Activated charcoal whitening has been a more than popular topic in recent months. Maintaining beautiful teeth is very important both for our health and for our aesthetics.
Therefore, it is not surprising that for years we have been bombarded by a large number of products that promise to leave our teeth more than white . And among all these products and toothpastes, the most popular in recent times is undoubtedly active charcoal whitening.
Although activated carbon may seem like a relatively new concept, it has been around for many, many years.
Charcoal for teeth whitening?
Surely at the time we name the “coal”, we do not think that getting bleached is about. But believe it or not, coal is a great ally when it comes to absorbing toxins. For this reason it has had many uses, from using it to purify water, or to treat food poisoning .
Active carbon is a product that can eliminate stains, absorbing them. So more than whitening, we should talk about cleaning .
What is activated charcoal?
Logically we are not talking about the coal that remains behind a fire. Activated carbon is a carbon that is already ground. It is achieved after the combustion of vegetable husks as well as some seeds, sawdust, wood and the charcoal itself.
It is called “activated” because after the incineration process, it becomes a negatively charged substance , attracting positively charged molecules, such as stains. A matter of chemistry.
In addition, it has the particularity that the human body does not absorb this compound, and when it is released it is accompanied by other toxins.
Activated charcoal whitening?
You may have seen a video in which they use active carbon to clean teeth. Due to its tonality, it seems that it manages to remove all dirt, and it is.
Being such an absorbent product, it is clear that it manages to clean all our teeth . People who have used it say that the sensation of cleanliness is far superior to that of other methods, such as traditional toothpastes.
Activated charcoal whitening itself is less well proven. Although we leave no doubt that it is a great component to clean our teeth, we cannot attribute whitening characteristics to it . At least for our teeth.
Contraindications of active charcoal whitening
Although it is not toxic at all for our body, it can have reactions in which they are not at all desired. But ingesting it is not the same as using it by rubbing it against our teeth. Therefore, dentists agree on the abrasive effect exerted by active charcoal whitening. This compound can damage our enamel, to the point of affecting our tooth sensitivity.
The gums and tongue, when in contact with the diluted charcoal together with saliva, end up darkening. In the case of the gums, it is only due to a little more tone, but in the tongue it ends up inhibiting a large number of flavors .
Sometimes, and after its high use, it can even interfere with our intestinal transit. Therefore, we must not forget that at most we could make a very occasional use of this compound to clean our teeth , whitening them is not proven to achieve it.
Advantages of using activated carbon for our oral cleaning
Like many toothpastes, activated charcoal eliminates certain toxins that generate plaque. For this reason, it is a great ally against it, along with other substances that can stain our teeth. It is also attributed properties in the balance of pH in the mouth, and this helps significantly in reducing cavities, bad breath or many gum diseases .
Regardless of the properties and benefits that these products can bring you, it is most advisable that we seek advice from a trusted professional such as our dentist.
