Activated Charcoal – A Miracle Remedy to Whiten Your Teeth?
Photos Rachelle Simoneau
Words Pauline Allione
Share the article on
We asked a dentist if this black powder could really brighten our smiles.
On paper, vegetable charcoal, which also goes by activated charcoal, has it all. Made from the combustion of carbon-rich organic plant minerals, such as the bar or shell of a coconut, this all-natural product is renowned for its absorbent and detoxifying properties. It is found commercially in the form of capsules to ease digestion, in skin cleansing masks, but also in powders or whitening toothpastes.
This solution comes with two advantages: accessibility (both powder and toothpaste cost no more than ten euros generally) and a plant origin. In short, activated charcoal sells dreams. But can it keep its promises of a brighter smile? A professional chimes in to answer our questions.
Superficial Only?
Whiter teeth after only a few brushes? The idea is so tempting that it seems too simple. However, charcoal does indeed rid teeth of stains caused by the items we consume every day, like coffee, tea, wine, tobacco, and more… After several brushings, it is therefore normal to have the impression your teeth are getting brighter. Except the charcoal’s effects are superficial. “Activated charcoal does not whiten teeth. It can possibly clean the intrinsic stains left by food, but if you brush after each meal you will not accumulate these stains,” summarises Ines Meisels, dental surgeon better known online under her nickname Dr. M.
Coal: 1 – Email: 0
First disappointment: activated charcoal therefore doesn’t give you the Colgate smile. But its use should be taken with a pinch of salt. It can actually damage your teeth. As the product works as an abrasion, it will remove tartar and stains, but also attack the tooth surface and the enamel that protects them. “Take sandpaper, rub your teeth with it, and it’s the same effect,” warns the dentist.
Stripping enamel from your teeth is a bad idea, since the substance plays a big role in oral health. It is especially thanks to enamel that you can bite into cold foods without wincing in pain. As a result, when enamel erodes, the teeth become more sensitive and vulnerable. “In the long term we can observe a thinning of the enamel which constitutes the superficial part of the tooth,” explains Dr. Meisels, before adding, “We can then observe hypersensitivity to heat, cold, and sugars. And since it is the enamel that gives the teeth their white effect, it becomes less luminous and dull.”
The False Promise of Homemade Recipes
The idea of ust digging into your cupboards to find a tooth whitening product sounds great. But Ines Meisels suggests these homemade remedies can cause more damage. For example, your grandmother’s trick of sprinkling baking soda on her toothbrush is to be avoided, just like the charcoal. “Baking soda, like charcoal, is made up of grains. We are talking more or less large particle sizes and therefore more abrasive. As far as edible bicarbonate is concerned, the large grain will act on your teeth the same way as aforementioned activated charcoals,” explains the dentist.
For a white smile that doesn’t damage teeth, the approved choice is hydrogen peroxide, used by dental professionals and sold in small dose packs. This can indeed make your teeth white. But few things beat the simple act of frequent brushing with a safe toothpaste.