The popularity of activated charcoal toothpaste stands at the peak of wellness trends and according to this functional dentist, it’s well worth the hype. Read on for more information about the benefits of activated charcoal in teeth whitening.
The wellness industry has been buzzing with activated charcoal recently if you’ve paid attention. Rather than black chunks for your barbecue grill, though, it’s a natural powder of coconut shells and other natural ingredients made into a powerful detoxifier.
I’m sure you’ve seen Instagram pictures of before and after. In addition to face masks and body scrubs, shampoos, and energy drinks, activated charcoal is being used in toothpaste and toothbrushes to whiten teeth.
Charcoal uses throughout history:
Charcoal’s adsorbent properties have been documented since the late 1700s, and its first clinical applications date back to the early 1800s. The earliest scientific researchers established the effectiveness of charcoal in preventing the clinical consequences of poisoning even before 1835.
Tovey consumed a lethal dose of strychnine mixed with charcoal in 1831 while he was a member of the French Academy of Medicine. Despite taking strychnine and charcoal simultaneously, Tovey suffered no negative side effects as a result of the strychnine. American doctor Hort allegedly saved the life of a patient after she ingested mercury dichloride in 1834 by administering charcoal.
Here are a few benefits of activated charcoal:
- The detoxifying properties of activated charcoal are legendary. Private Label Charcoal Toothpaste can bind to chemicals and stop the stomach from absorbing harmful substances. It is considered more powerful than stomach pumping in most cases. Due to its powerful detoxifying properties, it could help eliminate bloating as well as prevent hangovers.
- Coconut shells and other materials are used in making activated charcoal. Charcoal that has been heated at high temperatures is also known as activated charcoal. The end product contains millions of tiny pores, which are responsible for trapping toxins and chemicals.
- Charcoal has negative charges. As a result, it is attracted to a lot of positive-charged substances, including free radicals, gases, toxins, and chemicals.
- Activated charcoal continues to be endorsed by clinical results. Activated charcoal has been shown to function effectively in poisoned and overdosed patients due to its almost side effect-free nature and efficiency over other conventional poisoning and overdose treatments.
- Instead of absorbing, activated charcoal adsorbs. Adsorption is the process that activated charcoal uses. Adsorption occurs when an element binds to a surface, whereas absorption occurs when chemicals are taken up by another substance.
Charcoal brushing provides the following benefits:
What is its safety? Is it effective?
You are kudos for questioning medical or health trends and truthfully, brushing with charcoal is both safe and effective.
1. It removes stains with charcoal toothpaste.
Extrinsic stains (discoloration of teeth from substances found on their surfaces, such as wine, coffee, berries, etc.) can be removed with this toothpaste. It’s important to keep in mind, however, that this is not the same as teeth whitening. Maintaining healthy, beautiful teeth still requires stain removal.
The active charcoal products may stain your counters, flooring, and clothing, so protect them beforehand.
2. Using charcoal toothpaste helps us get rid of acidic plaque and keep our breath fresh.
Charcoal binds to acidic elements in your mouth and increases their excretion, so brushing with this toothpaste will raise the pH of your mouth. By doing so, you will be able to reduce the buildup of acidic plaque and breathe better if you suffer from halitosis.
3. Toothpaste containing charcoal may contribute to good oral health (and general wellbeing).
Our oral microbiome must be in balance. If you use charcoal toothpaste properly, you can help maintain this balance and ensure that your mouth’s natural immunity is at its best. As a bonus, activated charcoal may improve your bad cholesterol as well as boost your immune system.
Using charcoal toothpaste with caution
Without also telling you the negative effects of misusing charcoal toothpaste, I can’t put all these positive aspects into perspective. Some of them are:
Your enamel can be eroded by charcoal toothpaste.
Research is important! It can ruin your enamel over time if the toothpaste is too abrasive, thus damaging it permanently.
Overly gritty toothpaste is likely to be so. With one quick search engine query, you can learn your toothpaste’s Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA). Do not take the risk if you cannot locate the RDA. There is no such thing as too much transparency when it comes to enamel-eroding compounds.
Using charcoal toothpaste properly is crucial.
Use charcoal toothpaste without being too aggressive. Gently scrub your teeth, not hard, and then rinse your mouth until the toothpaste has completely discolored your spit.
Alternatively, you can apply the product to your teeth, let it sit for up to 10 minutes, and let it work its magic. It is especially beneficial to those who have endured childhood illnesses or medications reactions, etc.
There are some ingredients in charcoal toothpaste that are scary.
There should be no added fluoride, artificial sweeteners, or sodium lauryl sulfate in charcoal toothpaste. Activated charcoal may affect your health adversely if you use these health-damaging ingredients.
The charcoal toothpaste you should look for
If you are buying this toothpaste, be sure to buy the right kind since it is a relatively new product. You should look for the following attributes:
U.S.-made charcoal- Buying charcoal from the United States is best. A New York Times article reported in 2007 that the FDA seized toxic toothpaste made abroad. Make sure the toothpaste you’re using doesn’t contain any unsavory ingredients by verifying its source.
· Coconuts—Many of the better charcoal toothpaste brands contain coconut shells, so this is one factor I consider when choosing a toothpaste brand.
· Charcoal toothpaste or powder versus straight charcoal- I recommend more carefully chosen charcoal toothpaste or powders versus straight charcoal. An RDA-low variety of this toothpaste may cause significant erosion of enamel.