One scroll through Instagram or Facebook and it’s likely you’ll come across photos and videos from beauty gurus and influencers who are using Activated Charcoal to help whiten their teeth. While we know it is best to not believe everything we see on the Internet, it does raise a few questions of what Activated Charcoal is, what it does, and most importantly, what it can really do for us. Does it really help us whiten our teeth?
When it comes to Activated Charcoal, most people are familiar with its most common use. “Activated Charcoal keeps swallowed drugs and poisons from being absorbed from the gut into the bloodstream,” according to the National Capital Poison Center. The National Capital Poison Center also says, “Activated Charcoal is made by burning carbon-rich materials at very high temperatures to create charcoal. The resulting product is a black, odorless powder. The charcoal is then ‘activated’ through a special process that makes holes and crevices on the charcoal particles to increase surface area and available binding sites.”
So, it’s not as simple as using the charcoal that you need for your outdoor grill. And, it’s actually not recommended that you even attempt to make your own. Before you consider using Activated Charcoal, it’s important that you speak with your doctor.
Activated Charcoal has been used in the home for a variety of reasons, although not all of them are backed by science. Some of these uses include acute and general detoxification, improving digestive health, decreasing gas and bloating, whitening teeth, helping with heart health, and lowering cholesterol levels.
If you’re planning on using Activated Charcoal for whiter teeth, it has been said that it will absorb what can often be found sitting on your teeth. After the dirt and grime is removed, you will be left with whiter teeth. This tends to be the biggest draw when it comes to using Activated Charcoal in health routines, but before you start working towards those pearly whites, it is crucial that you talk with your doctor to learn how Activated Charcoal can affect you personally.
