The truth about Activated Charcoal- is it Safe?

So we mentioned that we have been seeing ads on social media where ‘influencers’ talk about and promote using charcoal on their teeth to whiten them. While activated charcoal has been used for years in medicine mainly for its ability to absorb poison, it has lately become a ‘trend’ or a ‘beauty product’ to bleach your teeth.

Let us start with the basics- charcoal or frankly any other abrasive (eg- baking soda) for that matter when applied / rubbed on your teeth will definitely give you whiter teeth because it removes the stains. However, along with the stains- it also removes enamel hence damaging your teeth. Imagine you are taking something hard and abrasive like charcoal and essentially brushing your teeth with it- of course that is damaging! Once the enamel is removed you will never get it back and you have essentially removed the precious protective layer of your tooth forever. If you keep up this practice over time- as you remove the white part of your tooth (enamel) , you will begin to notice that your teeth look a lot darker and are maybe even sensitive. This is because the layer of tooth under the enamel which is called dentine is exposed and this layer is yellow which gives the darker appearance. The dentine is also a sensitive layer and you may experience sensitivity even with room temperature water! If you continue your DIY quest for beauty at this point- you will start to wear away your gum tissue too leading to a lot of problems in the future.

There is a reason why bleaching is done by your dentist. There is a science behind it which is backed by decades of research which will give you the whiter teeth of your dreams without the harmful effects of such products. There are a lot of ‘safe’ bleaching agents which your dentist can explain to you in detail and decide which one is the best for you. Be careful of what is out there on social media and what ‘trend’ to follow just because a few people are PAID to promote it because honestly it is not effective and definitely not safe!