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Can activated charcoal help whiten teeth?

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Chanshimla Varah | Updated on: 13 Sep 2018, 05:53:07 PM
Can activated charcoal help whiten teeth? (Photo:Twitter)

New Delhi:

Recently, the internet has been fused with videos and topics of charcoal. From the satisfactory whiteheads/blackheads charcoal peel off masks, to the zombie-like teeth, the talk of charcoal is all but happening. Its use ranges from smearing it on the face, washing hair with it and brushing the teeth with this black powder. The bigger question now raised is, are the use of charcoal-trending just another hype or do they really help whiten teeth?

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While the use of charcoal may be relatively new to the health and wellness space, charcoal use has been there for longer than you know. In fact, the use of charcoal for teeth whitening has its traces back to the early Romans. Traces of ingredients of charcoal in the toothpastes has been found.

So, yes, the hype about charcoal being used for teeth whitening has been true all along. In fact, activated charcoal has also been used for various other health benefits.

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Since charcoal has a porous texture, it is known to trap the foul free radicals which can damage the body. 
Although the use of activated charcoal has not been entirely proven for dentistry, observations are that using activated charcoal on your teeth is effective in absorbing plaque and other compounds that stain the teeth. Meaning, the chemical properties of activated charcoal is a natural teeth whitener, claim sources. It doesn’t neutralise the toxins—it binds to them, resulting in whiter teeth.

But activated charcoal hence has not only been about teeth whitening. This superfine powder has also made its way to the beauty market, popping up in everything from face masks to cleaners to detox regiments. The fact that charcoal was proven to even remove toxins, even poison from the human body and skin has led many to question, ‘If charcoal can remove toxins from the body, can it not remove those bothersome stains from your teeth?’

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For now, what the dentistry is more concerned about is the fact that charcoal is like any other abrasive. Meaning, it can affect the gums and enamel on the teeth. Hence, its safety and effectiveness remain disputed.

Always consult with your dentist before going ahead with any kind of teeth whitening procedure, including activated charcoal. Using unwisely before consulting will cause erosion, harming your teeth enamel.

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First Published : 13 Sep 2018, 05:52:01 PM

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