Teeth whitening - with charcoal??

cazs

I have heard that one can make some improvement to teeth whiteness by brushing with activated charcoal.
Has anyone done this with success and if yes with which product please?
Ive tried a whitening toothpaste before but didn't see any difference.
Any other at home efffective solutions please?

brook2jack

No toothpaste, mouthwash, or kit legally available over the counter will whiten teeth.

Products that are abrasive like charcoal , pearl drops etc will abrade away tea and coffee stains. But they will also wear away enamel at the same time so should be used sparingly is no more than once a week, and if you have damaged or sensitive teeth not at all. They may cause black lines to appear around white fillings etc . Also they may stop fluoride in toothpaste working https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/opinion/correspondence/charcoal-toothpastes-what-we-know-so-far/20203167.article

The other products normally have an acid that will dissolve stains and enamel at the same time,.

But no product available over the counter legally will whiten the underlying tooth. So save your money.

brook2jack

Caroline_Parker wrote: »

You could use activated charcoal and brush for about two weeks and check out the difference in you teeth color. It would be so white that any teeth whitening would give!

As said before activated charcoal does not whiten teeth. It is , however abrasive so it may rub off eg tobacco staining but it will also rub away enamel. It also has no fluoride in it and if used with toothpaste may very well stop fluoride reaching teeth.

Many older dentists will remember oldies coming to see them who used to brush with soot and salt. There are reasons we no longer do that.

There is no evidence for the hype so save your money.

mickeymouse303

Definitely a fad - don't waste your money!

Lilith1980

My dentist said that teeth proper teeth whitening is most effective at whitening teeth. He said the yellow pigment is actually more within your teeth (although you do get surface stains). Therefore whitening toothpastes and charcoal aren't effective. In order to whiten the pigment within your teeth you need to use proper whitening gel within those teeth moulds. I had my teeth whitened at the dentist and can vouch for the fact it's more effective than all the time I spent brushing my teeth with charcoal!

Jaymie_kate

Go to your dentist and have it checked. Sometimes over the counter dental products doesn't work at all and some teeth does have yellowish pigmentation that's neither stain. If it's a stain it will sure come off easily.

DCFC79

Caroline_Parker wrote: »

You could use activated charcoal and brush for about two weeks and check out the difference in you teeth color. It would be so white that any teeth whitening would give!

This just sounds like its a direct copy from a website or some sales persons spiel.

Iamzee

It does sound like it. Better have it check by your dentist. Teeth whitening is just one aspect of dental hygiene and what usually destroys our teeth are hidden until we have it checked.

jenniewb

DCFC79 wrote: »

This just sounds like its a direct copy from a website or some sales persons spiel.

It also sounds like it was written by a person without a firm grip of the English language...

LunaaLouuby

I was gullible and bought in to the charcoal fad buying a tub of charcoal powder made no difference and so messy!

MissRox

It really works!!!

Sadly only because you get to rinse away all the black and your teeth seem whiter due to the sudden change.