Having whiter teeth is a common beauty goal – and today, with plenty of different whitening options available, it’s easier to accomplish than ever before.
One of the most popular new teeth whiteners is charcoal. Better known as activated charcoal, this product can help you get a whiter smile right at home.
trumzz / Getty ImagesIf you’re wondering whether charcoal teeth whitening products are worth trying, it’s important to know the difference between at-home whitening and professional whitening. Here’s what makes charcoal teeth whitening unique, and how it works.
Activated Charcoal Can Remove Surface Stains
Charcoal offers a natural way to whiten your teeth. There are different forms of charcoal available, but you can commonly find products like:
- Charcoal toothpaste, which whitens as you brush your teeth normally.
- Charcoal paste, which is rubbed onto the teeth and left to sit for a period of time.
- Charcoal powder, which is mixed with water and applied to the teeth.
- Charcoal toothbrushes, which are meant to work every time you brush your teeth.
No matter which charcoal teeth whitening products you choose, each uses the power of activated charcoal to get your pearly whites even whiter.
Activated charcoal is perfectly safe to use on your teeth. It’s a fine-grained black powder that, as Healthline¹ explains, is activated, porous, and highly absorbent. Charcoal binds onto toxins, like stains, which is how it whitens your teeth.
And charcoal can be effective if you’re trying to remove surface stains from your teeth. As Joseph Banker, a dentist, told Prevention², it can improve the whiteness of your teeth by attracting tannins. Tannins are found in common drinks like red wine and black coffee.
Charcoal Whitening Can Be More Affordable
In addition to removing surface stains from your teeth, whitening with charcoal can also be more cost effective.
While professional teeth whitening at your dentist’s office costs an average of $650, according to Pearly Whites³, charcoal whitening products are available right at your local drugstore. At-home whitening products typically costs less than $100 per Pearly Whites⁴.
And if you search online, you’ll find that you can use charcoal to whiten your teeth for as little as a few bucks. Whether you’d like to spend $20 or just $5, there are plenty of charcoal whitening options available⁵.
Charcoal whitening can be more affordable and budget-friendly. And if you pair charcoal whitening products with fluoride toothpaste, whitening toothpaste, and a regular oral health routine, you can see your teeth become brighter.
What About Professional Whitening?
Of course, charcoal teeth whitener can only do so much. If you truly want to achieve the whitest of white teeth, you’ll need professional teeth whitening.
Done by a dentist in-office, professional teeth whitening uses trays of whitening gel and special lighting. The trays are placed over your teeth, and it takes up to a few hours for the light and gel inside the trays to whiten your teeth.
Professional teeth whitening essentially bleaches your teeth to remove stains and discoloration, Colgate reports⁶. It’s best for surface stains and yellowing, but it may not be as effective for graying or browning. Because strong chemicals are used during the whitening process, it’s important that a dentist applies the gel and monitors the process.
Professional teeth whitening can also work at a deeper level than charcoal products. While charcoal can remove surface and top-level stains from your enamel, professional whitening can do a more effective job. Your teeth are more likely to stay white longer with professional whitening – but it’s also far more expensive.
Consider Your Needs Before Whitening Your Teeth
The teeth whitening method you choose – and that’s best for your teeth – depends on your needs. If you’re looking for heavy-duty whitening that can penetrate even the toughest stains, professional teeth whitening performed by a dentist is your best choice.
However, if you’re simply looking to brighten your smile and remove the topmost layer of stains, charcoal teeth whitening products can get the job done. If you’re a frequent coffee, tea, or wine drinker, charcoal teeth whitening products like toothpastes and scrubs can be a great solution.
Charcoal is the next big thing in teeth whitening. While the jury may still be out on long-term effectiveness, it’s a solid, effective solution for stain removal. And depending on the type of discoloration you’re looking to fix, charcoal teeth whitening product could offer exactly what you need.
