Charcoal teeth whitening: a real way to whiten your teeth?

You would like to have a bright smile, but your teeth are stained? Then, it may be time for you to try a natural method, safe for your teeth, that will make them whiter. Rather than turning to a chemical solution that can attack the enamel of your teeth.

Where does charcoal come from to whiten teeth?

The use of charcoal goes back to antiquity, it was then prized for its ability to purify and decontaminate water. It was also used to filter polluted air. The Egyptians also used it for cosmetic purposes, especially for eye makeup.

Also known as activated charcoal, vegetable charcoal is a black powder collected from the carbonization of organic vegetable matter.

It is its porous nature and its ability to absorb all the substances that naturally adhere to its surface that make it so effective. It is also used in case of poisoning, because it will absorb toxins and purify the body. It helps to reduce abdominal bloating and it is in this case the vegetable coal of Belloc, made from the black poplar which is the most effective.

It may seem paradoxical to use black powder to whiten teeth, but it is its absorbent effect that will remove stains from the surface of the enamel. When you brush your teeth with charcoal powder, the porous surface of each tiny particle rubs against the tooth – without scratching it – and the elements that make up the stains come off and are transferred to the powder.

Vegetable charcoal works very well for food stains, such as tea or coffee stains, as well as tobacco stains. It is also used to eliminate bad breath due to toxins in the mouth.

The black color of the charcoal does not attach to the teeth, but is carried away by the rinsing water.

Where to find the vegetable coal?

You can find this type of product in pharmacies, parapharmacy, in organic stores and online of course.

For example, Very Good Smile offers a very effective powder, guaranteed to be 100% natural, based on activated coconut carbon.

Which vegetable charcoal to use in cosmetics and for teeth?

Vegetable charcoal comes from different types of plants and is collected after their combustion. To obtain a quality coal, an organic raw material rich in carbon is required. The ingredients most often used for cosmetics are wood – especially their bark – peanut shells and olive pits.

Coconut shells are more commonly used for dental products, as the fineness of the grain is far superior to that of other plants. Thus, we obtain a powder up to twenty-five times more absorbent with coconut, than with ash wood. The result is a much better absorption capacity, especially of the tiny toxins and gases that they release.

The other advantage of coconut charcoal is that it is odorless and tasteless, which makes it usable without any inconvenience.

From an ecological point of view, the great advantage of coconut charcoal is that it leaves the tree intact and allows for multiple harvests.

The chosen material is carbonized, i.e. it is raised to temperatures between 600 and 900° C, but without air. A second carbonization is then carried out, but this time in the presence of air, oxidizing gases and water vapor.

The transformation into a porous material takes place during the second carbonization.

How to whiten your teeth with vegetable charcoal?

Vegetable charcoal is not used every time you brush, once or twice a week is enough. Too much use could eventually weaken your enamel. Even though charcoal is not aggressive, it does have a slightly abrasive power that should not be abused.

Dip the head of your toothbrush into the charcoal powder, paying attention to the clothes. If charcoal loosens teeth, it stains clothes. You can put the powder in the palm of your hand, because it's best to moisten your brush and if you put water in your can, the powder may then clump.

Brush your teeth, as you would with toothpaste, for two minutes if you have an electric toothbrush, and for three minutes if you use a manual toothbrush.

When you use toothpaste, you should spit it out, but it's not a good idea to rinse your mouth with water. It is more effective to let the ingredients work on your teeth for a while, and saliva will naturally remove the residue. On the other hand, you must rinse your mouth well after using charcoal. Otherwise, it may stick to the teeth and gums.

Make your own charcoal toothpaste

The other very practical solution is to prepare a paste in a small bowl. Mix one teaspoon of activated coconut charcoal and one teaspoon of virgin coconut oil. You can perfume your preparation with three drops of lemon essential oil. In addition to its good taste, lemon essential oil has a very strong decontaminating power.

This mixture can be stored for several months at room temperature, if you place it in a jar that closes to keep out dust.

What type of charcoal for teeth whitening?

Vegetable charcoal is offered in the form of capsules, tablets, granules or powder. For the teeth, it is the powder version that you should choose. It is also the right packaging to make your charcoal toothpaste or to make skin masks.

The other forms are reserved for the evils and heartburns of stomach, as well as for the distensions.

As we have already mentioned, coconut charcoal is the most suitable for teeth whitening. Make sure the product you choose contains 100% activated carbon and no chemicals or additives.

Following this article, we recommend reading our review of teeth whitening appliances.

Vegetable coal : FAQ