Is It Crazy to Whiten Teeth With Charcoal?

I am quite embarrassed.   I pride myself on being on top of most natural, alternative methods – especially when it comes to the mouth.  I am famous (well, probably infamous) for not having gone to a dentist in over 20 years.  I take care of my teeth and gums naturally.  I just heard about using charcoal to whiten teeth yesterday.  Sheesh.  Where have I been?

Why Whitening Teeth With Charcoal is a Good Idea

Before I get into why it works, please note that you cannot use just any charcoal.  It has to be in the “activated”  form which is what you will find in a health food store.  Charcoal that is “activated” means it has been treated with oxygen to make it more porous and more absorbent.   So no digging charcoal outta your fireplace or grill, ok?

Why Charcoal Will Whiten Your Teeth

It’s weird, right?  Using something almost black to whiten teeth.  But hey, I Googled and found lots of supporting evidence, so I am definitely going to try it.

Our teeth generally get stained from something called tannins.  Tannins are substances found in many plants such as tobacco, wine, coffee and tea.  Activated charcoal is particularly drawn to tannins.  Brushing our teeth with charcoal can help remove the stains made by tannins.  The good news is that it will not hurt the tooth enamel.

How To Use the Charcoal on Your Teeth

Open up a few charcoal capsules and put in a small cup or dish. Add a few drops of water to make a paste.  Though charcoal doesn’t stain sinks or counter tops, it may stain material, so it is probably not a good idea to do this wearing good clothes. Brush your teeth with the charcoal paste. You can brush your teeth with regular toothpaste after. Make up enough paste so you don’t have to do this everyday.

For other great ways to keep your teeth healthy and save a lot of money at the dentist, read our blog “ How to Avoid the Dentist“.

Activated Charcoal is Awesome for Other Reasons

Activated charcoal is mainly be used to help detoxify toxic substances. It is even used in hospital emergency wards for certain kinds of poisons.  In fact, it is so good at pulling substances from the body, it should never be used when taking medication, as it will render it useless. Next time you go out to eat and don’t feel very good later, take a few charcoal capsules. If you have eaten something toxic, the charcoal may give you diarrhea but that is far better than vomiting, fever and cramps.

You can also use activated charcoal for digestive issues such as intestinal gas and diarrhea.

Charcoal is an excellent product to keep in your medicine cabinet for emergencies all year round.

To your Health!

Peter Gillham