The dangerous fad of activated carbon
There are fashions that sometimes are not at all advisable from a health point of view. In the case of activated charcoal, it has become one of the star ingredients in many products, from food to personal hygiene products such as soaps, masks, creams and tooth whiteners.
The use of this material as a
tooth whitener
has become vitalized through the Internet and has become very fashionable. It can be found on the market as powdered toothpaste or toothbrushes with bristles impregnated with charcoal. The sales pitch is based on the fact that this material “acts like a magnet” by attracting dirt and particles that cause teeth to discolor. However, according to the American Dental Association, there is no scientific evidence that activated charcoal helps whiten teeth.
In fact, an abuse of activated charcoal can have negative consequences for dental health, since it is a very abrasive and absorbent material, used in the medical-hospital field for specific purposes.
Regular and continuous use of activated charcoal for teeth whitening may wear down the enamel or cause gum recession, irritation and tooth sensitivity when used for a prolonged period of time.
This type of abrasive products, although they can apparently whiten teeth slightly by removing stains caused by coffee or tobacco, their action is only superficial, they do not lighten deep stains or change the color of the teeth.
On the contrary, they may even darken the teeth, because as the enamel layer, which is translucent, wears away and becomes thinner and thinner, the inner layer of the tooth, or dentin, which is yellowish, begins to become transparent. Thus, whitening teeth by using abrasive materials may cause the opposite of the desired effect.
On the other hand, toothpastes with charcoal generally do not have fluoride added. It should be noted that fluoride is added to most toothpastes because it is effective in strengthening teeth and combating caries, therefore, this type of toothpaste does not guarantee proper oral hygiene and it would be very risky to substitute the usual toothpaste for these.
At Ziving tomas Sastre we always recommend that before using a whitening product you consult with oral health professionals, such as your general dentist or orthodontist.
