It’s Black and White!
Activated charcoal has become well known for its use in teeth whitening and brightening over the last few years, with people using charcoal powders to clean, freshen and whiten their teeth at home.
Activated charcoal is carbon infused with oxygen, creating a very porous surface that increases its ability to absorb toxins, which has made it one of the world’s oldest detoxifying methods.
Activated charcoal has no taste or odour and it helps to remove plaque from teeth as well as helping to prevent bad breath. It also helps to remove surface stains that build up over time from the ingestion of common teeth staining culprits such as coffee, tea and red wine, washing them away as you brush.
The more you use it, the whiter and brighter your smile will appear. The use of charcoal powder alone isn’t enough however for a daily cleaning regime. Charcoal in a powder form isn’t always convenient to use, nor is it enough to obtain the fresh mouth feel that comes from a complete toothpaste formula.
A toothpaste that comes in a ready to use tube is much more convenient, less fussy and is more suitable for daily use.
There has been a definite rise in popularity in natural toothpastes over the last few years as people endeavour to reduce their exposure to potentially harmful ingredients found in regular toothpaste brands. Many people are trying to avoid ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate, fluoride as well as artificial sweeteners and flavours.
However, they do not want to compromise on the clean, fresh feeling and the teeth whitening benefits that regular toothpastes offer. This could explain the recent surge in popularity in using activated charcoal toothpaste for mouth hygiene and the appearance of activated charcoal toothpastes on retail shelves.
Using an activated charcoal toothpaste is an effective and natural way of cleaning your teeth, leaving your mouth feeling clean and lifting surface stains to leave you with a bright white smile. However, there are other ingredients that are important for the minty fresh clean mouth feel that we have come to expect when brushing our teeth.
- Diatomaceous earth is a gentle abrasive that enhances the cleaning power of activated charcoal toothpaste and helps remove plaque and tartar from the teeth.
- Xylitol, as well as being used as a natural sweetener, has the added benefit of helping to protect the teeth from demineralisation and makes plaque removal easier.
- Baking soda increases the effectiveness of the cleaning power of toothpaste and has a long history of use in natural toothpastes.
- Coconut oil has been popular in oil pulling for many years for gum and tooth health.
- Natural essential oils such as peppermint, spearmint and wintergreen are important not only for the minty taste, but for the freshening of the breath.
Maybe its time for a change in your oral hygiene habits to include an activated charcoal toothpaste that is not only natural, but effective for a cleaner, whiter, brighter smile!