Your dentist can also properly evaluate your oral health and let you know if activated charcoal could possibly harm your teeth or gums.
While activated charcoal may be good at removing surface stains, toothpastes are largely ineffective at whitening your teeth because they don’t stay in contact with your teeth long enough. However, if you smoke or drink coffee, your teeth may seem whiter after using an activated charcoal toothpaste. [4] X Research source
Activated charcoal tablets are available online and at some natural food or health and beauty stores. Activated charcoal is also available in capsule form. You would need to break open the capsule to use the charcoal on your teeth. Read the information on the package carefully and make sure the tablets you buy are okay to use in your mouth. Although paste made with tablets is typically more abrasive than branded activated charcoal products, you can control the abrasiveness depending on how finely you crush up the charcoal.
The finer the consistency of the activated charcoal, the less abrasive your paste will be. Try not to leave any large or jagged pieces of charcoal, as these could damage your teeth or gums.
Adding more water and crushing the charcoal more will make your paste less abrasive. However, you should only add a few drops of water at a time. If the paste becomes too watery, it won’t adhere to your teeth.
Be sure to use a different toothbrush than the one you regularly use to brush your teeth – small bits of charcoal will get trapped in the bristles, and the bristles themselves will become stained. Get a toothbrush with the softest bristles you can find to minimize the abrasiveness. You might try a child’s toothbrush, which typically has softer bristles than an adult toothbrush.
After rinsing with water, you may want to follow up with a regular mouth rinse so your mouth doesn’t taste like charcoal. When you first start, you may have a hard time leaving the activated charcoal in your mouth for 3 minutes. Start with 1 minute and work your way up.
Monitor your teeth and gums carefully when you brush your teeth after using activated charcoal. Discontinue your activated charcoal treatments if you notice your gums bleeding, or if your teeth feel rough or more sensitive than usual.
The primary benefit of activated charcoal is the removal of surface stains from your teeth. Waiting a couple of weeks will allow a buildup of stains so the charcoal doesn’t start eating away at your enamel.
While baking soda is less abrasive than activated charcoal, it’s still abrasive. Use this treatment no more than 2 or 3 times a week, and don’t use it as a substitute for regular brushing and flossing.
Smoking can also stain your teeth. If you’re a smoker, consider cutting back or making a plan to quit if you want a whiter smile. In the meantime, consider using a smoker’s toothpaste that is designed to fight tobacco stains.
These foods also help remove bacteria from your mouth and teeth, which can help prevent cavities and gum disease.
Oil pulling is an ancient treatment that may help remove surface stains from your teeth to give you a brighter smile. There aren’t any scientific studies that prove oil pulling is actually beneficial for your oral health or will help whiten your teeth. Although oil pulling isn’t abrasive and won’t harm the enamel of your teeth, you should still consult your dentist before trying this treatment.
Your dentist will also be able to talk to you about why your teeth are discolored. Some discoloration is genetic, and no whitening treatments will help.
