Charcoal teeth whitening has been really trending online and in social media in the past couple years. We've been getting a lot of questions about it the legitimacy and safety of it.
What is Activated Charcoal?
To start, let's take a look at what activated charcoal is. Activated charcoal is charcoal that has been heated and altered, so that has more absorptive power. Activated charcoal is a highly absorbent material that has been traditionally used in medicine. It was primarily used to absorb and remove poisons safely from our body.
The same concept was applied to teeth for "charcoal teeth whitening." It is marketed and said to absorb bacteria, toxins, and staining resulting in whiter teeth.
The American Dental Association has yet to officially conduct a study on the long-term effects of charcoal teeth whitening. But here's what we do know, charcoal is abrasive. When you spread the charcoal black mixture on your teeth, it deteriorates the outermost protective layer of your teeth, your enamel.
Enamel is the first layer of tooth tissue which protects your teeth, and it is very strong. Prolonged use of charcoal can completely remove your enamel and result in dentin exposure. Dentin is the second layer of tooth tissue. It is not as strong as enamel and is very susceptible to cavities and fractures. Exposed dentin also results in increased tooth sensitivity. Furthermore, dentin has a more yellow appearance than enamel, which will ultimately make your smile appear darker.
Teeth do not heal themselves, so once you do damage to your teeth, it's irreversible.
We recommend using traditional teeth whitening under the supervision of a dental professional. We would be happy to create a safe and predictable approach to help you reach your teeth whitening goals.
Professional Teeth Whitening in Van Nuys
Feel free to contact our Van Nuys, CA dental office at (818) 708-9889 to schedule a consultation