[Oral Health #8] Charcoal Teeth Whitening...Safe or Harmful?

Hello Steemers!!!
What do you use to clean your teeth with? What is Activated Charcoal? Have you heard of Charcoal Teeth Cleaning? How Safe is the Charcoal Teeth Cleaning?

A latest trend has emerged some months ago on social media about the charcoal based teeth whitening. Some vloggers post videos of brushing with the black powdered charcoal (claiming to be Activated Charcoal) for quite a while and advocate to do so for whiter teeth. It is being trending among millions of people now a days, known as 'Home Based DIY Teeth Whitening'.

What is Activated Charcoal?

Charcoal is made from coal, wood, or other substances. It becomes activated charcoal when high temperatures are combined with a gas or activating agent to expand its surface area. This turns it into a powerhouse of porous material that sucks in impurities from the environment around it.

Activated Charcoal is totally different from the regular home made charcoal. The process of preparing activating charcoal is not a piece of cake it requires proper chemical reaction under proper thermodynamics to happen.

Activated Charcoal as an Adsorbant!

Activated Charcoal being highly porous adsorbs the substances on its surface among these pores. In the early 1900s, the World Health Organization listed activated charcoal as an essential medicine for the treatment of poisoning and overdoses. Activated charcoal has become very popular once again; this time, it is being touted as a potent natural treatment used to trap toxins and chemicals.
Activated charcoal is the buzzy health ingredient of the moment, showing up in everything from supplements to pressed juices to beauty products.
It is well tolerated by the stomach and has highest adsorbing property. Note! The term 'adsorption' is altogether different from 'absorption'.

Activated Charcoal and Teeth Whitening

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Due to the adsorption property, it has paved its way into the Oral Care. Certian companies have come up with the Charcoal products which claim using that product would actually make their teeth white.
The Companies have been selling the product in small capsules. These capsules contain charcoal powder which is sprinkled on wet toothbrush for brushing. A black smear is formed all along the teeth and gums. The taste may be altered. The Brushing is generally shown (social media videos) to be done for quite some time.

How safe is the Charcoal in Oral Care?

The main problem with the Charcoal product is its grainy size. It is an abrasive.

Being abrasive it has a deleterious effect on the surface of teeth i.e., enamel. The tooth structure is that part of the body which if harmed or lost will not return or heal to its original form like that of skin or hair. The Charcoal when rubbed against the tooth surface, it scratches or erodes the enamel layer of the teeth causing the sensitivity problem and the aesthetic problems(blackening of teeth). Users and dentists don’t know how severe the charcoal supplement may be, so it may leave teeth stained or blotchy. The trendy product may also leave tooth enamel susceptible to deterioration and erosion, which can lead to sensitivity and cavities.
Sometimes it can also cause the gum line to recede, exposing the root of the tooth.

The American Dental Association has currently not evaluated or approved any charcoal teeth whitening products. A spokesman for the organization previously told Prevention the product is concerning because its abrasiveness isn’t known.
There aren't any long-term studies on activated charcoal as an ingredient in toothpaste. More research is to be done regarding its safety in the oral cavity. For example, how does charcoal interact with medicines if swallowed? And how does it affect healthy oral bacteria? Is there any reaction of Charcoal to the soft tissues, how does they react to it?
As far as i am concerned, i will not recommend this product for cleaning of teeth as long as there isn't enough proof and research about Activated Charcoal and that too exclusive effects on Oral Cavity. I.am afraid that the social media has grasped the attention of people so much that most of the persons are going to be trying this out, leading to the Erosion and Teeth problems over time.

If you want your teeth to be White?

Generally the usual plaque hides the shine of teeth which is removed by proper brushing and maintaing good oral hygiene. However, if you still need whitening, you can have Home Whitening Kits prescribed by dentists or you can have in office dental whitening to get the desired white teeth that you are after 😉. If you still dont want the dental clinic or kits and need much economical and home based method, Try using the orange peel which is a proven to create the whiter smiles.

Now it is upto to your discretion, whether you want to risk your teeth for whiteness or Simply be happy with your shade while you have your own Teeth for long.

Till next time...

Floss On!!!

MAY THE STEEM BE WITH US

Have you read my previous posts on:

1. Dental Insurance and its viscous Scandal

2. Dental Education amd Check ups in Community Schools by our Team

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