{"id":233,"date":"2020-02-04T19:45:52","date_gmt":"2020-02-04T19:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/?p=233"},"modified":"2020-03-03T19:46:04","modified_gmt":"2020-03-03T19:46:04","slug":"safe-activated-charcoal-cosmetic-dentist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/2020\/02\/04\/safe-activated-charcoal-cosmetic-dentist\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Safe to Use Activated Charcoal to Whiten Your Teeth?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_259616796__1562609956_26813-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"person brushing their teeth with activated charcoal \" class=\"wp-image-234\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_259616796__1562609956_26813-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_259616796__1562609956_26813-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/AdobeStock_259616796__1562609956_26813.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019ve been on social media at any point within the past\nfew years, chances are you\u2019ve come across posts and ads with people claiming to\nhave whitened their teeth with activated charcoal. It seems a bit\ncounterintuitive, though. How can applying a black paste to your teeth make\nthem whiter? A cosmetic dentist is here to talk about how activated charcoal whitening\nworks, if it\u2019s safe, and why you should probably invest in professional <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/meet-dr-howard.html\">teeth whitening<\/a>\ninstead. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does Activated Charcoal Whitening Work?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Charcoal becomes \u201cactivated\u201d when it\u2019s heated up using a gas\nthat makes it become porous. It\u2019s typically sold in the form of tablets, which\ncan be ground up into a paste and applied to the teeth. The pores in the charcoal\nare then thought to absorb surface stains on your enamel, the outermost layer\nof your teeth. However, it only binds to staining particles on the surface of the\nenamel, so for deeper stains, you\u2019re going to want to see your dentist for a\nmore effective whitening treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Is It Safe?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Although activated charcoal is 100% safe to consume, it can\nbe abrasive to your teeth if scrubbed on. When applying it to your teeth, be\ncareful to only lightly graze your pearly whites. Also, don\u2019t ever attempt to\nwhiten your teeth if you have any sores or cuts in the soft tissues in your\nmouth. Let them heal first. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">So, How Do You Do It Without Damaging Your Teeth?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Once you\u2019ve purchased and ground up a couple of activated\ncharcoal tablets into a fine dust, add in just enough water to create a paste. Apply\nthe paste to your teeth. To avoid damage, dab the solution onto your teeth <em>without<\/em>\nrubbing it in. Leave the mixture on your teeth for about three minutes to give\nthe charcoal time to absorb surface stains. Then, rinse your mouth out thoroughly\nbefore brushing your teeth clean. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should You Get Professional Whitening Treatment Instead?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Even though it\u2019s possible to whiten your teeth with charcoal\nwithout causing damage, you\u2019re much better off seeking treatment from your\ndentist. Professional teeth whitening poses no risk of being abrasive against\nyour teeth. Additionally, your dentist knows how to prevent sensitivity that often\ncomes with over-the-counter whitening products like activated charcoal. When in\ndoubt, ask your cosmetic dentist what the best option would be! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/meet-dr-howard.html\">Dr.\nNelson Howard<\/a> is a 1986 graduate of the UCLA School of Dentistry. He is one\nof only a few hundred dentists across the country to be an Accredited Member of\nthe American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, the world\u2019s largest association of\ndentists who specialize in cosmetic treatment. His practice offers take-home\nwhitening kits that are virtually guaranteed to provide better results than\nactivated charcoal could ever deliver. To learn more, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nyhowarddds.com\/contact-us.html\">visit Dr. Howard\u2019s website.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>If you\u2019ve been on social media at any point within the past few years, chances are you\u2019ve come across posts and ads with people claiming to have whitened their teeth with activated charcoal. It seems a bit counterintuitive, though. How can applying a black paste to your teeth make them whiter? A cosmetic dentist is [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cosmetic Dentist | Charcoal Teeth Whitening | Dr. Nelson Howard<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Is the latest trend of charcoal whitening safe for your teeth? 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