Activated Charcoal: Is Black the New White?

Activated charcoal is a purifying agent that absorbs impurities and has been claimed to have many different beneficial uses. Some of those include treatment of poisoning and drug overdose, reduce bloating and gas, and recently has been used to naturally whiten teeth.
It has been claimed to naturally whiten teeth by absorbing plaque and surface stains that are caused by consuming coffee, tea, red wine etc. The American Dental Association has currently not evaluated or approved any charcoal teeth whitening products. A spokesman for the organization previously stated, “the product is concerning because its abrasiveness isn’t known.” With the unknown abrasiveness factor, the long-term effects can be worrisome.
Teeth are the only part of the ectoderm that does not replenish or heal itself— once the enamel is gone, it’s gone. When you lose enamel, teeth get sensitive and darker in color because you’re close to the dentin which has a greater depth of color. Since you can’t grow back your enamel, the only thing you can do is cover it up with restoration.
To avoid these risks, we recommend patients who are interested in whitening their teeth opt instead for professional whitening procedures that can be done in the office or at home with custom whitening trays.
If you are interested in professionally whitening your teeth, please contact our office and we can evaluate your smile and discuss the best whitening options for you.
The office is located at 27420 Tourney Road, Suite 270 in Valencia.  For more information, please call 661-255-2545.