Have you ever thought of brushing teeth with charcoal powder or a charcoal toothpaste?
It may seem very odd to put something black in your mouth and especially on your teeth.
What you may not know is that charcoal powder or activated charcoal pastes are great ways of whitening your teeth and eliminating bad breath.
As opposed to conventional toothpaste products, these items focus more on natural and healthy ingredients.
Just like bamboo toothbrush benefits, charcoal products provide great benefits and an alternative to the products you find in stores.
Conventional kinds of toothpaste usually contain chemicals which can affect your health in the short and the long run.
So what makes brushing teeth with charcoal powder and black pastes better than conventional products?
To answer this question, let me show you a few chemicals used in conventional toothpaste products.
Chemicals in conventional toothpaste products
You probably know that small writing on toothpaste products. How many times have you tried to read it?
If you have never done this, let me tell you a few things written in there and what they mean.
Triclosan
Triclosan is an antibacterial chemical found in toothpaste products. It’s also used in hand soaps as an active ingredient.
The problem with the chemical is that it is an endocrine disruptor and it has been linked to several health issues such as:
- breast, ovarian, prostate, and testicular cancer
- birth defects and developmental problems
Research has shown that triclosan greatly contributes to the progress of breast cancer.
Sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium laureth sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfates (SLS) and sodium laureth sulfates (SLES) are surfactants used in toothpaste products.
These chemicals create the foam and break down the phospholipids on your tongue.
SLS can cause skin irritations, but the biggest problem with them is they can lead to the creation of 1,4 dioxane.
During the production process, the product risks of being contaminated with this dangerous carcinogen.
Propylene glycol
The pharmaceutical form of propylene glycol is used in different products, including toothpaste.
Propylene glycol can cause skin, eye, and lung irritations, as well as organ system toxicity.
Diethanolamine
Diethanolamine (DEA) is a chemical which is also responsible for the foam which forms everytime you brush your teeth.
The ingredient can be absorbed through the skin and it has been linked to bladder, esophagus, liver, and stomach cancer.
If you’re interested in brushing teeth with charcoal powder, take a look at natural floss alternatives for even more information about oral hygiene.
Brushing teeth with charcoal powder benefits
Brushing teeth with charcoal powder and activated charcoal toothpaste can definitely change the way you see oral hygiene.
Just putting something black on your teeth is a bit skeptical.
Will it completely wash off or will you have black stains in your mouth for a long time?
Charcoal is really beneficial for your teeth and let me tell you why.
Charcoal whitens your teeth
You may have seen picture and videos online with people whitening their teeth with charcoal. They may use powder or different pastes.
They claim this whitens their teeth and changes their appearance greatly.
And this is exactly what happens.
Charcoal can absorb toxins from your mouth and remove stains. This is how you obtain white teeth in the end.
Besides whitening, brushing teeth with charcoal powder can prevent cavities and kill bacteria.
As I said, charcoal can come as a simple powder or as a paste (toothpaste).
In the latter form, the product also comes with other beneficial ingredients.
Essential oils contribute to a healthy oral hygiene
Oils contribute to killing bacteria and prevent oral health problems and diseases.
Peppermint essential oil is a great example. Its role is to kill bacteria and it prevents gum diseases.
Coconut oil is another ingredient which can be found in charcoal toothpaste products. It removes bacteria, bad breath and whitens teeth.
Baking soda and salts maintain healthy teeth
Baking soda is used in conventional toothpaste products as well. It’s also a ‘homemade’ tooth whitener.
Baking soda removes plaque and gives your teeth a uniform color.
Salts are another ingredient used in these kinds of toothpaste.
Pink Himalayan Salt is an example. This type of salt protects the tooth enamel and takes care of bad breath.
Silica tooth enamel is another crucial element in maintaining healthy teeth.