Charcoal Teeth Whitening Risks to Know About

Living in Los Angeles means that billboards, posters, and screens of all sizes are constantly reminding everyone that their teeth are never as seemingly naturally white as every celebrity. Of course, few of them were actually born with perfect smiles and many don’t mind admitting that they enhanced what nature gave them with everything from having layers of shade removed while sitting in a dental chair to wearing dental veneers that were placed on the front of flawed teeth.

Teeth Can Become Yellower with Time and Eating Habits

It’s hard to keep teeth gleaming white because, aside from having naturally dark ones, they tend to get yellower with age and are easily stained by coffee, tea, red wine, sodas, blueberries, tomatoes, some medications, and smoking. And you probably already know from experience that the over-the-counter strips, trays, gels, and toothpastes take too long to produce any noticeable whitening.

But a possibly dangerous fad has arisen which promotes the idea that “activated charcoal” toothpaste can whiten quicker and better because it is abrasive. This is charcoal that has been heated to make it more porous so it can absorb stains, but it is abrasive and can wear down the outer protective layer of your teeth, the enamel, even though it is the hardest bone in the body. It is also ineffective for stains below the surface. Swallowing toothpaste with charcoal could be dangerous, since it also absorbs toxins.

Professional Teeth Whitening Gets the Job Done

Dr. Mashkouri offers two better, quicker, and safer ways to whiten teeth. The best is to sit in a Lotus Family Dental chair while she treats your teeth with a special grade of peroxide gel that can penetrate enamel without affecting its structure. Then she shines a special light on it to make it even more effective, while you listen to music or watch a screen and in 45 minutes as many as eight shades will have been removed. The results are permanent if you keep your teeth white by brushing your teeth after meals or snacks that could stain them (or at least swish water around your mouth afterwards).

Alternatively, we can provide you with a dental-grade whitening gel that is safer than OTC ones and is put into specialized trays that you wear for a set amount of time each day, depending on how much you want the shading reduced. The gel gently bleaches away the stains and within as little as a couple of weeks you may be able to attain a smile you can be proud of. 

Call for an appointment today to have an examination and discuss your options for a brighter new smile.