You’ve heard of teeth whitening charcoal powder, but you’re not sure how to use it. You want your teeth to be as white as possible, but you also don’t want to do anything that could be harmful to your overall health.
Well, here’s the good news: while there are some risks associated with this type of treatment, they’re very minimal and easy to avoid. And if you follow these simple instructions for using teeth whitening charcoal powder, you’ll have beautiful, bright teeth in no time!
Read on to learn more about How To Use Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder, How To Use Teeth Whitening Kit and How To Use Teeth Whitening Gel Without Tray
How To Use Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder
Charcoal is one of the biggest trends in the world of wellness and cosmetics. It’s become a trendy ingredient in commercial face masks and scrubs, and some people also swear by it for whitening their teeth.
Activated charcoal — the type used in beauty products and toothpaste — is a fine grain powder made from wood, coconut shells, and other natural substances that are oxidized under extreme heat.
There are many charcoal toothpaste products available online and in most drugstores today. It’s highly absorbent, and it’s used medically to absorb and remove toxins. But does it really work for teeth whitening?
Read on to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of using charcoal toothpaste.
Is charcoal toothpaste safe?
More research is needed on the long-term effects of charcoal toothpaste. A 2017 review warns that dentists should advise their patients to be cautious when using charcoal-based toothpaste due to unproven claims and safety concerns.
Here’s what we do know about charcoal toothpaste so far:
- Charcoal toothpaste is too abrasive for everyday use. Using a material that’s too abrasive on your teeth can wear down your enamel. This may make your teeth look more yellow by exposing the dentin, a calcified yellow tissue. It can also make your teeth more sensitive.
- Most charcoal toothpaste brands do not contain fluoride. Fluoride helps keep your tooth enamel strong, which helps to protect your teeth against cavities and decay. There is some evidence linking charcoal toothpaste to increased tooth decay.
- It may cause staining on some teeth. Charcoal particles could accumulate in the cracks and crevices of older teeth.
- Charcoal’s effect on dental restorations is not known. It’s not yet known how charcoal affects the materials used to make veneers, bridges, crowns, and white fillings. Particles of charcoal could build up between them, leaving a black or gray outline.
Charcoal toothpaste for whitening: Does it work?
Activated charcoal in toothpaste may help remove surface stains on your teeth. Charcoal is mildly abrasive and is also able to absorb surface stains to some degree.
There is no evidence, though, that it has any effect on stains below a tooth’s enamel, or that it has a natural whitening effect.
In order to whiten teeth, a product needs to work on stains on the surface, as well as intrinsic stains, which are those below the enamel. Intrinsic stains are caused by things like certain medications, overexposure to fluoride, or underlying medical conditions.
While activated charcoal does have some proven benefits, there is not enough scientific evidence to include teeth whitening as one of them.
What are the pros of charcoal toothpaste?
To date, the only known benefits of charcoal toothpaste are the following:
- It may help remove surface stains on your teeth.
- It may improve bad breath.
- It may help prevent staining when used occasionally after a professional cleaning.
What are the cons of charcoal toothpaste?
The cons of using charcoal toothpaste include the following:
- It’s abrasive and may wear down tooth enamel, making teeth appear yellow.
- It does not remove stains below the enamel.
- Everyday use could cause tooth sensitivity.
- Most brands do not contain fluoride, which helps prevent cavities and tooth decay.
- It could stain older teeth and dental restorations, like veneers, bridges, crowns, and white fillings.
- Its long-term effects and safety are still not known.
What else works for teeth whitening?
You have plenty of safe and effective options if you’re looking to whiten your teeth. Many options are over-the-counter whitening products endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA).
Professional whitening products are also available through dentists.
Your options include:
- whitening toothpastes
- whitening strips
- in-office whitening
- dentist-supervised, at-home whitening
When looking for teeth whitening products, look for ones that have the ADA seal of acceptance and ones that contain blue covarine and hydrogen peroxide.
These whitening technologies are the most effective, according to a 2019 study that compared whitening toothpaste and technologies, including activated charcoal.
Natural home remedies
Although these options may not be as effective as some commercial teeth whitening products, they’re more natural and are easy to use. Talk with a dentist first to find out if these options are right for you:
- hydrogen peroxide
- baking soda
- apple cider vinegar
Regular brushing, including brushing after meals and drinking beverages known to stain teeth (like coffee, tea, and red wine), can help you maintain a whiter smile.
The bottom line
Although charcoal toothpaste is getting a lot of attention and press, it’s not more effective than other toothpastes or at-home whitening products on the market.
It may help remove surface stains, but the long-term use of this product is still unknown due to limited studies. Speak with a dentist about the best whitening option for you.
How To Use Teeth Whitening Kit
Undoubtedly, tooth discoloration is one of the most common tooth defects in Nigeria. People get their teeth stained as a result of drugs, water, or sometimes hereditary. In the past, people used substances like charcoal, ash, and glass to achieve their smile dreams. As of today, technology has improved from those to teeth whitening kits, laser whitening procedures, teeth whitening paste, and the likes of them.
Teeth whitening kits have become a platter. Every toothpaste brand has succeeded in producing a remedial solution to helping people achieve a bright smile. Because of its convenience, a lot of people jump on it without being aware that teeth whitening kits is no guarantee to achieving a perfect smile.
Further research on the ingredients available on every teeth whitening kit has revealed that the content of hydrogen peroxide lies within the range of 10% – 15% which is minimal to helping to achieve a perfect smile. On the other hand, dentists have and are offering long whitening procedures using hydrogen peroxide concentration which is up to 40%, thus making the effectiveness of a walk-in teeth whitening procedure more effective than the former.
Teeth Whitening Kits: What are They?
These kits come in different forms, however, they are mainly a collection of trays and tubes of whitening gel/syringes used to bleach the teeth. For usage, the trays are often filled with the substance and placed on the teeth for a while before rinsing. Here is a list of the various types of teeth whitening kits.
- Teeth Whitening Kits with moldable trays
This type of whitening kit needs to undergo heat before usage. You have to heat them up before placing them on your teeth, achieve your teeth mold, then place in the whitening gel to achieve results.
2. Whitening kits with prefilled trays
Just like the name, these trays were already filled with whitening gel. All you need do is to place them on your teeth. This is the most common as they come in really handy and convenient to use.
3. Whitening kits with LED lights
As of now, LED whitening kits are becoming popular. This is because this looks finer and is said to be more effective when compared to others. The kit is attached to led light to help with even distribution of gel substance on the teeth. Most whitening kits come with manuals and teeth shades. When you purchase one, ensure that you go through it in order to track your progress.
How Do Teeth Whitening Kits Work?
The process of teeth whitening is similar to any bleaching process. The application of the teeth whitening substance and the amount of time used facilitates the teeth whitening process. The gel substance contains carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide as the main ingredients. Fast-acting gels contain higher hydrogen peroxide concentration making them more effective in removing stains and deep coloration. With prefilled and doable trays, the contact between the substance and your teeth is what propels the whitening action. On the other hand, LED light enhances the effect of hydrogen peroxide on the teeth.
How To Use Teeth Whitening Kits: Process and Frequency.
Teeth whitening kits are designed to be used for two weeks and most of them take about an hour before you begin to see effects. Despite this, the number of days required for usage varies on the type of teeth whitening kits you are using. Even for the best of results, the following instruction would help you attain a bright smile.
TO WHITEN TEETH USING KITS WITH PRE-FILLED TRAYS, YOU MUST FOLLOW THE FOLLOWING STEPS:
- Brush your teeth.
- Remove two trays from the packaging.
- Line the top tray against the bottom of the top teeth and carefully push the tray upwards onto the teeth.
- Repeat this step for the bottom tray.
- Close your mouth, but be careful not to bite down hard to avoid oozing the gel.
- Keep the trays in position for the specified period as in the instructions. Afterward, remove and dispose of the trays.
- Use water to rinse the teeth and gums of any excess gel.
FOR MOLDABLE TRAYS WITH SYRINGE GELS, THE FOLLOWING STEPS APPLY:
- Gently brush your teeth.
- Heat some water, but don’t let it boil, as this would compromise the tray.
- Place one tray into the water for about five seconds.
- Remove the tray from the hot water and instantly place it in your mouth. Bite down on the tray, pressing it against the back and front of the teeth until it fits comfortably.
- Let the tray cool, and if it doesn’t fit your teeth properly, repeat the steps above.
- Repeat the steps involving heating and fitting for the other tray.
- Ensure that the trays are clean, cool, and dry.
- Add some gel into the trays, just enough to avoid oozing the gel onto the gums.
- Fit the trays onto the teeth, wiping off any excess gel to avoid damaging your gums.
- Keep the trays in position for the recommended period, usually about 30 minutes.
- Remove the trays and remove the gel on your teeth by rinsing.
- Clean the trays.
What Are the Best Teeth Whitening Kits?
There are plenty of teeth whitening kit brands available in the market today. And just like with any other teeth whiteners, results may vary from one user to the other. Generally, the effectiveness of these kits depends on the hydrogen peroxide concentrations and how well users follow the instructions given.
While choosing the best whitening kit may be difficult, a good rule of thumb is using whitening kits recommended by a dentist. Going through credible and trustworthy teeth whitening kit reviews may also help simplify your searching process.
In conclusion, achieving a pearly white smile is everyone’s dream. Teeth whitening has proven to offer an easy and convenient way to keep the teeth perfect but may not always match the results as with in-office teeth whitening procedures. Though, there are daily improvements on whitening kits to help attain a better result. That begs the question: Do teeth whitening kits really work?
A Word of Caution
Some teeth whitening kits do work to certain limitations. They can be effective at eliminating some stains and teeth discoloration, but their effectiveness may vary among users. Be careful what you buy in the market. Some of the kits can have significant damage to your teeth because of the chemicals in them and the process they use. We would always advise you to speak to a professional before purchasing them or applying them. The damage they can cost if not conducted properly could be very costly. For proper teeth whitening, ask your dentist for in-house teeth whitening which would be conducted by a professional in a safe environment.
How To Use Teeth Whitening Gel Without Tray
They say your teeth are the second part of your face that people look at after your eyes, and in today’s world where everyone from influencers to A-listers have megawatt smiles, it’s easy to see why teeth whitening is on the rise. Who doesn’t want a set of dazzling pearly whites? There are so many options out there but the most important decision you have to make while researching is, where to have it done and what kind of treatment is best for you. I chose to have it done at Smilepod as they came highly recommended and after my initial consultation, I was given the at-home Philips Zoom! DayWhite kit, which is best in the long term. Read on for everything you need to know…
The at-home kit comes with three whitening syringes
How does teeth whitening work?
Firstly, you’ll visit the dentist to have impressions of your teeth done to make into mouth guards. I only had to wait for one week before my mouth guards were ready and I was back in the dentist chair, being shown how to use my at-home kit. I must admit, I had initially hoped to have an in-chair treatment at the dentist, just so that I could have the treatment over and done with in one visit, but I was surprised at how simple and easy to use the at-home kit is.
You simply squirt a tiny amount of bleaching gel onto your mouth guards and put them on; my dentist recommended just doing the central six top and bottom teeth as they’re the most visible and it means your gel supply doesn’t run out as quickly, but you can apply gel to every single tooth. The mouth guards were perfectly comfortable to wear and really straightforward to use.
Once at home, it depends on your kit and your needs, but I was told to wear my mouth guards for two hours per day for two weeks, and advised not to eat for one hour after each session. You can’t eat or drink while you have your mouth guards in as this can affect the bleaching gel, so it requires a bit of time management. I found doing the treatment in the evenings after dinner and just before bedtime the least disruptive to my routine, but if you’re a bit of a social butterfly and out and about most evenings, then an overnight kit might be best.
Squirt the teeth whitening gel into your moulds
What results can I expect?
I was genuinely amazed by how quickly the treatment worked. I had minor staining on my teeth and after the first session, the stains had already lightened if not completely disappeared. I was floored! I noticed my front teeth in particular looked brighter and whiter and I immediately felt more confident and content about my gnashers. I was also amazed by how little gel you need to apply to each tooth for it to work. The at-home kit was so effective, I’m a total convert now!
If you’re thinking about having your teeth whitened, make sure you read the following dos and don’ts.
DO go to the dentist to have teeth whitening done. There are some at-home kits that you can buy over the counter in countries including the US, or some beauty salons may offer teeth whitening, but it should only be carried out by a dental professional. Go to the dentist, I can’t emphasise it enough! At £299 a pop, the consultation and treatment plan don’t come cheap, but it’s totally worth it.
DO the treatment well in advance if you’re preparing for a big event like a wedding or a party. Your dentist will tell you how long your treatment plan will take, which can be around two to four weeks, or as little as one if you’re using an overnight kit. So make sure you have it done well in advance.
DO brush your teeth before you wear your mouth guards with gel. You want the gel to bleach your teeth not the remnants of your lunch stuck in your teeth! And also brush your teeth after removing your mouth guards to get rid of any excess gel.
DO expect sensitivity if you have sensitive teeth. During my first few sessions, I found that my teeth did ache a bit and I felt jolts of pain in a couple of teeth but this passed quickly and didn’t cause any long term pain. The dentist warned me beforehand that I might feel some discomfort. If you’re really suffering, you can always take a day off from wearing the mouth guards to give your teeth a break.
DO have realistic expectations. The bleach can’t make your teeth completely white but it can certainly lighten them by a few shades. I was so happy with my results, but the outcome depends on each person and how stained your teeth were in the first place. The gel doesn’t work on dentures, crowns, fillings or veneers.
Smilepod offers teeth whitening treatments
DON’T squirt too much gel onto your mouth guard. You only need a small amount to make it effective and you don’t want to have too much bleach on your gum line as this can damage the gums.
DON’T eat or drink while wearing the mouth guards. I thought I’d be able to drink water at least during the two-hour sessions, but this is not advised as the water can get into your brace and dilute the bleach, making it less effective. It sounds like a long time but I quickly got used to not reaching for the water.
DON’T eat food for an hour after taking your mouth guard out, especially acidic food if you have sensitive teeth. It goes without saying, tea, coffee and red wine stain teeth faster.
DON’T go overboard. It’s recommended to have your teeth professionally whitened once a year maximum. I was advised that the at-home kit was best for me in the long term than an in-chair treatment. Teeth whitening can last for a few months or even a couple of years depending on what you eat and whether you’re a smoker.