Originally published March 29 2015
Easy and effective natural teeth whitener
by Jeanette Padilla
(NaturalNews) Coffee, tea, soda, red wine, and soy sauce are some of the most commonly consumed substances that can stain your teeth. There are several options for removing tooth stains and they range in cost from pennies to nearly a thousand dollars. Methods used include gels, trays, pens, strips, and plasma light. Effectiveness varies widely and thee methods have the downside of cost and side effects (such as sensitivity). One of the most effective ways to naturally whiten your teeth is to brush them with activated charcoal.
What is activated charcoal?
You may know charcoal as the stuff you use in your grill when barbecuing. Activated charcoal is a bit different, so don't mistake activated charcoal with charcoal briquettes. Activated charcoal is used for medicinal purposes and is found in most health foods stores. It's a fine black encapsulated powder that is tasteless and odorless. Typically, activated charcoal is used for cases of poisoning such as food poisoning or poisonous animal bites. Activated charcoal is highly absorbent, making it ideal for removing ingested toxins. Hospitals use this substance for patients who have ingested poisons or have overdosed.
How to whiten teeth with active charcoal
The natural binding qualities of activated charcoal allow it to adhere to surface stains, effectively removing them after brushing. Also known as activated carbon, activated charcoal comes in various forms such as in liquid, powder tablets, chewable form, suspension, and the most common - capsules.
Use it as a natural teeth whitener by brushing with it on a weekly basis. To do this, (using the encapsulated form) open one capsule and pour it into a small container. Add just enough water to the powder to make a paste. Spread the paste onto your toothbrush and brush your teeth like you would with toothpaste. It's not necessary to scrub as long a you would with toothpaste. The main goal is to have it cover the entire surface of the teeth. Leave it on for 5-10 minutes to allow it to adhere to surface stains. Once the time is up, rinse it away and brush your teeth as your would normally.
New Jersey-based cosmetic dentist, Joseph Banker said,"I was super skeptical until I tried it. It's quite messy, but it does strip away stains and plaque to make your teeth appear whiter."
This method of natural teeth whitening can be a bit messy. To prevent the powder from potentially staining your bathroom or garments, try applying the paste in the shower and rinsing it out at the end of your shower.
Another benefit of using active charcoal on teeth is its ability to eliminate bacteria; in this way it can also help eliminate bad breath.
Sources:
http://www.prevention.com
http://wellnessmama.com
http://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com
About the author:
Jeanette Padilla is an experienced herbalist, writer, and co-creator of Sunshine Natural Healing. Read more of her work at Sunshine Natural Healing, or follow her on Facebook
Jeanette Padilla is an experienced herbalist, writer, and co-creator of Sunshine Natural Healing. Read more of her work at Sunshine Natural Healing, or follow her on Facebook
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