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If you have a social media page, then it’s likely you have seen a photo of someone brushing their teeth with something that appears black. Well those black teeth are courtesy of activated charcoal. You may be wondering why would anyone use charcoal on their teeth? Well it has been around for hundreds of years, and has recently been rediscovered for its use in the heath and beauty market. From whitening your teeth to helping with aging, it’s use has a wide variety of benefits everyone should check out.
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated Charcoal is a fine black powder made from Olive pits, peat, coal, petroleum coke or other materials. When it gets processed at a high heat, it becomes activated . This helps to eliminate any substances and chemicals that can be harmful. When the charcoal is activated, it changes the whole internal structure and makes it more porous than normal charcoal.
How is activated charcoal beneficial to you?
There are plenty of benefits of using activated charcoal. Activated charcoal will bind to toxins in your gut and prevent them from being absorbed. This is why people with stomach issues could benefit from taking activated charcoal.
Improves kidney function
By promoting the elimination of toxic waste from the kidneys, people have claimed their kidney function improved but more research is needed.
Teeth Whitening
Every place you look, activated charcoal toothpastes are popping up. It has known benefits to removing stains and plaque. Make sure you find a brand that is well known as there are some fake brands floating around that could be harmful to your teeth.
Fights Acne
Activated charcoal attracts toxins and chemicals away from your skin, leading to a skin detox. It can help clear out your pores and reduce excess oils that can lead to acne. It helps prevent acne outbreaks and won’t harm your skin like some other acne cleansers out there.
Activated Charcoal Makes a Great Mask
If you are dealing with clogged up pores, try a mask made with activated charcoal powder. It helps to release dirt and oil from your pores giving you a nice glow. A great mask includes 3 capsules of activated charcoal with benonite clay and apple cider vinegar. Leave it on for around 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
Are there risks to using activated charcoal?
While there are more benefits to using charcoal, here are a few risks everyone should be aware of. Activated Charcoal can Bind to Substances in your body that are good for you.
Activated charcoal binds to harmful substances in your body, but it can also bind to good substances like vitamins and nutrients, which can prevent these from getting into your bloodstream. You should talk to your physician before taking oral charcoal supplements. Some believe they should not be taken for long periods of time as you would normal vitamins and supplements.
May be too Harsh for Teeth
There are concerns that charcoal can be too abrasive for tooth enamel, so if used regularly, be careful to not brush too hard. There are still many who believe that activated charcoal is great for whitening the teeth and for bad breath, which is caused by bacteria. Other side effects can include:
Vomiting
Constipation
Inflammation of the colon
Black Stool
Products with Activated Charcoal we love
Blog by Krista
