DIY Teeth Whitening Toothpaste
My husband bought me a Keurig for Christmas two years ago. Once I got that little machine I started drinking a lot more coffee. I am up to about 4 cups a day now, although most of it’s decaf. I like the taste of coffee but if I drink it past 2pm I will be up until 2am.
All that coffee has started to make my teeth a little less bright and shiny white. In the past I have used teeth whitening strips and although they work well, I wanted to try a more natural, less expensive remedy. I’ve got a dentist appointment coming up for a checkup and cleaning and if your lucky enough to have an awesome dental insurance plan like our family, most procedures are fully covered.
Professional teeth cleaning usually makes my teeth nice and white again but I heard about a secret ingredient that can naturally make your teeth whiter without any harsh chemicals. What is this magic ingredient? Activated Charcoal!
What is Activated Charcoal?
Activated charcoal is made from wood and coconut shells. It’s similar to common charcoal but it is made for use as a medicine. To “activate” the charcoal it is heated in the presence of gas that causes the charcoal to develop lots of internal spaces that help to trap chemicals. The capsules are commonly used to treat poisonings and help with digestive issues or gas. When you use the charcoal on your teeth it helps to absorb stains and lift them right off.
How to use Activated Charcoal to Whiten Your Teeth
I found these activated charcoal capsules at the supermarket for about $10 but they are much cheaper on Amazon. To make a tooth whitening paste all you need to do is open one of the capsules and mix the charcoal powder with some tooth paste and then brush your teeth as normal.
A little bit goes a long way with the powder and just to warn you, your whole mouth will turn completely black! Don’t worry though, it doesn’t taste bad. It doesn’t really have a flavor at all and the minty flavor of the toothpaste takes over anyways. Once I rinse the charcoal out of my mouth, I brush one more time with regular toothpaste to get rid of any residue from the charcoal powder. I then floss and swish some mouthwash and I am ready for bed.
Depending on how discolored your teeth are, it may take several applications of the powder to get your teeth to their whitest. You can brush your teeth with activated charcoal once per week to maintain your bright, white smile.
Have you tried diy teeth whitening toothpaste with activated charcoal? Tell me about your experience in the comments!