White bites: Can activated charcoal help?
Activated charcoal as a natural whitener for your teeth? I've tested it and I'm torn.
"Whitetastic!" is written on the packaging. We could argue about whether this is reason enough to test the Black Powder from Beneva Black. But there I am, with a woody toothbrush in one hand and the natural activated charcoal made from coconut shells in the other. According to the instructions for use, you put a pinch of the powder on the moistened toothbrush before brushing your teeth for one to two minutes. I dip my toothbrush in a glass of water and use my thumb and forefinger to apply a little of the black powder to my brush. A huge mess. My trousers, the table and the chair I'm sitting on suffer as a result.
Lesson number 1: If I want my teeth white, everything else turns black.
Note to self: Moisten the toothbrush first and then press directly into the powder.
And does it taste good?
I start to brush my teeth. Mmmmm, sandy. The flavour is completely neutral, nothing nasty. Just a little unfamiliar. Then I spit into the popcorn bucket I smuggled away from home. But what turns my stomach is the water I spit out, which leaves black threads. After rinsing, there's coal stuck between my teeth. I get it out on the first attempt after fiddling around a bit.
After a second attempt, in which I take the above note to myself to heart and press the damp brush directly into the powder, a little more of the product gets into my mouth. It becomes more unpleasant. Drier and even sandier than before. My first thought: Oh, oh! Now I've done something wrong. When I look at the packaging of the product again later, I discover an illustration that shows exactly this procedure: Press the brush directly into the powder. It's particularly uncomfortable after rinsing. The charcoal has crept into every nook and cranny and under the gums. The whole thing looks disastrous. According to the instructions, I should brush off any residue with water. So after the test, I brush and brush and brush my teeth with my regular toothbrush and toothpaste. But the residue still stares back at me in the mirror. Time and my lunch will have to fix that. It's not until the evening that I see that almost all the residue has disappeared. The price I have paid for this: No smile for a day. My fingers also look like I've been digging deep in the dirt. So I urgently need a manicure as well as a dental hygiene treatment. My gums feel sore. Unfortunately, I can't tell you whether it's from the charcoal or the numerous attempts to get the stuff out of my teeth.
Lesson number 2: Activated charcoal feels right at home in my gums.
Note to self: Only use when I can hide at home for a whole day.
And why exactly now?
Beneva Black advertises the following three benefits of the natural product:
- Whiter teeth because tanning agents and colourants are absorbed
- detoxification of the oral flora
- fresh breath
The manufacturer recommends using the product as a 3-day treatment at the beginning. During this time, you should brush your teeth with it two to three times a day. You can find the exact instructions for this here. After that, the powder can be used once a day. It also doesn't matter what kind of toothbrush you use. However, as the toothbrush supplied is relatively rigid and the brush head is slightly larger than usual, I recommend that you use your own.
Just charred?
Are my teeth whiter after just one application? At first glance, I would definitely say yes. This is also confirmed by my best friend, who I meet for dinner the day after the test. Out of the blue, she asks me if I've done anything to my teeth. They look whiter than usual. However, I wouldn't subscribe to the fresh breath claim. The fact that the charcoal is neutral in flavour means that the adjective "fresh", which I associate with something minty, is out of the question. For all those who can't do without it, Beneva Black also offers the "Mintastic" special edition: [[productlist:9896253]]
After researching the topic online, I decided against a long-term test. This would have given me more information about whether my teeth would shine even brighter after a while. Nevertheless, the risk of ruining my teeth is too great for me. In principle, activated charcoal works as follows: It binds dirt on the tooth surface, making the teeth appear brighter. What many influencers who advertise such products on their social channels fail to mention, however, is that the charcoal also grinds the protective coating: The charcoal also abrades the protective layer of the teeth. And not just too little. Activated charcoal can have a much more abrasive effect than a normal toothpaste with added charcoal. This also leads to whiter teeth. However, the problem is that more discolouration can settle on them in the long term.
My conclusion: The principle may work, but in the long term it will cause you more problems with discolouration than it solves. I would therefore refrain from using it every day. However, I can imagine using the product every few months on a home spa day.
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Natalie Hemengül
Senior Editor
Natalie.Hemenguel@digitecgalaxus.chAs a massive Disney fan, I see the world through rose-tinted glasses. I worship series from the 90s and consider mermaids a religion. When I’m not dancing in glitter rain, I’m either hanging out at pyjama parties or sitting at my make-up table. P.S. I love you, bacon, garlic and onions.
