Carbon Coco Teeth Whitening || Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish || #RivetReview

I'm not huge on teeth whitening because of how sensitive my teeth are, with some days being worse than others, especially because I'm a grinder and my botox has worn off. I also drink copious amounts of coffee, including long blacks, I'm surprised that my teeth aren't more stained. Guess I'm lucky!

Carbon Coco were kind enough to send me their Ultimate Carbon Kit to try, which included the Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish, the product I am reviewing in this post. Charcoal powder ... to whiten teeth? Interesting!

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The kit comes with the Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish, a fluoride-free toothpaste, plus a bamboo bristle toothbrush. Carbon Coco describes this method as being a natural and healthy way to whiten teeth.

There's also the "chemical free" claim on the website, suggesting it's free of toxic chemicals, but we scientists know that a chemical's toxicity is only related to the dose given.

My current brushing routine involves an electric toothbrush and Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Repair & Prevent, which is the only toothpaste on the market that works for my sensitive teeth, and that means I probably won't be getting any use out of Carbon Coco's toothpaste. My teeth have always been on the whiter end of the spectrum, but I do notice that some lipsticks make them look a little yellow. I don't really think they could get any whiter without a professional type of treatment.

The tooth polish comes in a jar with no specified weight, but it does say on the website that you'll get approximately 110 uses from it. It's a very finely ground black powder made from activated [oxidized] charcoal (from coconut shells), bentonite clay powder, and lemon myrtle. It claims to whiten teeth in approximately 14 days, without the use of bleaching agents, and also kill bad bacteria. It is recommended to be used at night, followed by the toothpaste.

The instructions state to wet the toothbrush, dip it into the powder, and start brushing for 3 minutes before spitting and rinsing, then follow with the toothpaste. I do it slightly differently, just so as not to contaminate the powder in case someone else wants to use it. Using a spoon, I scoop out a tiny amount and place it into my mouth, then with the wet toothbrush, start brushing.

It doesn't taste like anything, I thought it would taste like burnt toast and have a gritty texture, so I was wrong on both; it actually feels like it fizzes up slightly. Given that it is meant to be gently abrasive, I don't feel any sensitivity or discomfort when using it. I swish it around my mouth for about a minute, just to get all the nooks and crannies, then follow with my regular brushing.

My theory behind how it works to whiten your smile is that the blue/grey tones in the charcoal cancel out yellow stains, rather than remove them, which will make teeth look whiter and save teeth the damage they would get from bleaching systems. I could be wrong, but this just seems like the most logical conclusion.

Thoughts?
Overall, I am impressed with the product. I feel that it gives my mouth a really good clean, the type you get from the dentist. I don't think my teeth could get any whiter than they are now, though. The downside, it's messy. Having a white vanity with plenty of micro-cracks means the charcoal does tend to seep in and stain the basin.

I originally switched to an electric toothbrush because it's way more Spoonie friendly, but I am more than happy to continue this extra step in my nightly routine. And no, it doesn't make your toothbrush look dirty!

Note: Activated charcoal has many uses and it definitely has its benefits, but only when it's used appropriately. In emergency medicine, it is used to treat drug overdoses. Charcoal is very porous, and has a rather large surface area, which is very attractive to organic molecules, such as drugs. This has been taken to mean that charcoal will detoxify your gut, which it will help to do, but eating food or drinks that contain charcoal isn't the greatest idea – it can mess with and reduce the efficacy of any medications you take, and it's definitely not selective in what it absorbs. Save it for emergencies only!

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Carbon Coco Ultimate Carbon Kit $59.95AUD - Available from Carbon Coco.

Have you tried charcoal based teeth whitening? Let me know!

This product was supplied as a PR sample for review, my thoughts are honest. For more information, please read my Disclosure Policy.