It goes against logistics: you have to paint your teeth black for them to go white. And yet, scrolling through Instagram it’s hard not to believe your eyes. Before-and-after pictures of yellow then black then white teeth have been dominating our feeds and the sheer mass of them has us intrigued. The culprit: Carbon Coco Tooth Polish … and the black in question: charcoal.
Carbon Coco, an Australian-born beauty brand, launched last year with its debut product, the Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish, and it didn’t take long for it to go viral. It’s unsurprising, really. Our obsession with white teeth is equal to our obsession for wine and coffee. But in the quest for both, we subject ourselves to unnatural and unsustaining treatments. So when Carbon Coco launched a 100% natural alternative—for an eighth of the price, that could be applied at home—it’s hardly shocking social media went ballistic.
How it works: For centuries, charcoal has been used for medicinal purposes to rid the body of toxins. From gas and bloating to alcohol and food poisoning, it’s one of the most powerful detoxifiers going around. When applied to your teeth, its natural adhesive characteristics bind with plaque and attract and absorb toxic chemicals. So it removes stains and fights bacteria to prevent bad breath, gingivitis and other gum diseases.
We chatted to a spokesperson for the company to find out more. “Carbon Coco Activated Charcoal is made using 100% organic coconut shells sourced in Bali and the Philippines. The coconut shells are burnt down at extremely high temperatures until the texture is fine, like soft flour. The charcoal becomes highly porous; the pores trap toxins and chemicals, which results in detoxification and stain removal. It is important to select activated charcoal made from a pure source, for natural healing.”
Since the success of its first product, the brand has expanded its range to include a fluoride-free Activated Charcoal Toothpaste, a Bamboo Charcoal Toothbrush, a specially designed Tongue Cleaner and a 14-Day Oil Pulling Kit. When used together, they form a complete natural teeth-cleaning system that eliminates bacteria, strengthens enamel, freshens the breath and whitens the teeth—no chemicals, no UV rays, no problem.
So, since we like to recommend products we’ve actually tested, we decided to give it a try. We used the Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish followed by the Activated Charcoal Toothpaste and let’s just say the results were worth smiling about. We had brighter, whiter teeth in as little as three days, no joke.
User tip: don’t be put off by the videos on Instagram; it’s not unpleasant to apply and you can’t taste the charcoal.
Scroll down to check it out…
