Does toothpaste with activated charcoal actually work? Find out in this sponsored post!

Does brushing my teeth with charcoal toothpaste make them whiter?
I checked out the latest health trend and this is what I found out!

I have had gone through quite a few ugly phases over the span of my four decades here on earth. Oh, and don’t think this is me being self-loathing. I’m just keeping it real. Haven’t we all, though? Eyebrows that were waxed too thin because, nineties. Lips lined with dark lip liner that never gets blended in. Spiked bangs. Y’all know what I’m talking about! The good thing is, no matter what godawful style was trending, one thing stayed the same. A pretty smile made everything better. Thank goodness I’ve always had a cute smile, dimples and everything!

I’m protective over this smile, too. Frequent visits to the dentist, daily maintenance at home including brushing and flossing, and keeping an eye out for issues with my teeth that might be concerning. The biggest issue I have now that I didn’t have when I used to use an entire bottle of hairspray on just my bangs in a week, is my adult found love of coffee. I drink it every single day of my life, and my teeth, and thus my smile, has suffered because of it.

Lately, everybody and their mama has been talking about brushing their teeth with activated charcoal. Folks claim that charcoal toothpaste actually makes their teeth whiter. There are many other benefits that are related to keeping your teeth and gums healthy.

Clearly I’m always down to get into a new trend, so I had to check it out. I’m not going to lie, though. Charcoal toothpaste looks totally intimidating, and I had a lot of questions before I started. Where do I buy charcoal and how can I ensure that it’s safe? How do I mix the charcoal so that it’s the right consistency for brushing? What will it taste like? Will my breath smell weird after I brush? Is it going to make a mess of my sink and toothbrush, and will the charcoal stain my skin?

Fortunately I never had to figure all of that out. Instead, I tried out the Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy with Charcoal. Crest is a brand that my family knows and uses, and it’s easy to find because it’s readily available at Walmart. Trying out this new toothpaste formulated with charcoal was actually a really low-risk way for me to test out the craze. How’d it go? I tried the toothpaste out for about a week, and here’s what I discovered.

Is the toothpaste black?

No, it is not black. While traditional charcoal toothpaste is black and you see clumps on your teeth while you’re brushing, Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy with Charcoal is actually a blend of the toothpaste we’re used to with a stripe of charcoal. As you brush, the toothpaste turns gray and if you look closely, you can see tiny sparkles!

Does charcoal toothpaste taste good?

I don’t know about traditional charcoal toothpaste, but Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy with Charcoal has a fresh, minty taste to it. It’s not as bold as it is in other Crest formulas, but my mouth felt clean after brushing.

Does brushing with charcoal require a special toothbrush?

Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy with Charcoal does not require you to have a special toothbrush. My bristles were not stained at all. You can use and replace your toothbrush like normal with no worries.

Will charcoal toothpaste make a mess?

One of my biggest concerns was staining our bathroom sink with the charcoal toothpaste. I didn’t have to worry about that at all. Just like the bristles of the toothpaste remained white, so did the sink. There was no mess at all to be concerned about.

Does charcoal toothpaste really make your teeth whiter?

Whiter teeth was my main goal, so I’m really glad to report that yes, my teeth are whiter now than they were before I started using toothpaste with charcoal! It took about 3 days of brushing with Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy with Charcoal for me to see any significant changes, but now my smile is nice and bright.

So, see? Sometimes following the latest health and beauty fads does pay off! I’m still using Crest 3D White Whitening Therapy with Charcoal and will continue to do so until I run out. Then I’ll head back to Walmart to pick up more. Unlike winged eyeliner and using lemon juice to get highlights, I have a feeling that this one is going to stick!