You CAN Whiten Your Teeth Without Sensitivity!

(This post is sponsored by Carbon Coco. All opinions and experiences are my own. disclosure policy.)

Do you have sensitive teeth? I do, and it's incredibly annoying. Especially when I would like to whiten my teeth.

Have you heard of using charcoal powder for whitening teeth? Charcoal is in everything these days - cleanser, shampoo, facial masks, toothbrushes - the list goes on! Why is charcoal in everything?


Activated charcoal is carbon that has been heated to make it expand, making it more porous and able to trap toxins. It chemically binds other substances to it's surface, but is not absorbed by the body. You've no doubt heard of it being used to treat certain types of poisoning. It is said that when charcoal is used in beauty products, it draws out impurities and oil. The same process applies to tooth care products, like Carbon Coco - the charcoal is supposed to bind with stains and help whiten teeth. Without causing sensitivity.


Now you're probably saying, That's great - but does it work? - I had the same question. First, let's address some of the reasons why someone's teeth may not be as white as they would like. Receiving certain antibiotics as a child, taking certain medications, certain illnesses, or genetics are all things that can not only cause teeth to be not be "white", but can also prevent whitening products from working well. I've always had problems whitening my teeth to blinding white (and I admit to having some envious feelings when I see someone with a whiter-than-white smile). I did have a lot of antibiotics as a child and I have also taken antihistamines daily for years. I don't drink coffee, but I do drink iced tea. I always use a straw, so the tea doesn't really come in contact with the surface of my teeth.

I've used whitening toothpaste and mouth rinse for years, but it doesn't seem to make a difference. I've tried several types of whitening strips, but I have to be careful because of sensitivity. I use Sensodyne toothpaste, but the strips still make me miserable. I've tried a couple of whitening gels, but they didn't work either.


Charcoal powder seemed like a good option for me, and I was more than willing to give it a go. Carbon Coco Activated Charcoal Tooth Polish is made of finely milled organic coconut shell activated charcoal with a bit of bentonite clay and lemon myrtle.

A little powder goes a long way - you dampen your toothbrush, dip in the in charcoal, then brush your teeth for 2-3 minutes. I never noticed any taste or smell to the powder. Tip: Keep your mouth closed as much as possible, or you will find little spots of charcoal everywhere! I recommend having a damp paper towel nearby. No matter how careful I am when I rinse, I always make a mess!


Next, you brush as usual with the Activated Charcoal Toothpaste. It's black, but once you start brushing, it lightens to a light grey. Or maybe it's white and the residual charcoal in your mouth turns it grey. Either way - it looks grey when you spit it out! The toothpaste is spearmint-flavored and does not contain fluoride. Both the polish and toothpaste are vegan-friendly and cruelty-free.


The Carbon Coco website says that using the product nightly usually shows results in 7-14 days.


I have been using the charcoal polish and toothpaste (with the Carbon Coco Bamboo Charcoal toothbrush) nightly, and my regular Sensodyne Extra Whitening toothpaste in the morning for about 4-6 weeks. And guess what? I have definitely seen an improvement - without tooth sensitivity!


Are my teeth as white as I would like? No. I don't think they ever will be unless I get veneers - but they are visibly whiter than they ever were using whitening toothpaste, strips, or gel. Will I keep using charcoal? I actually think I will. I'm not using it nightly now, just 3-4 times per week, which seems to be a good maintenance schedule. It's easy to do, and definitely works better for me than whitening strips or gel - plus the added benefit of no increased sensitivity.


If you're interested in trying Carbon Coco, they're having a sale right now and they have free international shipping AND also a "love it or leave it" guarantee, so you can get a full refund if you don't see results within 14 days.


You can find Carbon Coco on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

Have you ever tried activated charcoal for whitening your teeth? How did it go? I'm curious to see if others had results! Leave a comment here, on Instagram, or Snapchat!