Let's face it: the Internet (specifically social media) has become a breeding ground for advertising. It's like the millennial version of a late night infomercial.
They're everywhere. Your computer tracks your search history and spits out ads that it thinks you will be most attracted to click on. Some of these ads are unavoidable. Some accounts on Twitter are notorious for posting spam from these ad companies. If you follow some kind of funny post account or a fan account dedicated to your favorite Netflix binge show, you've most likely seen this so called "click bait."
There's the WonderBra, Distance Bracelets, and this magical teeth whitening agent, activated charcoal. Now, granted, I had heard about activated charcoal through a class dedicated to saving the environment. Activated charcoal is actually referred to as activated carbon.
It's an absorbing agent that rids the body of chemicals that would otherwise harm it. It alleviates bloating, aids in fixing hangovers and is used for emergency toxin removal. So, all in all, it's actually pretty good stuff. What the Internet is obsessed with is the fact that putting this stuff on your teeth prior to brushing them causes the charcoal to whiten your teeth.
I'll admit, I was skeptical for a while. I'm an avid coffee and tea drinker and have tried many things that screamed teeth whitening in the past to no avail. Something that looks like it works on "real people" with already shining white teeth made me feel like it was a scam.
However, seeing it constantly pop up on my feed got me curious. Naturally, I ordered it, as well as a special toothbrush used to apply it.
The moment it arrived, I put it to the test. It's gross. You can only brush the front of your teeth, and it's hard not to get the gritty stuff everywhere. When you're done, you rinse out the stuff with water and you're left with residue stuck up in your teeth, which can only be fished out with floss. After, you brush your teeth like normal and go about your day.
Because of the advertising, I expected this stuff to work right away. Looking in the mirror after brushing my teeth and not seeing perfect white discouraged me.
Alas, I kept with it, and soon enough, within a week of sticking to a daily routine, my teeth began to whiten. I'm not saying that my teeth are perfectly white to this day, but they're a work in progress. I'm also not saying that you should go out and buy it right this second because it's great. However, I am saying that not all ads are trash and some actually mean business. Pay attention the next time you're scrolling. You never know what you'll find.
