As with all origin stories, the legend of activated charcoal starts with a miracle.
One place charcoal might actually work better than other existing oral care practices is as a breath freshener. “Most breath fresheners such as mouth rinses merely mask over odors as opposed to eliminating the source of the problem,” notes Dr. Jon Marashi, an LA-based dentist...
Every smile has its own unique set of issues and some need more TLC than just the recommended twice-yearly cleaning and at-home teeth whitening. From a major overhaul to restoring a handful of stained, worn or chipped teeth, veneers and dental bonding can provide a quick fix for common smile concerns. So, which option is best? The cosmetic dentists we spoke to say the one that gives the wearer the most natural look. “Right now, the pendulum is swinging away from the ‘bigger, whiter’ style of the late ‘90s and early aughts,” says Los Angeles cosmetic dentist Jon Marashi, DDS. “I’ve done a lot of revision work on actors who previously had that ‘Chiclet’ or ‘horse teeth’ look.” Today, anyone can get an A-list smile; here’s how these trending treatments stack up.

Like Andy Cohen’s career or the phrase “I’m not here to make friends,” the cosmetic-dentistry industry owes its success to reality television. Specifically to a show called Extreme Makeover, which followed the journeys of regular people who wanted to look better than regular.