Toothpastes are usually neither here nor there for me. Whatever they claim to do, I figure that a toothpaste is a toothpaste and there honestly can't be that much difference between them. I've tried a few variations in the past, and there has only been one previously that was actually memorable. So, imagine my surprise when I got asked whether I would like to try the Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste* - because, ladies and gentleman, it is black. Yeah, I know, black toothpaste. Sounds pretty horrid, doesn't it? How can something like that make your teeth look and feel clean? Not to worry, there is a logical explanation as to why it is this rather strange colour.



The toothpaste is black because it contains activated charcoal - now, I don't know what the difference is meant to be between activated and non-activated but using charcoal in toothpaste does actually make sense. Charcoal is a natural odour neutraliser, which means that it helps to eliminate bad breath and help it stay fresh for longer. Charcoal also latches onto tannins - compounds found in coffee, tea, wine and spices, which are well known for staining teeth - and removes them, without harming the enamel. Not only that, but this toothpaste is also formulated with the charcoal to give you a whiter, brighter smile with low abrasion; which means that it is safe to use every day, unlike some other whitening toothpastes. Sounds pretty good, right? Admittedly, it felt a bit strange at first to brush with black toothpaste - and what you spit out really doesn't look pretty as it comes out looking grey (Sorry, probably too much information there), but once I got past that, I was pleasantly surprised with the results.



I don't know why, but I was expecting a funny texture/taste to go with the funny colour, but that wasn't the case at all. The taste was mint, as you would expect, but not overpoweringly strong. It's actually quite mild, and just right for me, as I don't like a strong taste. It leaves my teeth feeling very clean - squeaky clean, I guess you could say - and my breath certainly feels fresh after each use. The texture was just like any other toothpaste, so nothing to comment on there. The million dollar question is, however, did it make my teeth any whiter? I've been using this nearly every day for about two months, and even I have to say that I've seen an improvement in the overall brightness and whiteness - and I am my own worst critic! My teeth don't feel any more sensitive like they have done with other whitening methods; in fact, I would go as far to say that it has improved slightly, which is something in itself. Overall, my teeth seem to appear a bit brighter and more evenly coloured. They're hardly the glowing pearly-whites of a Hollywood celebrity, but they are getting closer to a natural white and that is what I'm aiming for. I'm hoping that with continued use for several more months that I will see even more improvement. If you're looking for a gentler, more natural way to whiten your teeth then you'd do well to give this a go!

Beverly Hills Formula Perfect White Black Toothpaste is on offer at Superdrug for £2.45 instead of £4.99.