Black Whitener is a black powder made from food grade certified organic ingredients. It whitens while remineralising and maintaining healthy strong teeth (for a list of ingredients go to the Ingredients page). Please do not over-use; once or twice weekly at most. It is not designed as a daily routine, as it is abrasive. (Hint: if you close your mouth while brushing it will not be so messy and you won't frighten yourself in the mirror ;-). Personally, I swallow it, which helps keep the area clean and puts these healthy organic food grade ingredients into my body to assist internally as well as whitening my teeth.