Charcoal toothpaste whitening
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However, it does not work in the same way as toothpastes designed to prevent cavities.
There is no evidence that charcoal toothpaste has a detoxifying effect or will improve overall health. Most charcoal toothpaste should not damage teeth. It’s not associated with any serious side effects to your oral health.
However, there are a few safety concerns to consider:
- Abrasivity: Gritty, abrasive charcoal toothpaste could potentially erode your enamel.
If you’re looking for a safe, lasting way to brighten your smile, professional whitening or custom veneer design will always be the healthier, more predictable option.”
And if you really want the natural, surface-level stain-removing effects touted by proponents of charcoal toothpaste, give baking soda a try instead. It takes 2-3 weeks to notice whiter teeth while using charcoal toothpaste every day.
A study in 2017 found that charcoal was less effective at whitening teeth than hydrogen peroxide (found in small amounts in most over-the-counter whitening toothpaste) and blue covarine.
However, no toothpaste (charcoal included) can actually whiten your tooth enamel from the inside out.
It also can’t strengthen your tooth enamel or prevent tooth decay.
Also known as activated carbon, activated charcoal is created in a high heat process without oxygen. Like charcoal, it’s an abrasive, but one that’s mild and considered safe, according to The Journal of the American Dental Association.
The bottom line
If you’ve already hopped on the charcoal toothpaste train or if you’re determined to give it a try, dentists say that the key is to proceed with caution.
Dentists Weigh In
If you’ve scrolled through TikTok lately, you’ve probably seen people swearing by sleek black tubes promising whiter, brighter teeth with the help of activated charcoal. Speak with a dentist about the best whitening option for you.
An additional concern surrounding toothpaste with charcoal includes the possibility that charcoal particles get lodged in gums, cracks, or around the edges of crowns and veneers, says Khalife.
How long does charcoal toothpaste take to whiten teeth? Jacobs suggests using a “gentle, well-formulated version that includes fluoride” no more than once or twice a week in conjunction with your regular toothpaste, while also stressing the importance of making regular dentist visits, so if it does cause any damage, it can be caught early on.
“Charcoal toothpaste is trendy, and it has a certain aesthetic allure,” Khalife admits.
You're better off opting for a standard, fluoride-containing toothpaste instead of a trendy newer product.
Image: © Rostislav_Sedlacek/Getty Images
About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Dr.
Toni Golen is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, practicing in Boston. “But if your goal is a healthy, luminous smile, you’re better off combining professional cleanings, safe whitening treatments, and enamel-protective hygiene practices. It contains activated charcoal, which is a fine powder composed of coconut shells, wood, and other natural substances oxidized under heat.
“He loved the look and feel initially, but began noticing cold sensitivity and some dark residue near a crown. Many brands of charcoal toothpaste are lower on the relative dentin abrasivity scale than popular whitening toothpaste brands, like Crest. We discovered slight erosion on several molars and needed to make some adjustments.
After extensive testing, I found the best charcoal toothpaste on the market is Hyperbiotics Charcoal Toothpaste.
Hyperbiotics’ toothpaste features:
- Active probiotics to support fresh breath and a healthy oral microbiome
- Very low abrasivity
- Xylitol to support tooth remineralization
- Baking soda for supporting a healthy pH in the mouth
FAQs
Q
Will activated charcoal stain crowns/fillings/veneers?
A
Charcoal toothpaste is safe for fillings, veneers, crowns, caps, etc.
So whether or not toothpaste with charcoal actually “works” depends on what you’re hoping to get out of the experience.
Benefits of toothpaste with charcoal
Unfortunately, the list of benefits when it comes to charcoal toothpaste is pretty short.
Seeing an immediate difference in the before-and-after can hold a lot of sway.
By Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Q.My daughter-in-law is raving about charcoal-infused toothpaste she recently bought, saying it really helps whiten teeth.
In fact, a 2017 review in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that evidence supporting charcoal toothpaste’s whitening or oral-health benefits is limited and inconclusive.
“Charcoal toothpaste has become a huge fad online—especially on TikTok—with videos showing dramatic whitening results,” says Tyler Hales, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist and founder of Hales Aesthetic in Orange County, CA.
“While it might look effective, the truth is more complicated.”
So is this trendy black paste actually worth adding to your bathroom counter, or should you stick with traditional fluoride formulas? Check the relative dentin abrasivity of any charcoal toothpaste before using it.
Charcoal Toothpaste for Whiter Teeth
Using activated charcoal toothpaste may result in slightly whiter teeth by removing extrinsic (surface) stains.