A fine black powder has entered the health and beauty world in the form of shampoos, soaps, deodorants, and toothpaste. Activated charcoal—used in beauty products and toothpaste—is a fine powder made from wood, coconut shells, and other natural substances that are oxidized under extreme heat.
A surge in products with purifying property claims has resulted from activated charcoal, which binds to toxins and particles and removes them since the gut cannot absorb them. Charcoal toothpastes containing activated charcoal and claiming to whiten teeth have become very popular due to social media.
"Everything, including regular toothpaste, has a level of abrasion—even our regular toothpaste," said Dr. Mayank Saran, MDS, Public Health Dentistry, a senior consultant in Mohali, India.
MedBound Times connected with Dr. Mayank Saran regarding his opinion on the use of charcoal toothpaste. Because charcoal toothpaste is rough and contains granulated charcoal powder, it can remove stains from the teeth but can also damage the enamel, he said. "So, if you are using charcoal toothpaste regularly and are happy to see the brightness, let me tell you—it is actually abrading your tooth surface, which can lead to the accumulation of more plaque and initiate caries that may later require treatment," said Dr. Saran.
Charcoal may be more detrimental to your teeth than beneficial, according to recent research. Dental professionals should caution their patients about using charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices with unsubstantiated claims of efficacy and safety, according to a 2017 study published in The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) warns that Dentists should advise their patients to be cautious while using charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices or pastes with unproven claims of efficacy and safety.[1]
What should be known:
- Because it is abrasive, charcoal toothpaste shouldn't be used every day, since it might erode the enamel.
- Everyday use of charcoal could cause tooth sensitivity.
- Charcoal’s effect on restorations and fillings is not known.
Modern toothbrushes and toothpaste are designed to gently clean the tooth surface. Scraping teeth with an abrasive like charcoal risks permanently removing enamel. Another issue is that charcoal can build up in tooth gaps and cracks, causing stains around dental work.
While charcoal paste may offer a brightening effect, it is not the best choice for long-term use, as it may abrade the tooth surface.
Dr. Mayank Saran, MDS, Senior Consultant, Mohali, India
Although charcoal toothpaste is marketed as a whitening agent that aids in tooth stain removal, this isn't entirely accurate. In most cases, teeth discoloration results from intrinsic stains that cannot be eliminated by charcoal extraction.
Deeper, intrinsic stains are dark hues that originate inside the tooth and can sometimes be caused by fluoride usage, trauma, poor enamel, or certain medications. Only whitening procedures that reach beneath the teeth's outer layer can lighten these types of stains.
A 2021 study published in Clinical Oral Investigations found no difference in the whitening results of charcoal toothpaste and conventional fluoride toothpaste. According to the study's findings, using charcoal toothpaste may temporarily give the impression of whiter teeth by removing plaque and stains. However, over time, charcoal toothpaste merely erodes tooth enamel, which is irreversibly damaged. [2]
An unscientific study released by the University of Malaya in Malaysia reported that teeth were actually becoming yellower rather than whiter. This is likely because the charcoal was so abrasive that it stripped the enamel—the outermost protective layer of the tooth—exposing the dentin beneath, which has a yellowish tint. [3]
"This is another reason to be very cautious about using such products."
It’s important to note that the whitening effect of activated charcoal toothpaste comes from the removal of extrinsic stains, not from altering the intrinsic color of the enamel. Therefore, the whitening effect attributed to activated charcoal toothpaste is essentially due to its abrasive nature.
References:
1. Charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices. Brooks, John K. et al. The Journal of the American Dental Association, 2017, Volume 148, Issue 9, 661 - 670
2. Koc Vural, U., Bagdatli, Z., Yilmaz, A.E. et al. Effects of charcoal-based whitening toothpastes on human enamel in terms of color, surface roughness, and microhardness: an in vitro study. Clin Oral Invest 25, 5977–5985 (2021).
3. Yaacob HB, Park AW. Dental abrasion pattern in a selected group of Malaysians. J Nihon Univ Sch Dent. 1990 Sep;32(3):175-80. doi: 10.2334/josnusd1959.32.175. PMID: 2230960.
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