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67902769fda6722c054ef186 Charcoal Toothpaste

Are charcoal-activated dental products good for tooth discoloration?

Jan. 22, 2025
Charcoal caught the attention of patients and providers when it was released as a whitening agent. But what have studies revealed about these claims?

Through the years, oral care products have been developed to address consumer complaints about the color of their teeth and the look of their smile. Several charcoal-activated products claim they will whiten teeth without harming anatomy and will not negatively affect overall dental health.

Dental professionals must understand the truth about these claims. Charcoal-activated products of concern are charcoal toothpaste and mouth rinse, which have gained popularity with consumers due to these questionable claims. Here I’ll examine the effects charcoal-activated products have on whitening teeth, and possible changes to the enamel surface due to the abrasiveness of the charcoal.

Is charcoal safe for use? Are these products worth the possible damage? 

Facts about charcoal-activated toothpaste

Many patients complain about discoloration of their teeth. Toothpaste contains a variety of agents for a specific purpose, such as abrasives, humectants, surfactants, viscosity and rheology modifiers, sweetening agents, therapeutic agents, anticaries, antiplaque, anticalculus, desensitizing, and whitening agents. Charcoal has been recently added as a whitening agent in toothpaste, which people found intriguing and it sparked curiosity in patients and dental professionals.1

A study was conducted to learn the effects of whitening with charcoal toothpaste. It was found that there was an increased whitening effect on the group that used charcoal-activated toothpaste, but there were numerous large craters visible on the enamel surface. There were no significant changes in the enamel morphology or color in the group that used the charcoal mouthrinse along with the toothpaste.2

Another study was conducted on charcoal-activated toothpaste versus regular whitening toothpaste. After the trial was completed, all groups showed changes on the enamel surface and in tooth color, but they were not significantly different in their outcomes.3

An additional study showed charcoal-based whitening toothpaste led to no significant changes in tooth color even though it promised to whiten the teeth. However, it did show increased surface roughness of the enamel.4

Some studies conclude that charcoal-activated toothpaste as a whitening option achieves the highest whitening outcome, and others state the opposite. It does pose a higher abrasive potential than other whitening toothpaste options.

It was discovered that charcoal has a high absorption ability and can extract fluoride from drinking water. This can cause a reduction in remineralization of the enamel, causing a high risk for caries. It was also found that charcoal-activated toothpaste is more abrasive than standard toothpaste. Charcoal also adheres to deposits on the teeth.1

Even though a whitening effect is given when using charcoal-activated dental products, it’s recommended to use whitening toothpastes, especially those containing charcoal, with caution. This is due to their abrasiveness to the enamel surface and an increased risk of causing dental issues.2

To recommend or not to recommend?

The stated benefits of using charcoal-containing products does not appear to match the outcomes. There needs to be more attention paid to the effects of charcoal-based products on tooth enamel. The supposed reward is not worth the risks. If a whitening toothpaste of any kind is used, it should not be used daily due to the abrasiveness.

As dental professionals, it’s our job to inform patients about the risks and benefits of various dental products. So, the next time your patients mention charcoal-based products or ask if you think they should use them for their discoloration, be sure to provide them with all the facts.

References

1. Altiparmakian ET, Aybala Oktay E, Karaoğlanoğlu S. Charcoal-containing toothpastes. Gulhane Med J. 2022;64(4). 295-300. doi.10.4274/gulhane.galenos.2021.43153   

2. Dionysopoulos D, Papageorgiou S, Malletzidou L, Gerasimidou O, Tolidis K. Effect of novel charcoal-containing whitening toothpaste and mouthwash on color change and surface morphology of enamel. J Conserv Dent. 2021;23(6):624. doi:10.4103/jcd.jcd_570_20   

3. Galouyak M, Ghajari M, Shamsaei M, Basandeh K. Abrasiveness and whitening effect of charcoal-containing whitening toothpastes in permanent teeth. Dent Res J. 2021;18(1):51. doi:10.4103/1735-3327.321862   

4. Koc Vural U, Bagdatli Z, Yilmaz AE, Yalçın Çakır F, Altundaşar E,Gurgan S. Effects of charcoal-based whitening toothpastes on human enamel in terms of color, surface roughness, and microhardness: an in vitro study. Clin oral investig. 2021;25(10):5977-5985. doi:10.1007/s00784-021-03903-x

5. Tomás DB, Pecci-Lloret MP, Guerrero-Gironés J. (2023). Effectiveness and abrasiveness of activated charcoal as a whitening agent: a systematic review of in vitro studies. Annals of Anatomy–Anatomischer Anzeiger. 2023;245(1):151998. doi:10.1016/j.aanat.2022.151998

About the Author

Curstyn Molloy, RDA, DH Student

Curstyn Molloy, RDA, dental hygiene student, is from a family of medical professionals and will be the first dental hygienist in the family. She graduated with an associate of science degree in criminal justice administration, and as she became interested in the medical field, she earned her certified professional coder apprentice certification. Curstyn then discovered dentistry and became an RDA, gaining experience in general dentistry, oral surgery, and orthodontics. She will graduate with a degree in dental hygiene from South College in September 2025.