Charcoal toothpaste whitening
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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.
But does toothpaste with charcoal work? 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. Sign up for my free newsletter and you’ll get my unconventional tips, starting with: If I had a cavity, here’s exactly what I’d do to reverse it.
Does charcoal toothpaste work?
Charcoal toothpaste works to remove some surface stains from teeth.
Natural home remedies
Although these options may not be as effective as some commercial teeth whitening products, they’re more natural and are easy to use. There is anecdotal evidence that it may remove some plaque during toothbrushing, but it’s unlikely to remove more plaque than any other kind of toothpaste.
Can you use charcoal toothpaste every day?
You can use most kinds of charcoal toothpaste every day.
Children can safely use charcoal toothpaste, although it should always be spit out, not swallowed.
Q
Should I use charcoal mouthwash?
A
Charcoal mouthwash has no known health benefits. But I tell my patients to limit their use of any whitening toothpaste to no more than 2-3 days per week to prevent enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.
If you’re looking for a toothpaste for everyday use, choose a hydroxyapatite toothpaste instead.
Since it's abrasive, it can indeed help remove surface stains on teeth, but there's no evidence it works on stains below the enamel — limiting its effectiveness.
While using charcoal on teeth is safe in small doses, you shouldn't use this type of toothpaste every day. Many options are over-the-counter whitening products endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA).
The toothpaste itself wasn’t the only cause, but it likely didn’t help.”
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. “Activated charcoal has long been used in medicine for its absorption properties,” Johannes Jacobs, D.D.S., founder of Jacobs & Associates Dental in Oakville, Ontario, says.
You can read my story here.
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.
And lastly, most charcoal toothpastes don't contain fluoride, which protects your teeth against decay. 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.
The lack of fluoride in many charcoal toothpaste formulas is also a drawback, as low amounts of fluoride work to protect tooth enamel and prevent bacteria that cause cavities.
Other teeth whitening options
The idea of effective, safe, at-home teeth whitening remains alluring. Researchers came to the conclusion that teeth brushed with charcoal toothpaste over a 12-week period not only appeared to have “no clinically acceptable whitening performances,” but also increased surface roughness on the tooth due to enamel abrasion.
Loss of enamel can impact the look of your teeth, but it can also cause additional issues down the line, such as gum recession and decay, warns Jacobs.
“I recall one patient, a man in his forties, who came in six months after switching to a charcoal paste,” he recalled.
I graduated from the Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, CA in 1987 and am a member of the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM), Academy of General Dentistry (Chicago, IL), American Academy for Oral Systemic Health (AAOSH), and Dental Board of California.
Does Toothpaste With Charcoal Actually Work?
Many brands claim activated charcoal toothpaste can whiten teeth, freshen breath, and even prevent cavities.
But… is this dental product worth the hype?
Charcoal toothpaste benefits include a whiter smile and fresh breath. Many brands of charcoal toothpaste are lower on the relative dentin abrasivity scale than popular whitening toothpaste brands, like Crest.
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.
Charcoal can be a part of the routine—but only with clear-eyed expectations and expert oversight.”
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Charcoal Toothpaste for Teeth Whitening: The Pros and Cons
You have plenty of safe and effective options if you’re looking to whiten your 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? “He loved the look and feel initially, but began noticing cold sensitivity and some dark residue near a crown.
It may help remove surface stains, but the long-term use of this product is still unknown due to limited studies.