Charcoal toothpaste whitening

Hem / Mode, Skönhet & Personvård / Charcoal toothpaste whitening

Charcoal can be a part of the routine—but only with clear-eyed expectations and expert oversight.”

Related Stories

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.

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. 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.

Although the amount of charcoal on your toothbrush is unlikely to cause issues, activated charcoal can adsorb certain medications and should not be swallowed unless directed by a doctor. The end product has millions of tiny pores that trap toxins and chemicals.

This black powder is adsorbent, meaning it binds to other substances in order to safely remove them from the body.

Charcoal has been used as an effective poisoning treatment for nearly 200 years.

Get Dr.

B’s Dental Health Tips

You can’t be healthy without a healthy mouth. Used improperly, the abrasive property of charcoal can quickly cause enamel erosion.

  • Vegan: The best charcoal toothpastes are made with 100% vegan ingredients.

    • The Best Charcoal Toothpaste

    I’ve reviewed many charcoal toothpastes to find my favorite brand.

    There are times it seems to really deserve the praise, but what about when it comes to charcoal toothpaste?

    Meet the experts: Tyler Hales, D.D.S., a cosmetic dentist and founder of Hales Aesthetic in Orange County, CA; Johannes Jacobs, D.D.S., founder of Jacobs & Associates Dental in Oakville, Ontario; Nicole Khalife, D.D.S., owner of Lux Smiles NYC

    Advocates say charcoal toothpaste lifts stains and detoxes your mouth, but many dentists aren’t so quick to smile about it.

    “But if your goal is a healthy, luminous smile, you’re better off combining professional cleanings, safe whitening treatments, and enamel-protective hygiene practices. A hydroxyapatite or fluoride toothpaste will actively strengthen enamel to prevent the formation of cavities. 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?

    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.

    No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

    charcoal toothpaste whitening

  • Spitting vs. It contains activated charcoal, which is a fine powder composed of coconut shells, wood, and other natural substances oxidized under heat. “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.

    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 may also support better breath and a balanced oral microbiome, especially when formulated with coconut oil.

    This black toothpaste does not work as a powerful whitening toothpaste.

    How long does charcoal toothpaste take to whiten teeth?

    Specifically, it may wear down enamel, which harms overall dental health in several ways.

    “I’ve had patients—especially those who brush forcefully or use gritty charcoal pastes—present with increased sensitivity or even dull-looking teeth,” Khalife says, stressing that when “enamel wears away, it can’t be regenerated.”

    A 2021 study backs this up.

    Avoid toothpaste with toxic ingredients such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), saccharin, or triclosan.

    • The American Dental Association (ADA) does not recommend using charcoal toothpaste, based on a lack of evidence that it’s effective.

    Does charcoal toothpaste damage teeth?

    But it’s the longer-term effects that people need to understand.

    Potential downsides of toothpaste with charcoal

    Those same abrasive properties that might help do away with surface-level stains may cause bigger problems over time. But is it safe?

    A. Charcoal toothpaste has recently become a trendy tooth-whitening choice, joining the ever-swelling ranks of whitening products lining store shelves.

    Charcoal toothpaste may even stain teeth inadvertently when charcoal particles get caught in tiny tooth cracks or leave teeth gray or black around the edges. And lastly, most charcoal toothpastes don't contain fluoride, which protects your teeth against decay. 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.

    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.