Should I Whiten My Teeth with Charcoal Toothpaste?

Dental staining is one of the most common complaints people have about their teeth, so it’s not that surprising to find so many different whitening products in the store. You may have noticed that one product in particular, though, is taking up more and more space on the shelves: charcoal toothpaste.

Is there a good reason for the apparent popularity of charcoal toothpastes? And if so, should you use it to whiten your teeth from home? Here’s what the experts (and your dentist!) are saying.

Why Put Charcoal in Toothpaste?

Make no mistake, if the charcoal used in some whitening toothpastes was the same as what you would use for your grill or sketchbook, then no one would recommend using it! When companies and influencers talk about removing dental stains with “charcoal,” what they technically mean is “activated charcoal.”

Activated charcoal has larger pours than “regular” charcoal, which makes it far more absorbent. Because of this, some believe that it can “absorb” the discoloring pigments staining your smile.

Claims vs. Research

Now, activated charcoal does have a long history of effectively counteracting drug overdoses and accidental poison intake. So there’s strong evidence to support its absorbent qualities.

However, when companies claim that activated charcoal can whiten teeth, just know that those claims are not backed up by research. As of yet, there’s no clinical data showing that activated charcoal does in fact eliminate dental staining.

Activated Charcoal vs. Your Dentist

Professional teeth whitening treatments provided by a qualified dentist have a much more reliable track record than activated charcoal. Your dentists’ bleaching agents are FDA approved, can be customized to avoid damaging sensitive teeth and gums, and are specifically formulated to slip through the pours in your enamel and eliminate stains directly. In cases where activated charcoal whitening did seem to lighten a person’s smile, the results were still underwhelming when compared to professional treatment.

Should I Use Activated Charcoal to Whiten My Teeth?

Whether you want to try an influencer’s four-step routine or experiment with different charcoal toothpastes, it’s important to check in with your dentist before attempting to whiten your teeth with activated charcoal. The FDA doesn’t regulate the use of this abrasive substance for cosmetic purposes, meaning there’s no easy way of knowing if a certain method or product will be too harsh on your enamel. Applying activated charcoal too frequently also has the potential to wear down your pearly whites.

Your dentist can point you towards trustworthy charcoal toothpastes and give you guidance on how to use them safely. So when in doubt, consult your friendly cosmetic dentist in Springfield!

About the Practice

Dr. Victoria Driskill and Dr. John Neely place high value on integrity, and have high standards for ethical and clinical excellence. Their first priority is always to maintain the health and wellness of your smile! If you’re considering teeth whitening in Springfield, contact Dr. Driskill and Dr. Neely today at 217-546-3333 and find out which treatment would be best for you.