Blog Post

Pros and Cons of Using a Charcoal Toothpaste

Dr Alex Silman • Jan 23, 2020

Activated charcoal is one of today’s most popular health and wellness fads. Lately, it’s been appearing in many dental health products, including toothpastes; celebrity Kendall Jenner, for example, hawks a brand called Moon on her social media platforms. However, before buying into the hype, it pays to learn more about charcoal toothpastes, in particular, and what they can and cannot do for you. Read on to study up.

What is Charcoal Toothpaste, Anyway?

Charcoal toothpaste is a type of toothpaste that contains activated charcoal, a form of carbon that’s treated so that its surface particles are porous. The resulting nooks and crannies perform like powerful magnets, drawing in and absorbing particles that are swept away when the charcoal is rinsed off. In toothpastes, activated charcoal is marketed as binding to things like bacteria, stains and tartar; as a result, it is touted as being great for whitening the teeth and freshening the breath.

Extrinsic versus Intrinsic Stains

To understand the limitations of charcoal toothpastes, it helps to understand the difference between extrinsic and intrinsic stains of the teeth. Extrinsic stains are stains that exist on the surface of the teeth, above the enamel layer. They are caused by things like coffee, red wine and tobacco. Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, appear below the enamel layer within the tooth. Dark in color, they are commonly caused by certain medications, trauma and weak enamel.

Pros of Using Charcoal Toothpaste

A few potential advantages of using charcoal toothpaste include:

1. May freshen the breath – Because the activated charcoal that’s found in such toothpastes attracts things like food particles and plaque, it may help to freshen the breath. However, it does not appear to do so any better than regular toothpaste.

2. May help to remove extrinsic stains – Activated charcoal is mildly abrasive. As such, it may help to remove surface stains during brushing. Because it is absorbent, it may also absorb certain stains, which are then washed away when the toothpaste is rinsed out of the mouth.

3. It is unlikely to affect medications – Contrary to what is occasionally reported, activated charcoal toothpastes are highly unlikely to affect medications. Although activated charcoal is used to counteract problems like drug overdoses and poisoning, it only tends to have an effect on medications when it makes prolonged contact with them in the digestive tract. As long as you rinse away such toothpaste after using rather than swallowing it, then, you should have nothing to worry about in this regard.

Cons of Charcoal Toothpaste

Some potential downsides of using charcoal toothpaste include:

1. There are serious safety concerns – In a 2017 review, “Charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices,” dentists are advised to warn patients to be cautious when using charcoal toothpastes. The study states that additional research is still needed to determine the long-term effects, if any, of using such products regularly.

2. It is too abrasive for daily use – The abrasive quality of charcoal, which is touted for its ability to remove surface stains, also renders it unsuitable for everyday use. Using such toothpaste daily can wear down the enamel of the teeth. This exposes the underlying dentin, calcified yellow tissue, over time, causing the teeth to appear more yellow. It can also make the teeth more sensitive.

3. It usually doesn’t contain fluoride – Toothpastes that are recommended by dentists contain fluoride, which is proven to strengthen and protect the all-important enamel of the teeth. Since enamel protects against decay and cavities, it is a crucial part of any dental care regimen. What’s worse is that some evidence links the use of charcoal toothpaste with increased decaying of the teeth.

4. It may actually cause stains – The regular use of charcoal toothpaste may actually cause new stains on certain teeth. That is because charcoal particles can build up in the crevices and cracks of older teeth, which can lend them a grayish or darker hue. As a result, regular use of this type of toothpaste can actually cause new stains while removing others – and the net result is not favorable for many people.

5. It may affect the appearance of dental restorations – Another serious potential issue that’s involved with the regular use of charcoal toothpaste is that it can cause stains on dental restorations. When put into contact with the materials that are commonly used to make things like white fillings, crowns, bridges and veneers, charcoal toothpaste can build up between them. This may result in unsightly gray or black outlines around such restorations, negatively impacting the appearance of the teeth and smile.

6. It does not “detoxify” the mouth – Contrary to the marketing language that is used to promote many types of charcoal toothpastes, activated charcoal does not “detoxify” the mouth in any way. Although it can attract and lift away things like food and plaque particles, which may help to improve the breath, it doesn’t remove “toxins” from the body. That’s because the gum and teeth don’t act like organs like the kidneys and liver and have no detoxifying effect on the body whatsoever. In fact, charcoal can become caught in the gums and irritate them.

Tips for Using Charcoal Toothpaste Safely

If you still want to give charcoal toothpaste a whirl, make sure to use it safely. First, do not use it in place of regular fluoride toothpaste. Instead, use it occasionally as a supplement to your regular dental care regimen. Brush very gently when using charcoal toothpaste to mitigate its abrasive effects, and make sure to rinse the mouth thoroughly after use. If you have dental restorations, you should proceed with caution because of the potential risk of charcoal building up around them and causing unsightly stains.

The Bottom Line

So, should you use charcoal toothpaste? Given that its long-term effects are largely unknown and that its disadvantages outweigh its advantages, probably not. However, as mentioned directly above, you may wish to use it occasionally. Just keep in mind that it won’t actually bleach your teeth; for effective whitening, only bleach treatments at your dentist’s office will produce noticeable results.