Skip to content

Charcoal Toothpaste Fad – Is It Dentist Approved?

Charcoal has recently become a huge trend in the health and wellness industry with it being highly promoted on social media channels. It’s been an ingredient added to face masks, cleansing scrubs, and in particular, toothpaste. Many people are trying out charcoal toothpaste in hopes of it making their teeth sparkly white and clean. But is that really what it does for your teeth? Find out the answers to your most common questions about charcoal toothpaste here.

Why are people brushing their teeth with charcoal?

Activated charcoal is an ingredient in charcoal toothpaste that is driving people to try it out. It is a very fine black powder that is oxidized under extreme heat. This makes it potent and adsorbent in nature that can be beneficial for removing surface stains on your teeth. However, don’t confuse this substance with your traditional charcoal that you use for grilling. They are two completely different substances, with barbeque charcoal containing harmful toxins while activated charcoal does not. So, people use activated charcoal in hopes of getting their teeth whiter and removing any stains that may have built up on the surface of their teeth over time.

What are the benefits of using charcoal toothpaste?

There are a few benefits that have been associated with using charcoal toothpaste including:

  • Can remove surface stains on teeth
  • May improve bad breath
  • Could help prevent future stains on teeth
  • Prevent cavities
  • Helps remove plaque

However, all of these benefits are simply claims from people who have been using charcoal toothpaste. There have not been any scientific studies conducted that support these claims to be true. So, whether charcoal toothpaste is effective or not is currently just the subjective view of the person using it at this point.

Are there disadvantages of using charcoal to brush your teeth?

There are some disadvantages associated with using charcoal toothpaste due to the lack of scientific studies to prove its true effectiveness. These disadvantages include:

  • Its abrasiveness can wear down tooth enamel
  • Can cause tooth sensitivity
  • Does not remove stains below the surface
  • Most don’t contain fluoride
  • Long-term effects are unknown
  • Not proven to be safe

Do dentists recommend using charcoal toothpaste?

Whether or not charcoal toothpaste is recommended depends on who you talk to. Some dentists stand by the few benefits that charcoal toothpaste provides while others believe that the disadvantages outweigh the benefits. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), they recommend other options for whitening your teeth rather than choosing charcoal toothpaste. Therefore, most dentists do not recommend using charcoal toothpaste as there are many other effective and proven ways to get whiter teeth.

What toothpastes are recommended by dentists to use?

As a rule of thumb, dentists recommend you use a toothpaste that contains fluoride. Another general guideline that dentists recommend you follow is choosing any toothpaste that has an ADA seal of acceptance. Any toothpaste that has this seal of acceptance has been carefully examined by the ADA and that it contains the right amount of fluoride in it to prevent cavitie