COALGATE
A few years ago charcoal toothpaste was the epitome of niche. Drinking your own urine, being a cult member and charcoal toothpaste would have gone hand in hand.
Then out of nowhere around 2017 charcoal toothpaste burst on the scene and was everywhere.
Social media was filled with influencers and celebrities brushing their teeth with charcoal and soon every Tom, Dick and Harry was using charcoal toothpaste in the hope of whitening their teeth.
Interestingly the charcoal toothpaste fad has not gone away. In fact major toothpaste manufacturers like Colgate and Oral-B have joined the trend and brought out their own version.
Charcoal toothpaste is primarily marketed for it’s whitening effects, so with longer term studies do they work?
What is activated charcoal toothpaste?
Common charcoal is heat treated in the presence of a gas to make it porous. This makes the charcoal act like a sponge and trap chemicals.
The theory is that when the charcoal is in toothpaste it sucks the bacteria and the chemicals that cause staining.
Does charcoal toothpaste whiten teeth?
The short answer is sadly not.
A comprehensive paper written in 2017 found ‘insufficient scientific evidence to substantiate the cosmetic, health benefits (antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral; reduced caries; tooth whitening; oral detoxification), or safety claims of marketed charcoal-based dentifrices’.
Negative side effects of charcoal toothpaste
In fact it was found that there were several negative effects of charcoal toothpaste that users should beware of.
Cavities
Fluoride is a critical component to reduce the risk of cavities (holes) developing.
Charcoal’s sponge-like absorption is used in water purification to remove fluoride when levels are too high.
So they have the opposite effect by trapping fluoride and stopping it from coating and protecting teeth.
This can lead to more cavities, more pain and more dental fillings.
Abrasive
The rough charcoal particles can act like sandpaper which scratches the outer layer of teeth, enamel.
As the outer layer of the tooth is damaged it can expose the soft, yellow second layer of teeth dentine.
When this happens you are left with sensitive teeth that are darker and more prone to pick up staining.
Gum health
One of the negative impacts of the use of charcoal toothpastes by patients with established periodontal disease may be the accumulation of charcoal particles deep in periodontal defects and pockets, causing grey/black discoloration of the periodontal tissues.
The charcoal particles under the gum level can act like a magnet trapping plaque and causing more gum damage.
Fillings
The charcoal particles can get into the joints of fillings. These can be very difficult to remove and cause a grey shadow around the edge of fillings.
The bottom line
Sadly charcoal toothpaste doesn’t do what it says on the tin.
Quite the opposite, it can have a negative impact on the health of your teeth by making them more prone to cavities, gum disease and sensitive teeth.
So please be cautious when using charcoal toothpaste.
If you are interested in improving the appearance of your teeth by whitening them there are several excellent products on the market. It would be best to speak to your dentist for more advice.
Oh and if the reason your are trying to whiten your teeth you can read this article which highlights the common features of an older looking smile and teeth.
And here’s the research article from the University of Maryland about charcoal toothpastes.