Charcoal toothpaste whitening

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This isn’t the first time the buzzy ingredient has started popping up everywhere; over the years, influencers have raved about face masks, supplements, and more products featuring charcoal front and center. There is anecdotal evidence that it may remove some plaque during toothbrushing, but it’s unlikely to remove more plaque than any other kind of toothpaste.

Can you use charcoal toothpaste every day?

You can use most kinds of charcoal toothpaste every day.

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.

Jacobs suggests using a “gentle, well-formulated version that includes fluoride” no more than once or twice a week in conjunction with your regular toothpaste, while also stressing the importance of making regular dentist visits, so if it does cause any damage, it can be caught early on.

“Charcoal toothpaste is trendy, and it has a certain aesthetic allure,” Khalife admits.

Does Toothpaste With Charcoal Actually Work? 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 I tell my patients to limit their use of any whitening toothpaste to no more than 2-3 days per week to prevent enamel erosion and tooth sensitivity.

If you’re looking for a toothpaste for everyday use, choose a hydroxyapatite toothpaste instead.

Always finish brushing your teeth with charcoal by thoroughly rinsing with water.

  • Brushing technique: Poor brushing technique can cause damage to enamel, even with high-quality charcoal toothpaste. Namely, charcoal’s gritty texture helps polish away superficial stains—such as those from coffee, wine, or tobacco, notes Khalife—giving teeth a smoother feel and slightly brighter appearance right after brushing.

    • It may help remove surface stains, but the long-term use of this product is still unknown due to limited studies. Researchers came to the conclusion that teeth brushed with charcoal toothpaste over a 12-week period not only appeared to have “no clinically acceptable whitening performances,” but also increased surface roughness on the tooth due to enamel abrasion.

    Loss of enamel can impact the look of your teeth, but it can also cause additional issues down the line, such as gum recession and decay, warns Jacobs.

    “I recall one patient, a man in his forties, who came in six months after switching to a charcoal paste,” he recalled.

    You can read my story here. Speak with a dentist about the best whitening option for you.

    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.

    “But if your goal is a healthy, luminous smile, you’re better off combining professional cleanings, safe whitening treatments, and enamel-protective hygiene practices.

  • Spitting vs. Many options are over-the-counter whitening products endorsed by the American Dental Association (ADA).

    charcoal toothpaste whitening

    However, it may support a healthy oral microbiome.You should use charcoal toothpaste no more than 2-3 times per week.

    • About Mark Burhenne, DDS

    I’m on a mission to empower people everywhere with the same evidence-based, easy-to-understand dental health advice that my patients get. Common causes of extrinsic staining include red wine, coffee, and smoking.

    A hydroxyapatite or fluoride toothpaste will actively strengthen enamel to prevent the formation of cavities. Check the relative dentin abrasivity of any charcoal toothpaste before using it.

    Charcoal Toothpaste for Whiter Teeth

    Using activated charcoal toothpaste may result in slightly whiter teeth by removing extrinsic (surface) stains.

    True teeth whitening products use peroxide held against the teeth for 10-60 minutes or more to intrinsically whiten teeth.

    Charcoal Toothpaste for Bad Breath

    Charcoal toothpaste freshens breath by adsorbing to some acidic compounds in the mouth that may cause halitosis. We discovered slight erosion on several molars and needed to make some adjustments.

    However, it will likely not have the same effect removing stains from your dental appliances as it does on natural teeth.

    Q

    Is charcoal toothpaste safe for pregnant women or for children?

    A

    Charcoal toothpaste is considered safe during pregnancy.