Dr. Christina Humphries, DMD – Humphries Dental
Charcoal-Based Toothpaste
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), there is insufficient evidence that shows charcoal-based toothpaste is effective or even safe for teeth whitening.
In fact, charcoal has been proven to be abrasive, wearing away and damaging enamel, which can increase the risk of cavity formation and sensitivity. Enamel abrasion can also expose dentin, which is the second layer of the tooth and is actually yellow. Other consequences include harming existing dental work such as fillings and crowns, as well as contributing to gum recession. Additionally, the charcoal remnants tend to embed under the gums where your toothbrush cannot reach, causing gum inflammation, irritation, and pain.
The ADA recommends these treatment for teeth whitening:
1. In-office whitening, which includes professional whitening gel that is safe for your teeth.
2. Custom whitening trays made by your dentist with take-home gel.
3. Gels with potassium nitrate and fluoride that can minimize sensitivity after use.
4. Generic whitening trays that are not custom-formed to your teeth. Be sure to select generic trays that have just enough product in the trays to cover your teeth without damaging your gums.
Certain whitening toothpastes that are formulated to act as repellents from future stains, not actually whiten, can be used in conjunction with any of these treatments.
In conclusion, a peer-reviewed article from the Journal of the ADA (JADA) advises “to be cautious when using charcoal and charcoal-based products with unproven claims of efficacy and safety”.
Sources:
1. Charcoal and charcoal-based dentrifices, A literature Review by Brooks, Bashirelahi, and Reynolds https://jada.ada.org/article/S0002-8177(17)30412-9/fulltext
2. ADA MouthHealthy: Natural Teeth Whitening https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/all-topics-a-z/natural-teeth-whitening
3. ADA: Whitening https://www.ada.org/en/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/oral-health-topics/whitening
4. National Institutes of Health: Effect of potassium nitrate and fluoride on carbamide peroxide bleaching by Tam https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11820045/