Picture this, you are scrolling on Instagram, and you see Kendall Jenner with her beautiful white smile. She is endorsing the toothpaste brand Moon that has activated charcoal for whiter teeth. You wish your smile were that white and beautiful, but you also wonder if the product makes your teeth whiter or is just a celebrity fad. Let us delve into it to find out.
What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a form of carbon that acts like a magnet for unwanted substance absorption. Emergency Rooms frequently use charcoal when a poison or excessive drug is ingested.
Is Charcoal safe?
The theory behind charcoal is due to its absorption properties it absorbs stain, buildup, viruses, and plaque buildup. There is limited scientific evidence that charcoal toothpaste supports this theory. In fact, most charcoal toothpaste does not contain fluoride. Fluoride in toothpaste is the main factor contributing to fighting cavities, which has been backed by science for many years. The other problem with charcoal toothpaste is that the black particles can get stuck in fillings, which are exceedingly difficult to remove and do not look very esthetic. The black particles can also get stuck in gums leading to irritation.
Does it whiten teeth?
Now let us get to the meat and potatoes, does it whiten your teeth? Due to the properties of charcoal toothpaste the “whitening” effect is coming from the abrasiveness of the toothpaste. This abrasiveness is removing the surface stain, such as coffee, wine, tobacco, etc. However, there are concerns whether the abrasiveness of charcoal toothpaste could lead to loss of enamel (white part of tooth) leading to sensitivity and underlying yellow color of tooth (dentin) showing through. It will not remove the internal stains, which need to be removed to whiten your teeth. To remove internal stains a whitening product such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide found in whitening products at the store or at the dentist must be used.
Verdict
Charcoal toothpaste removes surface stains from teeth, but it does not whiten your teeth. It is an abrasive product that could remove parts of your tooth leading to sensitivity or loss of enamel. The risks of using charcoal toothpaste might be more than the longevity benefits of keeping teeth healthy. Unfortunately, charcoal toothpaste is not the magical solution to whiten teeth.