Is Charcoal Toothpaste Safe?

Sterling Dental Center is here to set the record straight. Is this trend safe? Or is it a trend best left in the past?

The bottom line is that there is not enough research done on the effects of charcoal toothpaste, or products in general. Because they are so new, there have not been a lot of long-term studies done on these products.

However, we do know the following:

• Charcoal is abrasive – charcoal toothpaste is an abrasive material and you shouldn’t use an abrasive material on your teeth frequently, especially not every day. Abrasive materials can wear down your enamel, make your teeth more sensitive, and even cause discoloration.
• Charcoal can cause decay – charcoal toothpaste does not typically contain fluoride. Fluoride is what helps strengthen tooth enamel, thus protecting your teeth from cavities and decay.
• Charcoal can stain – as mentioned above, because charcoal is abrasive it could discolor your teeth. Additionally, charcoal particles could get stuck in cracks and crevices of teeth, causing discoloration.
• Charcoal can interfere with medication – there is growing concern that activated charcoal, the kind found in charcoal toothpaste, can actually interfere with medications taken orally, making them less effective. A small amount might not be too worrisome, but you should discuss it with your doctor.

On top of all of this, there is relatively no information on how charcoal affects dental restorations like veneers, bridges, crowns, and fillings. Without knowing how charcoal can affect these items long term, we can’t in good conscience recommend it. Damaging those costly repairs would be very upsetting for patients.

Outside of that, does it even work?

The jury is still out. While it may help remove some surface stains from your teeth, there is no evidence that it has any natural whitening effect or that it can do anything beyond the surface of the tooth enamel. Additionally, charcoal toothpastes are not regulated the way other toothpastes are, so it is hard to even know if everything in them is safe. As of now, they are not approved by the American Dental Association either.

At Sterling Dental Center, we think it is safest and smartest to stick to the more traditional toothpastes that aren’t quite as trendy but are proven!

Call Sterling Dental Center today to discuss toothpaste options or schedule your next checkup.