Should I Use Activated Charcoal as a Tooth-Whitening Agent?
One look at social media and it’s easy to see why activated charcoal has been a trend in tooth-whitening for a few years now. There’s no doubt that it’s fascinating to see these starkly contrasted photos of people using products containing charcoal — a black carbon residue — on their white teeth. While there are many brands out there hailing this ingredient as the next great step in whitening your teeth naturally, it’s a topic demanding exploration — and most importantly, guidance from experts.
First off, it’s essential to note that the Canadian Dental Association has not approved the use of any oral-based products containing activated charcoal. For this reason alone, it should cause people to proceed with caution when considering the use of activated charcoal.
What is activated charcoal?
Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from a variety of natural substances like coconut shells, olive pits, peat, coal, sawdust — even bone char. Unlike the charcoal briquettes you’d use in your barbecue, activated charcoal has been processed at higher temperatures, increasing its surface area and making it more porous. This ‘refinement’ makes activated charcoal safer to use in consumer products versus other charcoals which still contain additional toxic substances that haven’t been burned out.
Activated charcoal benefits
Brands supporting the use of activated charcoal promise:
Whiter, brighter teeth (from its stain and plaque removing qualities)
Absorption of bad mouth bacteria
A cleaner, healthier mouth overall
However, there is no scientific evidence or demonstrated health benefits to back up any of these claims.
Let’s address each of these promises:
Whiter, brighter teeth — Though activated charcoal may be abrasive enough to remove surface stains from teeth, it cannot change the colour of teeth, as bleaching products like whitening strips would do. Moreover, the unstudied abrasive action of activated charcoal may damage the tooth enamel, our teeth’s first line of defence against tooth decay and the reason why our teeth oar so white. In fact, in one study, some patients even experienced yellowing of their teeth after using activated charcoal, indicating a wearing away of tooth enamel that exposes the soft, yellowish layer of dentin below.
Absorption of bad mouth bacteria — Activated charcoal is used in the medical field on patients who’ve experienced an overdose on drugs and/or alcohol. Activated charcoal’s chemical makeup (specifically, its negatively charged porous texture) traps toxins in the gut, preventing the body from absorbing them. While activated charcoal may also perform a version of this inside the mouth, there’s no telling if it’s also harming the mouth’s good bacteria.
A cleaner, healthier mouth overall — Again, there’s nothing backing up this general claim. According to a published review by John Brooks, a clinical professor at the University of Maryland's School of Dentistry, there was no evidence of activated charcoal’s claims of whitening, detoxification or remineralization.
The better, safer tooth-whitening method
All of this should be enough to give you pause before you use an activated charcoal product on your teeth. There are much better, safer and approved methods available to whiten your teeth. So, if you’re interested in tooth-whitening, the first step is to talk to a professional — someone who studies and works on teeth professionally — your dentist! Because we know the tried and true methods of professional teeth whitening, we can recommend some great over-the-counter products (always look for that CDA seal of approval), or book you in for a safe and effective tooth whitening right here at our office.