Charcoal toothpaste won’t whiten your teeth

It may be all the rage, with celebrity endorsements and countless articles online praising it, but, according to a recent review, charcoal toothpaste won’t bleach your teeth.

The review, published in the British Dental Journal, assessed 50 charcoal toothpastes and found that they made unproven scientific claims.

The leading claim was about the paste’s ability to whiten teeth. This ability, according to its proponents, is achieved by charcoal’s abrasive nature, which can scrub off plaque. Furthermore, its proponents argue, the adsorptive nature of activated charcoal plays a role in whitening teeth.

However, according to the lead author, Dr. Joseph Greenwall-Cohen, “whitening effect of the toothpaste is limited to removal of staining and may be no more than the whitening effect of any regular toothpaste.”

Of greater concern is that activated charcoal sequesters fluoride, which is needed to fend off tooth decay; furthermore, charcoal may be a little bit too abrasive, which could cause the enamel to be worn down. Since enamel cannot regenerate, this would leave the tooth weaker, and should the next layer, dentin, get exposed, the teeth will be left more susceptible to damage.

According to a 2018 study, the continuous use of charcoal toothpaste, resulted in the very thing the users were trying to avoid; discolored teeth. With the dentin exposed, teeth would quickly become anywhere between grey and yellow.

Additionally, charcoal particles could get into dental fillings, and in between gums, causing massive irritation.

As the researchers suggest, should one desire to whiten their teeth, the safer option would be to consult a dentist.

AFRICA GLOBAL NEWS PUBLICATION