Sometime in the past year or two you have probably seen an advertisement, picture, or maybe even used black toothpaste, otherwise known as activated charcoal toothpaste. It has rapidly emerged onto social media and the marketplace. I get asked A LOT of questions by patients, family, and friends about this specific product. Does charcoal toothpaste really work? Should I be using charcoal toothpaste? Does charcoal toothpaste really help whiten teeth? Is it safe to use? What are the benefits of charcoal toothpaste? etc.….
Activated charcoal toothpaste/powder started off as a fad in the natural health market but it seems that is not going away anytime soon. In fact, it is gaining popularity and more companies are now making activated charcoal products. So much more that there are over 50 activated charcoal toothpaste products on the market at this time. The surge of popularity and conversation about activated charcoal has driven the health and beauty industry to jump on this trend and it has crossed over to the dental field.
Short videos and ads are popping up everywhere on social media from Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest showing young men/women with drastic results of there before and after picture claiming charcoal toothpaste did it.If you YouTube charcoal toothpaste you will see the craze of endless videos of people brushing their teeth and turning their mouth black. Also, there are hundreds of thousands of Instagram posts with people smiling with a black teeth and mouth.
The “results” are grabbing people’s attention. After all who wouldn’t want a whiter smile at a more affordable cost?
This being said as a dental provider I want to be knowledgeable about this product and the effects that it may have on my patient’s oral health care.
So, let me start off by saying this will be an ongoing topic/post for me. I will have a few articles in my blog about this topic as I continue to learn more and read about studies that are currently being done. Also, I will be trying out and testing some higher rated products on myself that have been reviewed in the dental community. Charcoal is an intriguing and unique ingredient itself to me, but it is in my best interest to understand the pros and cons, review the available data, and figure out the key questions like the risks vs rewards.
I am a BIG believer of recommending products I alone would, will, and do use before I tell my patients/family/friends/viewers.
I want to offer information to help you make the best decision for yourself……So Let’s begin
First and foremost, I need to get this point across…. activated charcoal toothpaste/powder IS NOT THE SAME charcoal that you buy for your BBQ! So, for all you Suzie homemakers DO NOT try making your own charcoal toothpaste at home!!!!! This may sound strange, but I have been asked this question before, and I know that people this day and age LOVE making their own “stuff” from scratch (it can be VERY rewarding) but these charcoals are NOT the same.
What’s the difference between activated charcoal and charcoal briquettes? The biggest difference is barbeque charcoal contains so many toxins and chemicals that it can be toxic to humans if ingested. Whereas activated charcoal (aka activated carbon) can be made of natural sources that come from a variety of things like coconut shells, bone char, olive pits, bamboo, coal, peat (vegetable matter) …etc. This is why you see the claims on activated charcoal toothpaste as being “all-natural, organic, pure, or eco-friendly.”
Activated charcoal is used as a natural way to bind and trap toxins and help flush them out of the body so that the toxins aren’t absorbed. What this means is activated charcoal is adsorbing the toxin meaning “binds” to it, (yep adsorption is different from absorption) thus allowing the toxin/chemical (in our case stain) to bind/bond with it and pull the stain from the tooth.
This is why activated charcoal has been used for centuries for medicinal purposes. It is used for numerous benefits from medicines, cosmetics, skin care, preventing bloating/gas, cures for intestinal disorders, purifying drinking water/air, detoxify the soil to grow food, “whitening” teeth, and of course to help treat drug overdoses and poisonings (used in trauma centers across the world).
However, with all these wonderful uses of activated charcoal I’m staying on topic about dental health.
That being said, I have started my journey to find answers to some really important questions …Is it really safe? Will it cause sensitivity over time? Will it cause permanent damage to the teeth? Does charcoal toothpastes have fluoride? What form is better…. powder, tablets, or paste? Does it do what it claims? Will it stain my toothbrush or sink? How often should I use it? Does it help bad breath? And so much more!
Well I am up for the challenge and I will be trying a few products myself that have been discussed in my professional field.
I personally have not tried any activated charcoal toothpaste because I am happy with what toothpaste I currently use, but like I said I need to try products myself before I recommend them to patients and viewers.
So, in Part 2 of this post I will discuss the answers to my questions and give you my thought on this topic/product that I get so many questions about.
Talk Soon,
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