BECAUSE of its abrasive nature, charcoal has been used to clean teeth in ancient times.
The ancient Romans brushed their teeth with charcoal, among other things such as tree bark. The black powder can even be found in a toothpaste recipe in a 19th century English homemaker’s guide.
It was in the last decade that charcoal-based toothpastes were revived with claims of whitening, antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and breath freshening properties. It’s now called activated charcoal toothpastes, colored dark but claimed to whiten teeth.
After reviewing a number of studies, research published in the Journal of the American Dental Association concluded that “more evidence is needed” before the safety and effectiveness of charcoal pastes can be confidently established.
Activated charcoal is similar to regular cooking charcoal. However, it is extra porous and thus highly absorbent, a characteristic that makes it ideal in emergency situations to treat chemical overdose or acute.
A study published in the British Dental Journal shows that the absorbent charcoal binds to dental plaque and stains and then brushed away.
In oral health care, charcoal toothpaste appears to be a healthy alternative because it is natural.
“People want to believe that it’s a great alternative to toothpaste,” Dr. Edmond R. Hewlett, Consumer Adviser for the American Dental Association, tells Consumer Reports, an independent publication known for its reliable testing and research on consumer products since it was founded in 1936.
“There’s no compelling evidence at all of any advantage of using charcoal toothpaste,” says Dr. Hewlett, a Professor at the School of Dentistry, University of California Los Angeles.
In a September 2022 article, Consumer Reports cites the British Dental Journal paper, saying the researchers did not find evidence to back up the claims made about charcoal toothpaste. “In fact, many toothpastes made with charcoal do not contain fluoride, which Dr. Hewlett says has more robust evidence supporting its benefit to oral health than any other toothpaste ingredient,” the publication said.
“If you’re using charcoal toothpaste and there’s no fluoride, you’re missing out on the enormous benefits of using fluoride to prevent cavities,” Dr. Hewlett says.
Even if a charcoal toothpaste does contain fluoride, the presence of the absorbent charcoal might trap the fluoride, making it less available to protect and strengthen teeth, Consumer Reports continued.
In general, it is not fully understood how whitening toothpastes work. And whether charcoal-based toothpaste does so needs a bit more evidence, according to a 2019 analysis cited by Consumer Reports.
“Still, charcoal toothpastes are generally abrasive, so they do at least have the potential to scrape off stains from teeth, or to prevent them from forming in the first place,” Catherine Roberts writes in the September 2022 Consumer Reports article, citing the British Dental Journal paper.
She says that studies have found mixed results with respect to how well charcoal toothpastes can whiten. “One 2021 study by dentists in Iran found that charcoal toothpastes did have some whitening effects, though they were no more effective than a non-charcoal whitening toothpaste.”
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Dr. Joseph D. Lim, Ed. D., is the former Associate Dean of the College of Dentistry, University of the East; former Dean, College of Dentistry, National University; Past President and Honorary Fellow of the Asian Oral Implant Academy; Honorary Fellow of the Japan College of Oral Implantologists; Honorary Life Member of the Thai Association of Dental Implantology; and Founding Chairman of the Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail jdlim2008@gmail.com or text 0917-8591515.
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Dr. Kenneth Lester Lim, BS-MMG, DDM, MSc-OI, graduated Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of the Philippines, College of Dentistry, Manila, 2011; Bachelor of Science in Marketing Management, De la Salle University, Manila, 2002; and Master of Science (MSc.) in Oral Implantology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany, 2019. He is an Associate Professor; Fellow, International Congress of Oral Implantologists; Member, American Academy of Implant Dentistry and Fellow, Philippine College of Oral Implantologists. For questions on dental health, e-mail limdentalcenter@gmail.com./PN
