We often field questions in the office that are related to new products, ideas or techniques that seem to be backed by hype only. We've recently had many patients asking about the benefits of brushing with charcoal. Activated charcoal is not new. It's been approved by the FDA for many years to adsorb toxins, like in cases of poisoning or overdose. It is also thought to attract free radicals and rid them from the body. So there may be some benefits of using charcoal, but can it be used to whiten teeth? I'm not so sure...
The fact is, there is no research, and therefore no hard evidence, that using charcoal is an effective way to whiten teeth. Now, with that said, I do understand the thought process: abrasives are used for polishing. Afterall, whitening toothpaste doesn't work to bleach teeth like a professional whitening gel does. It is essentially toothpaste with additional abrasives used to remove surface stains only. While this works, it is nothing but a temporary solution - the next glass of red wine or coffee is going to begin the staining process immediately.
But, does that mean that because charcoal is abrasive it will also do the trick? Probably not. In fact, unless the charcoal is ultra-fine, you may actually risk damaging the enamel that protects your teeth.
I understand the hype, but at the risk of sounding like a cynic, I will say that hype made a man rich in the 70's by selling pet rocks ... My advice would be to avoid using charcoal to brush your teeth. If you must try it, I would suggest using it no more than a few times/month and brush very gently.
If you're looking for whiter teeth, try an ADA approved whitening toothpaste or gel kit, or contact us to learn about in home, professional whitening. Because of the great interest in activated charcoal, more research is sure to come and my opinion and the opinion of the ADA may change.
For additional information regarding abrasive in your toothpaste, here is an excellent chart compiled by periodontist Mike Williamson, DDS: https://bit.ly/2uz30J4. It was quite eye-opening to me, and you may want to consider changing your daily paste. One potentially promising charcoal solution is Black is White by Curaprox. They claim an RDA of 59 and are not listed on the chart.
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CrossKeys Dental is located at 110 CrossKeys Office Park in Fairport. Dr. DuPre՛ and Dr. Badali provide comprehensive family dentistry and are always welcoming new patients. Visit us at www.CrossKeysDentalFairport.com for more information.
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