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...
