Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

Charcoal-containing dentifrices

British Dental Journal volume 226, pages 697–700 (2019)Cite this article

Abstract

Charcoal toothpastes and powders are fashionable oral hygiene products, intended for toothbrushing, extrinsic stain removal and, it is claimed, 'tooth whitening'. The popularity of charcoal toothpastes is believed to be increasing in many countries across the world, including the UK, US, Japan, India, Thailand, Lithuania, Australia, Hong Kong, China, Korea and Switzerland, where charcoal-based toothpastes have been reported to be produced. It is understood that many patients ask members of their dental team for advice on the use and benefits of charcoal toothpastes and powders, and that such advice is often empirical. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the current knowledge and understanding of charcoal toothpastes and powders, including consideration of the strength of the evidence to support claims made by the manufacturers of these products.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Rent or buy this article

Prices vary by article type

from$1.95

to$39.95

Learn more

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

References

  1. Brooks J K, Bashirelahi N, Reynolds M A. Charcoal and charcoal-based dentifrices: A literature review. J Am Dent Assoc 2017; 148: 661-670.

  2. Boots. Curaprox Black is White Charcoal Whitening Toothpaste. Available at https://www.boots.com/curaprox-black-is-white-charcoal-whitening-toothpaste-10217669 (accessed April 2019).

  3. Greenwall L H, Wilson N. Charcoal toothpastes. what we know so far. 2017. Available at https://www.pharmaceutical-journal.com/opinion/correspondence/charcoal-toothpastes-what-we-know-so-far/20203167.article?firstPass=false (accessed April 2019).

  4. Maxim L D, Niebo R, McConnell E E. Bentonite toxicology and epidemiology a review. Inhal Toxicol 2016; 28: 591-617.

  5. Brooks J K, Bashirelahi N, Reynolds M A. More on charcoal-based dentifrices. J Am Dent Assoc 2017; 148: 785.

  6. Tembhurkar A R, Dongre S. Studies on fluoride removal using adsorption process. J Environ Sci Eng 2006; 48: 151-156.

  7. Janardhana C, Rao G N, Ramamurthy S S, Kumar P S, Kumar V A, Miriyala V M. Study on defluoridation of drinking water using zirconium ion impregnated activated charcoals. Indian J Chem Techn 2007; 14: 350-354.

  8. Yaacob H B, Park A W. Dental abrasion pattern in a selected group of Malaysians. J Nihon Univ Sch Dent 1990; 32: 175-180.

  9. Juurlink D N. Activated charcoal for acute overdose: a reappraisal. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2016; 81: 482-487.

  10. Winkel E G. Halitosis Control. In Lindhe J, Lang N P, Karring T (eds) Clinical Periodontology and Implant Dentistry. 5th ed. pp 1325-1340. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012.

  11. Sarrett D C. Tooth whitening today. J Am Dent Assoc 2002; 133: 1535-1538.

  12. Sharif N, MacDonald E, Hughes J, Newcombe R G, Addy M. The chemical stain removal properties of 'whitening' toothpaste products: studies in vitro. Br Dent J 2000; 188: 620-624.

  13. Haywood V B, Boyleston E. Does "Activated Charcoal" Effectively Whiten Teeth? Dimensions of Dental Hygiene. 2017.Available at https://dimensionsofdentalhygiene.com/article/doesactivatedcharcoaleffectivelywhiten-teeth/ (accessed April 2019).

  14. Haywood V B. Tooth Whitening Is Not Always Tooth Bleaching. Inside Dentistry 2018; 14: 80.

  15. Pertiwi U I, Eriwati Y K, Irawan B. Surface changes of enamel after brushing with charcoal toothpaste J Phys Conf Series 2017; 884: 012002.

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Specialist Practitioner, Private Practice, Hampstead, London, UK

    Linda H. Greenwall

  2. University of Manchester Dental School, Oxford Road, Manchester, UK

    Joseph Greenwall-Cohen

  3. Emeritus Professor of Dentistry, King’s College London, London, UK

    Nairn H. F. Wilson

Authors
  1. Linda H. Greenwall
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Joseph Greenwall-Cohen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Nairn H. F. Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nairn H. F. Wilson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and Permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Greenwall, L., Greenwall-Cohen, J. & Wilson, N. Charcoal-containing dentifrices. Br Dent J 226, 697–700 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0232-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0232-8

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links