What is it? Charcoal Toothpaste products usually come in a jar of finely ground charcoal, which you are to mix and brush your teeth to ‘whiten them’.

Does it work?

Whilst the fine grit of the paste might remove stains and make them appear whiter, the truth is activated charcoal might be doing you more harm than good. This is an abrasive product which will damage your enamel with continued use, and has no actual whitening potential.

There’s no way to restore your teeth enamel naturally once it’s gone. If you do experience erosion problems, your teeth may start to look duller, not brighter, due to the exposure of the darker dentin layer of your teeth. Erosion can also increase your risk of tooth decay.

Using activated charcoal toothpaste may also result in tooth or gum sensitivity for some people. We recommend avoiding these products if you already know you have sensitivity problems. Charcoal may also discolour veneers, crowns, bridges, composite resin fillings or other dental restorations.

Summary

Avoid these products and practices. Simple whitening toothpaste is going to be safe, or you can ask us about our tried, tested and completely safe teeth whitening solutions.