What Is Charcoal Toothpaste? Is It Safe?

By Sher Warkentin in Natural Products

Charcoal might sound like the last thing you'd want to put in your mouth, but activated charcoal has proven to be a useful substance that may also offer benefits when it comes to brushing your teeth. If you're curious about how charcoal works in toothpaste, read on for some reasons why you might want to give it a try.

 

What Is Charcoal Toothpaste?

 

The first thing to know about toothpaste containing charcoal is that the charcoal powder used to make it is not the same as the small black bricks you might use in a barbecue. This form of charcoal, also called activated charcoal or activated carbon, is made by burning natural, plant-based materials, like oak wood or coconut shells. This process makes the substance more porous, which increases its ability to absorb.

 

While it may seem like a new, trendy ingredient, activated charcoal has been around for centuries. Historically, it has been used for a variety of medical and environmental purposes, and it is still used to adsorb poison from a patient's body and carry it out of the digestive system, as the University of Michigan Health System explains. The chemical properties of activated charcoal allow it to attach to different particles, and toothpaste that contains activated charcoal also uses this unique property, according to a study published in the Journal of Applied Oral Science.

 

Artist using charcoal powder

 

What Are the Benefits?

 

Tom's of Maine Activated Charcoal Anticavity Toothpaste gently whitens teeth by removing surface stains with naturally derived silica and activated charcoal.

 

Choosing a toothpaste made from plant-based ingredients means that in addition to keeping your teeth healthy, your breath fresh, and your smile bright, you'll be happy knowing that it is safe for you and keeps the environment in mind.

 

Is It Safe?

 

It's important to make sure your toothpaste promotes healthy enamel. But how can you measure this? As the American Dental Association explains, although tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body, the dentin underneath it can become exposed if the enamel wears down. A scale called Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) measures how harsh a toothpaste is on the enamel and determines if it is safe to use.

 

Tom's of Maine Peppermint Activated Charcoal Toothpaste is the gentlest charcoal toothpaste among leading natural brands based on RDA testing. It's safe for enamel and everyday use. This means you can use it to brush twice a day the same way you would use any non-charcoal toothpaste.

 

Tom's of Maine Activated Charcoal Toothpaste

 

The benefits of brushing teeth with Tom's of Maine Activated Charcoal Toothpaste include keeping your mouth healthy and clean, freshening your breath, and whitening your smile. Plus, you'll rest assured knowing you're using safe, naturally derived ingredients. Don't be afraid of the dark!

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons | Wikimedia Commons | Tom's of Maine

 

 

The views and opinions expressed in any guest post featured on our site are those of the guest author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and views of Tom's of Maine.

 

 

Why It's Good

Activated charcoal's unique properties offer a host of benefits. Charcoal toothpaste can help make your mouth cleaner and your smile brighter—and the best part is that it does so using effective, safe, and naturally derived ingredients.