{"id":4433,"date":"2017-11-14T02:34:15","date_gmt":"2017-11-14T01:34:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/uk\/?page_id=4433"},"modified":"2025-11-20T09:38:54","modified_gmt":"2025-11-20T08:38:54","slug":"activated-charcoal-teeth","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dentaly.org\/us\/teeth-whitening\/activated-charcoal-teeth\/","title":{"rendered":"Activated Charcoal for Teeth Whitening: Does It Really Work?"},"content":{"rendered":"

So, you’ve heard people raving about using activated charcoal for teeth whitening<\/strong> and a whole load of other things. But does it really work, and how are you supposed to use it?<\/p>

In the quest to make your teeth whiter<\/a>, probably the last thing you’d think of is covering them in something black. Still, some people swear by this treatment as a natural way to get whiter teeth – and there’s a good scientific reason why it does work.<\/p>

Keep reading to find out what’s so special about this type of charcoal and the different ways you can use it in your oral hygiene routine. We have also researched some of the best products available in the US as well as some activated charcoal reviews to take the confusion out of buying this at-home teeth whitener.<\/p>

How does charcoal whiten teeth?<\/h2>

First, let’s be clear that this is NOT the same stuff that’s leftover after a bonfire or available in art shops. Activated charcoal\/carbon has special properties because of the way it is produced. <\/p>

The activation process involves subjecting the charcoal to very high temperatures, either chemically or with steam. This creates tiny, low-volume pores throughout the material which give it a huge surface area.<\/p>

Here you can see the steps involved with making activated carbon from coconut shells:<\/p>

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Amazingly, just one gram of activated carbon has the surface area of more than 11 tennis courts, thanks to its complex structure.<\/p>

This surface area lets the charcoal adsorb large amounts of other substances (meaning they stick to the surface of it). Inside your body, it can whisk chemicals and toxins out of your system. When applied to teeth, it encourages plaque, bacteria, and other particles to cling to it<\/strong> so they are all rinsed off together.<\/p>

Note that teeth-whitening charcoal can only remove stains from the surface of your teeth \u2014 although studies show<\/a> that any whitening may be questionable. Surface stains are often caused by deep-colored foods and drinks, including:<\/p>