The in vitro Effect of Dentifrices With Activated Charcoal on Eroded Teeth

The objective of this research was to compare the abrasive potential of dentifrices containing activated charcoal with those of a conventional dentifrice on the development of erosive tooth wear (ETW) in vitro.

Enamel and dentin samples were divided into toothpastes (n = 12): group (G)1-Colgate Triple Action (1450 ppm F) (positive control); G2-Colgate Natural Extracts (1450 ppm F); G3-Colgate Luminous White Activated Carbon (1450 ppm F); G4-Oral-B Whitening Therapy Charcoal (1100 ppm F); G5-Oral-B 3D White Mineral Clean (1100 ppm F); G6-Curaprox Black Is White (950 ppm F); and G7-erosion only (no abrasion, negative control). All samples were submitted to erosive pH cycles and G1 to G6 to abrasive challenges (15 seconds) using toothpastes' slurries plus 45 seconds of treatment for 7 days. The final profile was overlaid to the baseline one for the ETW calculation (µm). The data were subjected to analysis of variance/Tukey or Kruskal-Wallis/Dunn tests (P < .05).

Oral-B 3D White (13.0 ± 1.0, 9.37 [1.36] μm), Oral-B Whitening Therapy (15.1 ± 1.2, 8.58 [1.71] μm), and Colgate Luminous White (13.6 ± 1.0, 7.46 [0.94] μm) toothpastes promoted the greatest enamel and dentin wear. On the other hand, Colgate Triple Action (12.2 ± 1.2, 5.30 [1.26] μm), Colgate Natural Extracts (10.8 ± 1.1, 4.16 [1.11] μm), and Curaprox Black Is White (11.5 ± 1.5, 4.06 [0.92] μm) toothpastes promoted lower wear values, similar to erosion only (4.16 [0.94] μm) in the case of dentin but not enamel (7.1 ± 0.8 μm).

Toothpastes containing charcoal combined with pyrophosphate may have a high abrasive effect on eroded tooth surfaces. Many patients influenced by digital marketing use toothpastes containing activated charcoal with the aim of bleaching their teeth. However, care should be taken when using these products, as they may have a high abrasive effect.