Uses and applications of activated charcoal in the manufacture of toothpastes and oral rinses: A narrative review

Aim: To describe the use and applications of activated charcoal (AC) in the manufacture of toothpastes and mouthwashes. Materials and Methods: This narrative review conducted a search for information in the PubMed and Scopus databases. There was no restriction on language, year, or country. We use the following search strategy ('Activated Charcoal' OR 'Charcoal Activated' OR 'Activated CarbonFNx01') AND TITLE-ABS-KEY ('Dentifrices' OR 'Dentifrice' OR 'Dental Polishes' OR 'Polishes Dental' OR 'Toothpastes' OR 'Toothpaste' OR 'Mouthwashes' OR 'Mouth Rinse' OR 'Mouth Rinses' OR 'Rinse Mouth' OR 'Rinses Mouth' OR 'Mouth Bath' OR 'Bath Mouth' OR 'Baths Mouth' OR 'Mouth Baths' OR 'Mouth Wash' OR 'Wash Mouth'). Results: The literature has so far shown that there are certain changes in the morphology of the enamel surface after tooth brushing with AC. AC is a highly porous compound that can exchange ions through nanopores, adhere to the enamel, and remove stains because it can absorb pigments from the tooth surface. Conclusion: Toothpastes or mouthwashes with AC have a potential whitening effect that affects the color and the surface roughness of the teeth.