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Charcoal toothpastes offer a natural alternative to harsh whitening treatments. Charcoal has been included in oral care recipes throughout history, and more recently has gained popularity amongst celebrities who rely heavily on their pearly whites.
If you've been looking to give charcoal toothpaste a try, read our guide for tips and advice. Whether it's dentist recommendations, fluoride or activated charcoal, we're here to help answer your most burning questions. All of the top 10 best charcoal toothpastes are available to buy online in the UK, from Amazon, Holland and Barrett and more!
A recommendation service that carefully researches each product and consults with experts across many disciplines. We are constantly creating new content to provide the best shopping experience from choosing ‘cosmetics’ to ‘food and drink’, ‘home appliances’ to ‘kids and baby’ products, reaching users all across the United Kingdom.
Table of Contents
NHS guidelines advise that adults should brush their teeth using a toothpaste containing 1,350-1,500 ppm fluoride, twice a day, making 1,450 ppm a good number to aim for. Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral which protects teeth from decay by helping remineralise worn tooth enamel.
However, too much fluoride can cause discolouration or spots on the teeth. So, if you already use oral care products containing fluoride or would rather avoid it entirely, seek out a fluoride-free charcoal toothpaste. We've included the fluoride level, where available, for each of the products in our ranking to help you make an informed choice.
Activated charcoal is the key ingredient in most charcoal toothpastes. It's treated with gas at high temperatures, which makes the charcoal more porous, resulting in higher absorbency. This helps it absorb plaque and microscopic food particles, as well as being mildly abrasive, giving it tooth-whitening properties
An unintended positive found by many fans, is that they brush their teeth for longer to remove all traces of charcoal, thus improving their oral health. However using charcoal toothpaste can lead to permanent discolouration if you have damaged enamel or cracks.
Coconut oil is often added to charcoal toothpastes to improve texture and taste, with the added benefit of being naturally anti-fungal. Ingredients like chamomile, fennel, clove, aloe vera and green tea are also sometimes added for flavour and to help soothe gums.
Most activated charcoal toothpastes come in a plastic tube, which makes using them as easy as any regular non-charcoal toothpaste. However, for those wishing to avoid single use plastic, you may want to consider choosing a ready-to-use charcoal toothpaste that comes in a glass jar.
Other eco friendly swaps include charcoal toothpaste tablets, or 'tooth tabs', which turn into a paste when you chew them pre-brushing. Some plastic toothpaste tubes, such as those sold by The Humble Co., even have a reduced plastic content, which is a step in the right direction whilst still being super-convenient to use.
Inspired to try some more 'green' options? Here are the best eco-friendly toothpastes.
Mint is the standard flavouring used for charcoal toothpastes. This is because the strong flavour disguises any odd taste resulting from the unusual blend of ingredients. Mint is also naturally antibacterial, so it will leave your mouth feeling instantly fresher and prevent bad breath.
Sometimes mint won't be your flavour of choice, or will need to be avoided entirely. For example, Some medications (especially homeopathic blends) cannot be taken with mint. Luckily, you can find a range of toothpastes in fruity and herbal flavours like orange and fennel!
For extra fresh breath, try using a tongue scraper to remove excess bacteria and plaque.
The Humble Co. charcoal toothpaste is made in Europe and contains the dentist recommended 1,450 ppm of fluoride. The activated charcoal gently yet effectively whitens teeth, without irritating gums.
Although admittedly still plastic, the 'Green Leaf' technology used to create the packaging reduces the carbon footprint of each tube by an impressive 33%. Plus, with every purchase, the company donates to oral health projects for children in need. With the bonus of helping others to access important oral care, this is truly a feel-good buy!
Made without synthetic ingredients or colourants, these charcoal-infused toothpaste tablets are a novel way to brush your teeth. Simply chew a tablet between your front teeth and your saliva will rehydrate it into a lightly-foaming paste - then simply brush as usual!
The activated charcoal gently removes stains, whilst the organic peppermint oil keeps bacteria at bay, providing long-lasting freshness. Better yet, these toothpaste tablets are hand-crafted in West Sussex in the UK.
A more eco-aware choice, purchasing from this company supports environmental organisation One Earth-One Ocean. It's also worth noting that this product is available as a tooth powder, which is used by dipping a wet toothbrush directly into the jar.
An Ethical Consumer Magazine best buy, Kingfisher activated charcoal toothpaste naturally whitens teeth by absorbing plaque and microscopic food particles which would otherwise cause stains. The charcoal also neutralises pH balance in the mouth, helping to prevent bad breath and gum disease.
As you'd expect from the Kingfisher brand, this natural toothpaste contains no artificial sweeteners, flavourings, colourings or preservatives, opting instead for natural peppermint.
The activated charcoal in Truthpaste removes plaque and gently whitens teeth, whilst coconut, calendula and fennel oil soothe gums. The combination of orange and fennel makes for an unusual yet enjoyable flavour, although there are peppermint and spearmint options available too.
The clove and lemon oils are naturally antibacterial, with xylitol to sweeten the paste and helps to maintain a healthy pH balance. Welike that this toothpaste in a glass jar is kind to your teeth and kind to the planet, creating no throwaway plastic waste!
Obviously this isn't going to be a top choice for those who want to support local businesses, as it's made on the other side of the world. However, we do love the luxurious design of the NFco packaging and would be very happy to have it siting on display by the bathroom sink.
This charcoal toothpaste is blended with natural botanical extracts, such as aloe vera, Icelandic moss and tea tree oil, to fight harmful bacteria. A great daily toothpaste, the activated charcoal naturally absorbs impurities for whiter teeth over time.
With a cool peppermint flavour, your teeth and gums will feel soothed and refreshed after cleaning. It's a very mild formula too, making it suitable for those with sensitive gums.
This coconut-oil-based toothpaste with activated charcoal by Georganics has been developed to clean teeth naturally. The highly absorbent charcoal removes surface stains, without being harsh on teeth or gums, whilst organic peppermint oil not only leaves breath minty, but targets bacteria in hard-to-brush areas.
UK-made and sold in a glass jar with a metal lid, it's a top pick if you're looking for a more eco-conscious choice. The consistency will take some getting used to though, as it's non-foaming. However, those looking for formulas with minimal ingredients will certainly approve.
This toothpaste contains an innovative ingredient called Teavigo™. It's a caffeine-free green tea extract that helps to remove plaque and the bacteria that causes bad breath. This works alongside the charcoal powder to purify and cleanse inside the mouth.
Users of this toothpaste report a very minty taste, which provides long-lasting freshness. However, the consistency is rather runny compared to regular toothpastes, which may be off-putting for some.
This fluoride-containing toothpaste is Colgate's first to include a blend of natural extracts, including charcoal and coconut oil. The charcoal gently removes impurities and brightens teeth, whilst the coconut oil nourishes gums and is naturally antibacterial.
Colgate promises the fresh cooling sensation will last for up to ten times longer than brushing with regular toothpaste, which is quite a claim! Although, we do love that it contains the recommended 1,450 ppm of fluoride.
Written and researched by Lucy Smith
No. 1: The Humble Co.|Natural Toothpaste Charcoal with Fluoride|75 ml
No. 2: Georganics|Organic Toothpaste Tablets - Activated Charcoal|120 tablets
No. 3: Ben & Anna| Black Natural Toothpaste|100 ml
No. 4: Kingfisher |Naturally Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste|100 ml
No. 5: Truthpaste|Charcoal Whitening Natural Toothpaste - Orange and Fennel|100 ml
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