Effectiveness and abrasiveness of activated charcoal as a whitening agent: a systematic review of in vitro studies
Unknown authors
Published in Annals of Anatomy
Methodology
Systematic review of in vitro studies evaluating the whitening effectiveness and enamel abrasiveness of activated charcoal products.
Key Findings
Activated charcoal products showed limited and inconsistent whitening effect in laboratory models, while several studies documented increased enamel surface roughness and abrasion compared with conventional dentifrices.
Conclusions
Laboratory evidence does not support activated charcoal as an effective whitening agent, and points to abrasion risk.
Limitations
In vitro studies only, with no clinical trials; laboratory conditions do not reproduce saliva, pellicle or real brushing behaviour.
Supplements Studied
In vitro whitening effects were limited and inconsistent, while enamel surface roughness increased relative to conventional dentifrices.
Study Details
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Disclosures
Funding
No commercial funding reported.
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