The 10 Best Charcoal Toothpastes to Buy in 2026

Charcoal toothpaste has really taken off in the last few years. But did you know that the use of charcoal in oral hygiene dates back to 27 BC when Romans used charcoal powder as a toothpaste ingredient? The Greek physician Hippocrates also recommended using charcoal to improve oral health.

Today, more and more people are now turning to activated charcoal to whiten their teeth, including celebrities like Drake and Nicole Scherzinger of The Pussycat Dolls.

With so many different brands and types to choose from, however, shopping for charcoal toothpaste can be a little overwhelming. But don’t fret! We’ve put together the best charcoal toothpastes to help you find the perfect one for your pearly whites.

Important Factors to Consider in Charcoal Toothpastes

To help pick the right charcoal toothpaste for you, you’ll want to keep these important elements in mind.

What Type of Charcoal Toothpaste Should You Buy?

When you think of toothpaste, you probably think of the standard paste that comes in a tube. While many charcoal toothpastes come in paste form, that’s not the only type available on the market right now.

• Powder: Brushing with a powdered version is definitely an unusual experience. It can also be a bit tricky since the ingredients aren’t contained in a paste, which may create more mess than normal. However, the powder form tends to have fewer ingredients, so it can be a good option for those who are trying to avoid products that contain too many ingredients.
• Paste: The idea of brushing with charcoal powder can be a little overwhelming, which is why the majority of charcoal toothpastes come in paste form. By making it look and work just like a regular toothpaste, some of the anxiety resulting from using an unfamiliar product is relieved.
• Pill: This is ideal for those who want a more compact version, especially those who travel a lot since they can easily take out a couple of pills and store them safely in a pill organizer or a tiny container. They also tend to come in more sustainable packaging. In this list, we focus on powders and pastes, but if you’re curious about trying a charcoal toothpaste pill, you may like these Crush and Brush Toothpaste Tablets.

Choosing the Right Charcoal Toothpaste for Your Teeth

Now that you know the different types of charcoal toothpaste, you can start narrowing your options by comparing the features, pros, and cons of the products you’re interested in trying. Here are the main factors you should consider when comparing the best charcoal toothpastes:

Ingredients

Ingredients in charcoal toothpaste vary a lot depending on the product. Some products only have a few ingredients, while others have a long list of ingredients. You should always check the ingredients to make sure the product is safe for use.

Charcoal toothpastes, no matter the brand, will have some amount of activated charcoal. It’s a good whitening agent, but its abrasiveness can cause tooth sensitivity. If you have sensitive teeth, it’s better to pick a toothpaste with a small amount of activated charcoal.

Texture

In paste form, charcoal toothpaste has a grittier texture than your regular toothpaste, although products that only have a tiny amount of activated charcoal feel smoother. You’ll have to decide whether you prefer a smoother product that is slower at whitening, or a grittier, more abrasive product that whitens teeth faster.

Powdered charcoal is also gritty, but some of the best charcoal toothpastes are ground so finely that you won’t feel this gritty texture at all.

Flavor

Charcoal toothpaste comes in a variety of flavors, with mint being the most popular. If you don’t like mint and can’t find a flavor you like, Black Pearl Activated Charcoal might be a good option since it doesn’t really taste like anything.

Results

The main purpose of charcoal toothpaste is to whiten teeth, so naturally, you should be looking for something that will give you that intended effect. However, this may come with an unwanted side effect, like raw gums or sensitive teeth, so it’s good to find a good balance. If you often suffer from tooth sensitivity, it may be a great idea to pick something that’s not as effective at teeth-whitening, but also isn’t as rough or abrasive, like Colgate Essentials with Charcoal.

Safety Concerns

There are a few important things you should know before buying your first charcoal toothpaste. One is that there’s not enough scientific evidence to prove that charcoal toothpaste whitens teeth. Many charcoal toothpastes also lack fluoride, the ingredient that protects your teeth from decay. And as mentioned before, charcoal toothpaste is abrasive, which can cause tooth erosion and other oral problems.

If you want to learn more about the possible negative effects of charcoal toothpaste, check out our detailed looked at its potential drawbacks here.

Amount

In many cases, it makes sense to try and get the bigger version of a product, or even a multi-pack. This usually translates to saving more money, after all.

But when you’re trying a product out for the first time, it might make more sense not to get too much of it, just in case it doesn’t work for you. Charcoal toothpaste normally isn’t suitable for daily use, so depending on what you get, it may last a few months.

Where the Toothpaste Is Made

The country of origin of a product or its ingredients is probably not something you actively think about when buying toothpaste. And that’s fine if you’re just buying your regular toothpaste. With charcoal toothpaste, you have to be more careful since it’s a relatively new industry.

If your oral health isn’t in tip-top shape, try to stick to products that are made in the USA, Canada, Western Europe, or Australia, as these countries are generally stricter in regulating their products.

Now that you know what to look for in a charcoal toothpaste, let’s jump into the best options on the market today.