Activated charcoal, which is made from the ground-up plant roots called “wood chips,” has long been used as a folk remedy for stomach problems. But the FDA classifies it as a food additive, meaning it can’t be sold as a medicine. But in the early 20th century, people began using it to draw toxins out of the body. Activated charcoal works to adsorb toxins such as those found in spoiled food.
The researchers wanted to know whether activated charcoal can help people with tooth decay. They conducted two experiments. The first experiment was done on rats. In the second experiment, the researchers looked at the Charcoal toothpaste effects of the charcoal on people. In both cases, the results were disappointing. The charcoal didn’t prevent cavities. In the rats, the rats who got the charcoal had fewer cavities than those who didn’t.
However, when they did take cavities, the rats who had the charcoal in their diet didn’t heal them faster. In the human part of the study, the participants brushed their teeth twice a day, every day, with either charcoal or regular toothpaste. The scientists didn’t find a difference in how quickly the participants healed their cavities. In addition, the charcoal didn’t seem to reduce pain.
