Beacon Pictures Activated charcoal is a trendy ingredient in all kinds of different products lately, but it has actually been around for a long time. If you've heard that activated charcoal can whiten teeth or have seen it pop up in toothpaste more often, you may be curious about what can happen when you brush your teeth with activated charcoal or use other oral care products that contain it. Dentists are divided on whether or not using activated charcoal for oral care is something that you really should do or not, with some saying they wouldn't recommend it and others saying that, if you find the right product and use it correctly, it can be OK. Working with your dentist to determine what the best toothpastes and whitening products might be for you is a good idea. Activated charcoal has become increasingly popular and trendy as of late, appearing in more and more products, from soap to face masks to ice cream, lemonade, coffee, and more.