Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study

<b>Background:</b> Tooth whitening is a widely sought-after cosmetic procedure, with various at-home and professional treatments available. This study compares the whitening efficacy of an activated charcoal toothpaste and a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening pen under controlled in vitro co...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Elena Bardellini, Silvia Marchetti, Alessandra Bordanzi, Simone Zanini, Alessandra Majorana, Giulio Conti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Dentistry Journal
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/5/216
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850127114007740416
author Elena Bardellini
Silvia Marchetti
Alessandra Bordanzi
Simone Zanini
Alessandra Majorana
Giulio Conti
author_facet Elena Bardellini
Silvia Marchetti
Alessandra Bordanzi
Simone Zanini
Alessandra Majorana
Giulio Conti
author_sort Elena Bardellini
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Tooth whitening is a widely sought-after cosmetic procedure, with various at-home and professional treatments available. This study compares the whitening efficacy of an activated charcoal toothpaste and a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening pen under controlled in vitro conditions. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty freshly extracted human teeth were stained with a coffee solution and divided into two groups. Group A underwent daily applications of activated charcoal toothpaste for 30 days, while Group B received a single 5 min application of a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening pen. Tooth color was assessed using the VITA Classical A1-D4 Shade Guide at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment for Group A and at baseline and immediately after treatment for Group B. <b>Results:</b> The activated charcoal toothpaste exhibited a gradual whitening effect, with the most significant improvements occurring within the first two weeks (<i>p</i> < 0.01), after which the whitening effect plateaued. In contrast, the hydrogen peroxide whitening pen produced immediate and substantial whitening (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann–Whitney U test confirmed the superior efficacy of the hydrogen peroxide treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> The hydrogen peroxide whitening pen was significantly more effective in achieving rapid and substantial whitening compared to the activated charcoal toothpaste, which provided gradual but limited improvements. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the long-term color stability.
format Article
id doaj-art-750d167f3fce4497ac8f67b6f970b4f4
institution OA Journals
issn 2304-6767
language English
publishDate 2025-05-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Dentistry Journal
spelling doaj-art-750d167f3fce4497ac8f67b6f970b4f42025-08-20T02:33:44ZengMDPI AGDentistry Journal2304-67672025-05-0113521610.3390/dj13050216Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro StudyElena Bardellini0Silvia Marchetti1Alessandra Bordanzi2Simone Zanini3Alessandra Majorana4Giulio Conti5Department of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Specialties, Radiological Sciences and Public Health, School of Dentistry, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, ItalyHead and Neck Department, Department of Surgery, Dentistry, Pediatrics and Gynecology, University of Verona, 37129 Verona, Italy<b>Background:</b> Tooth whitening is a widely sought-after cosmetic procedure, with various at-home and professional treatments available. This study compares the whitening efficacy of an activated charcoal toothpaste and a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening pen under controlled in vitro conditions. <b>Methods:</b> Twenty freshly extracted human teeth were stained with a coffee solution and divided into two groups. Group A underwent daily applications of activated charcoal toothpaste for 30 days, while Group B received a single 5 min application of a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitening pen. Tooth color was assessed using the VITA Classical A1-D4 Shade Guide at baseline, mid-treatment, and post-treatment for Group A and at baseline and immediately after treatment for Group B. <b>Results:</b> The activated charcoal toothpaste exhibited a gradual whitening effect, with the most significant improvements occurring within the first two weeks (<i>p</i> < 0.01), after which the whitening effect plateaued. In contrast, the hydrogen peroxide whitening pen produced immediate and substantial whitening (<i>p</i> < 0.001). Statistical analysis using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Mann–Whitney U test confirmed the superior efficacy of the hydrogen peroxide treatment. <b>Conclusions:</b> The hydrogen peroxide whitening pen was significantly more effective in achieving rapid and substantial whitening compared to the activated charcoal toothpaste, which provided gradual but limited improvements. Further clinical studies are needed to evaluate the long-term color stability.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/5/216tooth whiteninghydrogen peroxideactivated charcoal toothpaste
spellingShingle Elena Bardellini
Silvia Marchetti
Alessandra Bordanzi
Simone Zanini
Alessandra Majorana
Giulio Conti
Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study
Dentistry Journal
tooth whitening
hydrogen peroxide
activated charcoal toothpaste
title Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study
title_full Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study
title_fullStr Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study
title_full_unstemmed Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study
title_short Effectiveness of Activated Charcoal Toothpaste vs. 6% Hydrogen Peroxide Whitening Pen—An In Vitro Study
title_sort effectiveness of activated charcoal toothpaste vs 6 hydrogen peroxide whitening pen an in vitro study
topic tooth whitening
hydrogen peroxide
activated charcoal toothpaste
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-6767/13/5/216
work_keys_str_mv AT elenabardellini effectivenessofactivatedcharcoaltoothpastevs6hydrogenperoxidewhiteningpenaninvitrostudy
AT silviamarchetti effectivenessofactivatedcharcoaltoothpastevs6hydrogenperoxidewhiteningpenaninvitrostudy
AT alessandrabordanzi effectivenessofactivatedcharcoaltoothpastevs6hydrogenperoxidewhiteningpenaninvitrostudy
AT simonezanini effectivenessofactivatedcharcoaltoothpastevs6hydrogenperoxidewhiteningpenaninvitrostudy
AT alessandramajorana effectivenessofactivatedcharcoaltoothpastevs6hydrogenperoxidewhiteningpenaninvitrostudy
AT giulioconti effectivenessofactivatedcharcoaltoothpastevs6hydrogenperoxidewhiteningpenaninvitrostudy