I bought a black charcoal paste once because curiosity is a powerful thing. My toothbrush looked like it had been through a campfire, and my teeth looked about the same.
So what is the honest answer?
Charcoal can make a sink look dramatic, but that does not mean it is doing your enamel favors.
Most charcoal toothpastes work by abrasion. That can lift some surface stain, but it can also rough up enamel if the formula is too gritty. Rough enamel catches stain faster, which is the exact opposite of the point.
The part people usually miss
If you want stain control, use a fluoride paste and save peroxide whitening for short, planned stretches. If a paste feels sandy between your teeth, I would not use it daily.
My rule is boring and useful: change one thing, watch what happens, and stop if your mouth gets irritated. Teeth respond better to steady habits than to panic routines before weddings, photos, or dentist appointments.
How I would handle it this week
- Take a baseline photo in bathroom lighting you can repeat.
- Keep brushing gentle at the gumline, soft bristles only.
- Do not stack three new products at once, because then you cannot tell what helped or hurt.
Related reading: this guide and this review or article both go deeper on the practical side.