Whitening Toothpastes: Are They Worth Using?

There are an increasing amount of teeth whitening toothpastes becoming available on the market. For a slightly higher cost than a normal toothpaste, they promise whiter teeth…but do they deliver?

To answer this questions first we need to understand exactly what caused stained, discolored teeth and how whitening toothpastes attempt to combat this.

Most whitening toothpaste work due to abrasive properties which remove light stains (typically caused by eating, drinking and smoking) and polish the surface of the teeth. These abrasive properties need to be strong enough to remove stains from teeth, but not so strong as to actively damage the enamel.

If a toothpaste contained abrasives that were too strong this would lead to sensitive teeth and weakened enamel. Weakened, and thinning enamel actually reveals more of the dentin in teeth, which is a yellow color which of course is the exact opposite effect a whitening toothpaste should have.

Teeth whitening toothpaste does work, however the effects simply aren’t that impressive. Even the best whitening toothpastes on the market will only improve the whiteness of your teeth by a shade - two at the very best. Instead you should treat whitening toothpaste as more of a maintenance product, something to keep your teeth looking their best rather than actually creating a whiter appearance.

We recommend that you brush your teeth three times a day, and use whitening toothpaste for one or two of these brushings. You should always rinse your mouth out well with mouthwash after brushing as this removes germs and plaque which can cause discoloration in your teeth.

Your dentist will be happy to recommend to you an effective whitening toothpaste.