The Truth About Whitening Toothpastes: Do They Really Work?

The saying goes that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The same goes for whitening toothpaste. While it’s a lovely idea that you could gently brush your way to whiter teeth, these products do not contain the ingredients required to make this claim a reality.

While there are minimal benefits to be found with a whitening toothpaste, you aren’t going to see dramatic changes in the colour of your teeth. Brushing twice a day will certainly help to support your oral health, but any toothpaste would deliver the same results.

Before you spend a lot of money on a toothpaste product that makes wild claims about being able to change the shade of your teeth, read this article first. We’re exploring the validity of claims, the benefits of whitening toothpaste, and what you can do instead to achieve a whiter smile.

What is whitening toothpaste?

There are lots of products available that promise to whiten your teeth at home without the need for harsh chemicals. This includes whitening toothpaste, which is available in many different styles. The most common type will contain a slightly abrasive ingredient such as baking soda or charcoal.

Baking soda is a fine particle that could help to buff away surface stains more effectively than a generic toothpaste. The claims around charcoal are more out-there, as many manufacturers claim that the charcoal can absorb stains from your teeth. This simply isn’t true.

Any toothpaste can deliver a whitening effect if your main concern is surface stains from food debris. Simply brushing twice a day will help to remove traces of plaque and tartar from your teeth. Once this has hardened into calculus, you will need a dentist’s help to remove these deposits.

Any claims about whitening effects should be taken lightly, as there is very little difference between a whitening toothpaste and a generic toothpaste. In fact, overuse of whitening toothpaste could have a negative impact on your teeth.

How does teeth whitening work?

Your teeth look solid, but they are actually absorbent, like a sponge. They have small holes that can soak up staining particles from the food and drink that you enjoy every day.

If your diet is rich in heavily staining particles like coffee, tea, red wine, spices and tomato-based sauces, then this staining might become more prominent. Lifestyle habits like smoking and drinking can also impact the shade of your teeth. Age also has an impact on the colour of your teeth.

In order to remove these stains, we need materials capable of penetrating the tooth and breaking down the bonds between these particles so they can be flushed out of the tooth. This is the main reason that a whitening toothpaste would not be effective. Toothpaste does not enter the tooth and can only remove surface stains.

Alongside this deep-set staining, you might also experience surface stains. This happens when food debris and bacteria is not properly brushed away. It can build up on the tooth surface, creating a sticky layer that attracts staining particles. If left to harden, this creates deposits known as calculus. This might be dark brown or yellow in appearance.

Brushing alone cannot remove these deposits and the only option would be to visit a dental hygienist for a deep cleaning. For deep-set stains, professional teeth whitening is the only effective method. Whitening strips, toothpaste and home whitening kits available over the counter contain low concentrations of the whitening solutions needed to achieve a change in shade.

Only a dentist can administer teeth whitening products. This is because there is a risk of damage to the teeth and gums if they are used incorrectly. Custom trays and professional handling of the whitening solution is recommended to avoid damage or overuse.

How whitening toothpaste can damage your teeth

Not only is whitening toothpaste ineffective for achieving a change in shade, it could also be damaging to your teeth. These products contain abrasive ingredients that could contribute to enamel erosion. Enamel is whiter while the underlying dentin is slightly yellow in colour. By removing the enamel with abrasive toothpaste, you could be unwittingly contributing to a darkening of your teeth.

There is also the risk of overuse of whitening toothpaste. Patients keen to see results might start to over-brush their teeth, either by brushing for much longer than two minutes, or brushing more than three times a day. This will attack the tooth enamel and could leave your teeth looking more yellow and feeling sensitive.

How to achieve a whiter smile

If you are keen to whiten your teeth, don’t waste your money with whitening toothpaste. Instead, visit your dentist for advice and support. First, you could book a dental hygiene appointment to help remove all traces of surface stains and deposits. This will also help to keep your gums healthy.

Next, you might consider professional teeth whitening with our cosmetic team. This could include in-chair or at-home options, depending on your preferences and goals. Professional teeth whitening is the only way to remove stains from the teeth.

If your discolouration is the result of certain medications or damage to the tooth, whitening treatments won’t help you. Instead, you should consider ceramic restorations such as crowns or veneers. A cost-effective alternative would be composite bonding.