Are Teeth Whitening Toothpastes Effective?

Almost every brand of toothpaste offers at least one whitening formula. But do these teeth whitening toothpastes really work? The answer is yes and no.

The fact is that all toothpastes are going to remove stains that are on the surface of teeth. Used properly, users may notice a difference of up to one shade. What these toothpastes cannot do, however, is remove stains below the surface the teeth or change the color of the actual tooth.

While teeth whitening toothpaste may get teeth one shade whiter, other forms of teeth whitening, both at home and in the dentist’s office, can get teeth up to 10 shades whiter. That is because they work not only on surface stains, but they contain a peroxide formula that is able to penetrate the surface of the tooth to remove deeply embedded stains.

Teeth whitening toothpastes may be a great choice as a sort of preventative measure. If, for example, you drink a lot of coffee and your teeth are not yet very discolored, using such a toothpaste may continue to remove the surface stains and keep your teeth from becoming discolored as quickly.

Of course, they will not prevent all staining, but by continually removing some types of surface stains and not allowing the stains to build up, the teeth may never get as dark as they otherwise would.

If choosing to use a teeth whitening toothpaste, be sure to look for one that has been approved by the American Dental Association. Also, keep in mind that some people with sensitive teeth might not be able to tolerate teeth whitening toothpaste. People with any form of gum disease should consult their dentist before using any whitening products.

The bottom line is that while some teeth whitening toothpastes can result in slightly whiter teeth, they do not provide the results available through other forms of teeth whitening.

For use as maintenance between teeth whitening, or to remove surface stains, they are a good choice.

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