Does Whitening Toothpaste Work?
One of the most common questions we’re asked here at Northumberland Dental Care is; does whitening toothpaste actually work? The answer is yes, and no.
Let me explain; there are two types of staining that affect the colour of your teeth:
- Intrinsic Staining
- Extrinsic Staining
Therefore, yes – they can remove extrinsic staining but no – they will not remove intrinsic staining.
What is intrinsic staining?
Intrinsic staining happens internally and can be caused by a multitude of factors including; medication taken as a child, trauma or excessive fluoride consumption. As dentine is darker than enamel, as we age, we wear down enamel and expose more dentine; therefore, our teeth appear darker. This is why the neck of the tooth often looks darker as gum recession causes dentine to become exposed, giving the tooth a darker appearance.
The only way to remove intrinsic staining is by bleaching your teeth through professional products administered by your dentist containing safe levels of hydrogen or carbamide peroxide. In Ireland, the preferred method of peroxide-based tooth whitening is using custom made whitening trays, and laser tooth whitening is prohibited.
What is external staining?
External staining of teeth is typically caused by; smoking, drinking tea, coffee or red wine. It responds well to brushing with whitening toothpaste that contains ingredients to help remove stains, almost like an exfoliator. They will not change the underlying colour of your teeth.
What ingredients are typically found in whitening toothpaste?
- Hydrogen Peroxide
The legal limit for hydrogen peroxide in over the counter toothpaste is 0.1%. This compared to 6% hydrogen peroxide found in professional tooth whitening products means that hydrogen peroxide toothpaste has a minimal effect on teeth. It is worth investing in professional whitening services with custom made whitening trays as they are 600 times stronger than whitening toothpaste! Here at Northumberland Dental Care, Dr Jennifer Collins provides a full whitening service for only €280. If you wish to use an over the counter toothpaste, we would recommend spotlight whitening toothpaste.
- Optic Brighteners
Another method of tooth whitening is the use of a film which coats teeth to provide an optical whitening effect. Blue covarine is a typical brightening ingredient. These have an immediate whitening effect but do not last long as saliva washes away the paste rapidly.
- Sodium Bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is an excellent stain remover and has natural antibacterial properties.
- Charcoal
Charcoal has seen a big jump in popularity, despite the Oral Health Foundation stating that there is not enough evidence to support claims around its efficacy. In higher strengths, charcoal can be too abrasive for teeth. If you are using charcoal toothpaste, make sure it is deactivated charcoal you are using, and that the toothpaste contains fluoride. You should also be prepared to clean your sink regularly!
We hope this answers any questions you might have about whitening toothpaste! If not, for further information you can contact our team at Northumberland Dental Care or book an appointment online here.
