Whitening Toothpaste – Is It Effective?

So you have tried a whitening toothpaste and it didn’t work?  All toothpastes help remove surface stains through mild abrasives. Some whitening toothpastes contain gentle polishing or chemical agents that provide additional stain removal. But if you are after more than just stain removal, if you really want to change to colour of your teeth, how effective are the whitening toothpastes at doing that?  Or should you consider saving your money and buying a professional whitening product instead?

Remember that a whitening toothpaste can help remove surface stains only and does not bleach your teeth.  A whitening toothpaste can appear to whiten teeth slightly by removing surface stains, often caused by drinking coffee, red wine or smoking. However, whitening toothpastes can’t change the natural colour of your teeth or lighten a stain that goes deeper than a tooth’s surface.  Most of the colour that you see on your tooth comes from inside the tooth, beneath the translucent enamel, so a whitening toothpaste cannot penetrate that deep.  

The only way to really truly whiten your teeth is to use a professional whitening product.  Professional products that are offered by your dentist can whiten teeth up to 8 shades lighter!!! They are custom applied to your teeth and under the care of your dentist or hygienist, and these products can safely penetrate the tooth so that you get a much whiter result safely and effectively.  In addition, when they are applied by your dental professional, we can ensure that they stay on your teeth and don’t end up being swallowed.  

So enjoy your coffee and red wine and call us to help you achieve the brightest whitest smile possible.