The popularity of teeth whitening continues to skyrocket, with patients loving the chance to easily get a brighter smile. Consumer whitening products continue to be released alongside the treatment, claiming to offer an even easier way to improve your smile’s appearance — all at home. The most common product is teeth whitening toothpaste, with an ever-growing suite of options on the market from different companies. But can toothpaste whiten your teeth?
Does whitening toothpaste work?
Before we even discuss whether it’s healthy, we need to understand whether whitening toothpaste is actually effective. And the answer is: yes, but probably not as well as you’re hoping for.
Whitening toothpastes are capable of removing surface-level stains from teeth, which provides a boost to the brightness of your smile. However, they aren’t capable of changing the natural colour of your enamel or improving it by multiple shades the way that in-chair whitening can. But that doesn’t mean they don’t offer benefits: whitening toothpastes are still a convenient way to improve tooth appearance, even if only a little, and can actually be used to maintain professional whitening results.
What is in whitening toothpaste?
The effectiveness of your whitening toothpaste will depend primarily on the ingredients being used. Most options tend to have one of the following three ingredients:
- Mild abrasives: Common substances include silica, calcium carbonate or even charcoal, with these substances helping to remove surface stains without any bleaching capacity.
- Hydrogen peroxide: This is the same bleaching agent used in many in-chair whitening treatments, though it comes in a much lower concentration in toothpaste. This is stronger at breaking down stains and lightening tooth colour.
- Carbamide peroxide: Another bleaching agent that breaks down into other compounds, including hydrogen peroxide.
Is teeth whitening toothpaste bad for your teeth?
While whitening toothpaste provides a variety of benefits, it is still essential to be mindful about using it. While typically safe to use, it can lead to some issues if it is overused or if not used with good technique, and there are some whitening toothpaste side effects to know about.
The products that contain abrasives can contribute to enamel erosion if they are used too frequently, or if combined with a heavy brushing technique. The abrasive ingredients can progressively wear down enamel, making your teeth more susceptible to issues like cavities and, ironically, discolouration. Similarly, overuse of the bleaching ingredients can lead them to penetrate the enamel and reach the dentin, causing discomfort and significantly increasing the risk of sensitivity.
It’s important to always use these products according to their instructions, including how long they should be used for. Some signs you should stop or reduce your use of whitening toothpaste include:
- Irritation or inflammation of your gums, including burns or ulcers
- Uneven whitening appearance
- Increased sensitivity
- Damage to your enamel
Minimising the risk
To minimise the adverse effects of whitening toothpaste, you should only use products that come with the Australian Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Approval printed on them. This indicates that they have been thoroughly tested and are approved by experts when used according to the instructions. Patients can also consider alternating with regular toothpaste to avoid the risk of overusing the whitening ingredients.
Above all, we recommend talking with your dentist before starting any new whitening process. This is the best way to know that what you’re doing is safe and likely to have a positive outcome.
Alternative options
If your goal is to improve the brightness of your smile, whitening toothpaste isn’t the only way to succeed. Professional in-chair whitening is the most efficient and effective way to create a stunning smile, delivering fast results with a higher concentration of a bleaching agent. This can lead to improvements in as little as one appointment! For a slightly cheaper option, patients can also opt for a take-home whitening kit, which takes a little more time but still has very effective results.
Outside of that, maintaining a high degree of oral hygiene through good dental habits can also help to improve the look of your smile. This means brushing at least twice every day, flossing daily, and making some lifestyle changes to avoid staining. This could include reducing the amount of coffee or wine you drink, rinsing afterwards, and quitting smoking.
And for the best and most sustainable results? Visiting us every six months for a check-up and clean.
Committed to your smile
If you need help getting your dream bright smile, our team at Oakleigh Dental has the expertise and care to make it happen. Get in touch with us to learn more about how we can help, or explore our teeth whitening treatment. We can’t wait to see you!
