Whitening Toothpastes

Do Whitening Toothpastes….brighten dull teeth?

In recent years whitening toothpastes have become very popular with many new brands other than Colgate appearing in the market place.

While there is little debate that they are in fact the longest road to whiter teeth they have been proven to produce results over time. 

Most times it will take up to a month to notice any real difference in your teeth’s whiteness and brightness, and even longer if you are a smoker or heavy coffee or tea drinker. 

Ordinary toothpastes and regular brushing will help remove surface stains, as most contain mild abrasives that allow you to scrub away any substances adhering to your teeth that cause yellowing.

But if you actually want to significantly improve the color of the enamel on your teeth you will need to use a teeth whitening toothpaste because it contains extra chemicals and special polishing agents that will remove more stains.

While this type twice a day whitening treatment doesn’t have as dramatic an effect on your teeth as solution bleaching kits or lazer whitening, over the long term using a whitening toothpaste approved by your country’s dental association may be the safest and most cost effective method. 

Some whitening toothpastes actually contain bleaching agents, however, the effect from these will be limited because the toothpaste does not stay on your teeth for very long at given time.

Even if you can manage to keep it on for longer without gagging and having to spit it out, it may irritate your gums.

Remember after any teeth whitening procedure, such as tray based bleaching, brushing regularly and gently every day with a soft toothbrush and fluoride based toothpaste can help to strengthen your tooth enamel.