Are whitening toothpastes a myth?

The dental hygiene market is not only flooded with large numbers of different toothpastes, claiming to achieve the resolution of various dental problems but it is also utterly confusing to the consumer.

Here are some of the claims the industry makes when buying a particular toothpaste, it will:

• Improve gum health
• Avoid decay
• Rebuild enamel
• Combat sensitivity
• Whiten teeth

There is one purpose that all toothpastes have in common:

The thorough, professionally guided brushing of your teeth with any toothpaste will clean your teeth from plaque, minimise tooth decay and give you a fresh breath. The addition of fluoride aids strength and minimises sensitivity. Good oral hygiene, combined with interdental cleaning and a diet short of refined sugars and acids, combined with regular dental check ups will pretty much guarantee that you will keep your teeth for life.

The preference for white teeth has become omnipresent in our culture and this is what we all thrive for. We associate sparkling teeth with happiness, success and a great social life.

So, do whitening toothpastes hold their promise?

Toothpaste ingredients such low concentration peroxides will remove superficial food or smoke stains (extrinsic stains) but will not penetrate the tooth’s enamel. Whitening toothpastes will mainly rely on abrasives for a “mechanical” removal of stains.

This is where “true tooth whiteners” come in. These are available from dentists only and should be supervised professionally for the benefit of the patient and a satisfactory treatment outcome.

Basically, these whiteners use bleaching chemicals to get down into the tooth enamel and set off a chemical reaction (specifically, an oxidation reaction) that breaks apart the staining compounds.

Most tooth whiteners use one of two chemical agents: carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. When used in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with hydrogen peroxide being the active whitening ingredient.

Going to the dentist for your whitening treatment means you will get a more concentrated peroxide product which will whiten your teeth faster and it will last longer.

Conclusion

If you want your natural teeth to be whiter consult your dentist .

The cost of a supervised professional bleaching treatment is an investment into a more confident smile with long-lasting effects. Whitening toothpastes can be beneficial for maintenance but will certainly not give you the result most patients seek when requesting “whiter teeth”.

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