Are you looking to whiten your teeth? Feeling like they are stained from all that coffee? Although they are not a long-term solution, whitening toothpastes can help to remove surface stains. However, that’s as much as they can do – they cannot remove stains from below the surface nor can they actually change the natural color of your teeth. These kinds of toothpastes are best for maintaining the color of your teeth after a professional whitening treatment or other over-the-counter treatments. Keep in mind, if you are using these toothpastes to remove stains from your teeth be wary of continuing the habits that caused the stains in the first place because this could reverse the effects from the toothpaste. Do whitening toothpastes work?
How Does Whitening Toothpaste Work?
The toothpaste actually works by using abrasives on the enamel of your teeth to gently remove the surface stains. Some contain chemicals that will help to change your teeth to appear whiter such as blue covarine, carbamide peroxide, and PVP (which can help to prevent stains).
Not only does whitening toothpaste include these chemicals to help whiten your teeth, it also contains others such as fluoride that help to protect your teeth as regular toothpaste does.
Can Whitening Toothpaste Damage My Teeth?
If used for an extended period of time, yes. Typically, it is recommended to use these types of toothpastes for 2-6 weeks when you start to notice a difference. If you use them for long periods of time, they can start to damage the enamel on your teeth.
If you are worried about damaging your teeth in the long-run, talk to your dentist about other treatments to help the color of your teeth.
What Should I Look For?
If you’re wanting to use a whitening toothpaste, the safest way to find a toothpaste is to find one with a seal of approval from the American Dental Association.
