Everyone wants a whiter, brighter smile and now with so many whitening toothpastes available to buy in the supermarket, it seems that achieving that Hollywood glow is faster, cheaper and easier than ever.
While many Australians swear by the daily use of a whitening toothpaste, others are sceptical. The question is: do whitening toothpastes actually work, or is a professional whitening treatment the only way to really get the smile we want? Brush up on the facts with King Street Dental.
How does whitening toothpaste work?
When you brush with a whitening toothpaste, you might notice some improvement in the shade of your teeth. These toothpastes are designed to remove or reduce surface stains, such as those caused by coffee or smoking. They can’t change the natural shade of your teeth or lighten stains that go deeper than the tooth’s surface.
Toothpastes achieve this lightening effect through special abrasives that polish the teeth, and low concentrations of peroxide or other chemicals that can partially dissolve stains. Some products contain a chemical called blue covarine. This adheres to the tooth’s surface after use to create the impression of whiter teeth, but the effects reduce once you stop using the product.
Unpacking what it says on the tube
You’ll read a lot of tempting information on the tubes of whitening toothpastes, with promises of teeth up to X shades whiter in X days, for example. But what’s really in whitening toothpaste, and is it much different from regular toothpaste?
In reality, most toothpaste brands contain essentially the same ingredients and all should perform two main functions well: removing plaque and preventing cavities. The key ingredients in all types of toothpaste are fluoride and a mild abrasive, which could be calcium carbonate, hydrated silica or something similar.
In a 2012 investigation, Choice examined 13 toothpastes and found minimal difference in the active ingredients, with some false claims along the way.
Get better results with your cosmetic dentist
Some whitening toothpastes can make teeth appear immediately whiter, although in most cases, the effect is short-lived and continuous use could actually damage the enamel on your teeth, because whitening toothpaste is more abrasive than regular products.
For safe and effective tooth whitening, it’s best to stick to professional dental treatments. In-chair and at-home treatments provided by dentists are proven to yield more noticeable, lasting results, and the process is overseen by a professional who has your oral health in their best interests.
King Street Dental offers Zoom! teeth whitening that safely bleaches your teeth to lighten stains on the enamel and dentine, without affecting the tooth’s structure. The one-hour treatment incorporates hydrogen peroxide and light technology, and has shown to deliver an average improvement of up to 8 shades for our patients.
Call us to book an appointment
To book a consultation with our cosmetic dentists in Templestowe, contact us on (03) 8842 4506 or emailing [email protected]. We can discuss our teeth whitening services with you and get you booked in for an appointment if you’re a good candidate.