Generally speaking, whitening toothpastes contain abrasives that polish the teeth gently to remove stains, and chemicals that help to break down or dissolve stains. These ingredients most frequently found in whitening toothpastes are aluminum hydroxide, dicalcium phosphate, calcium carbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate and peroxide. These first three ingredients are minor abrasives, and peroxide is a bleaching agent. Sodium tripolyphosphate helps to whiten teeth by breaking down or dissolving stains.

On the surface of your teeth, there is a protein layer called pellicle, that is the layer over the enamel of the teeth. Plaque and stains attach to this pellicle layer of your teeth, and your dentist removes this layer formed, when he or she polishes your teeth with pumice during teeth cleaning visits. The surface stains seen on teeth are stains which attach to this pellicle layer, and that is what the minor abrasives in whitening toothpastes remove. The degree to which they are removed depends on how often you use whitening toothpastes, and which ingredients are included.

Whitening toothpaste really does work, by removing surface stains caused by coffee, tea, or smoking, and can actually whiten teeth slightly. You will not be able to change the natural color of your teeth, reverse discoloration of teeth caused by excessive fluoride during early tooth development, or reverse effects of tooth decay using whitening toothpaste however. You should not expect professional teeth whitening results, because the whitening toothpaste is not on your teeth long enough, during your normal teeth brushing.

Whitening toothpaste side effects are very minimal, if not used excessively. They are generally safe for daily use, brushing twice daily for maximum effect. It typically takes two to four weeks to notice whiter teeth. It is important that you do not brush harder, as brushing harder does not enhance removing stains, but may damage the enamel on the tooth, making your teeth more sensitive.

Whitening toothpastes will not permanently whiten your teeth, nor will they get your teeth whiter than their natural color, so when choosing a whitening toothpaste, it is best to get an American Dental Association (ADA) approved brand which has ingredients geared to total oral health care, instead of only whitening ingredients. Because the ADA refers to teeth whitening as cosmetic, the ADA seal of approval is not given to the toothpaste specifically for whitening, but for oral health care. ADA approved whiteners are gentle polishers as opposed to bleaches.

Conclusion

The question is answered. Whitening toothpaste does work, removing surface stains from your teeth. Are they as effective as professional tooth bleaching, no. The ingredients may be as effective, but the deciding factor is the time that these ingredients remain on your teeth. There is relatively new research that has shown, whitening toothpaste containing the chemical blue covarine can make teeth appear whiter, because this chemical adheres to the teeth, and creates an optical illusion making teeth less yellow.

Remember when using any whitening toothpaste, that it should not be used in excess, and that it does not help to brush harder, instead it may harm the enamel on your teeth. Choose an ADA approved brand, and visit your dentist regularly to keep a white, bright smile.

Do You Want To Know Which Whitening Toothpaste Is For You?

Check out our whitening toothpaste reviews.

Whitening toothpastes are one of the most common kinds of toothpastes. If you decide to buy this kind of product, you definitely won’t have problem finding it in the supermarket. There are many brands which have very good teeth whitening toothpastes. If you are not sure which one to choose, or you have doubts about some of them, don’t be reluctant, ask your personal dentist. Dentists know more about toothpastes and they also know in what condition your teeth are. They can recommend you just the right whitening toothpaste. Don’t use such a product if you have gum disease.

The reason you should ask your dentist is because sometimes whitening toothpastes can be harmful, especially if you have sensitive teeth and gums. There are abrasives in such toothpastes that remove stains from your teeth, but if you don’t wash your teeth gently you might have small scratches on your gums, which hurt a lot and can lead to further complications.

Although whitening toothpastes will remove stains from your teeth and make them brighter, they can’t make your teeth really white. And to begin with, you should really take care of your teeth and wash them at least twice a day to overcome tooth decay and maintain good oral health. If you really want whiter teeth, you will need professional whitening, or over-the-counter products which contain hydrogen peroxide.

The best whitening toothpastes contain baking soda. Baking soda, which is also called sodium bicarbonate, is an abrasive that gently brushes off the surface stains. It also adds foam to the toothpaste, making washing your teeth easier, and moreover it reduces the number of bacteria in your mouth. Another ingredient that whitens your teeth and removes stains is hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. These are the active ingredients in some toothpaste. Make sure that these ingredients are included in the toothpaste which you choose!

Teeth whitening toothpastes contain among the above mentioned chemicals some other ingredients as well. The most important chemical in every toothpaste is the fluoride. Fluoride has proven to be the most effective against cavities.

Have you ever wondered what the ingredients are in whitening toothpastes? Now it is the time to know them. Next time when you buy a toothpaste you can check the ingredients, and see if they really contain the ingredients which they should.

The most relevant ingredient of whiting toothpastes are abrasives that polish your teeth and gently scrub away the plaque and stains from your tooth. There are many types of abrasives, but the most common one used in toothpastes is sodium carbonate. To have a greater effect, whitening toothpastes also contain chemicals which help dissolve the stains. Moreover, they contain the same ingredients as any other toothpaste: fluoride, an active ingredient which prevents cavities, antibacterial agents (that fight against dental plaque and bacteria inside the mouth), and essential oils for a good and refreshing taste. They might contain herbs and calcium as well. To make the toothpaste more foamy when you wash your teeth, some detergents and foaming agents are added, such as the chemical called Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Various gums are added to keep to toothpaste texture and prevent it from drying out fast if you forget to cap it.

Note that even the best whitening toothpaste has to be used for a longer period of time in order to show results. Even though they are less effective and take more time than some other teeth whiting products, they are safe and widely used. They are also cheap and easy to find.

Today there is already a large number of various kinds of whitening toothpastes that you can choose from. The most popular brands are Aquafresh, Colgate, Opalescence and Rembrandt. However, before you buy a toothpaste you should ask your dentist’s opinion and advice. There could be some harmful ingredients in toothpastes and these can cause irritations and allergic reactions, or just cause sensitivity of your gums and teeth. If you know that you have sensitive gums, you might want to ask a dentist before you purchase a whitening toothpaste. The abrasives in the toothpaste might not be gentle enough for your teeth, and if you don’t brush carefully you can hurt your gums, which can be painful and cause unwanted complications.

You probably asked yourself already if there is actually any difference between them. Well, many people don’t know what are the most common toothpaste ingredients, and probably they are also not that interested. However, sometimes it’s good to know what are the ingredients that toothpastes contain.

The common ingredients in a toothpaste are the following: fluoride, an antibacterial agent, essential oil for the taste, and other ingredients depending on the kind of the toothpaste. Fluoride is the most essential ingredient, because it fights tooth decay. Most toothpastes contain either sodium fluoride or sodium monofluorophosphate. The antibacterial agent is also a very relevant part, it kills bacteria and it prevents them from spreading in your mouth, thus helping overcome gum disease and dental plaque. Some detergents and foaming agents are added to the toothpaste in order to carry away debris and make it more foamy. Some toothpastes contain abrasives like baking soda, and anti-tartar agents. Some of these agents such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate prevent the formation of dental tartar, however, they do not remove it. There are some toothpastes that contain teeth whitening agents and teeth de-sensitising agents.

Nowadays there are many kinds of flavored toothpastes, just to assure that brushing your teeth remains a pleasure. Of course, there are special toothpastes as well, which naturally contain other ingredients too. There are many types of toothpastes, and depending on what you need the most, you can choose the ones made especially for sensitive teeth, for bad breath, for teeth whitening, to prevent gingivitis, and even ensuring extra cavity protection. Besides these ingredients toothpastes often contain vitamins, water softeners, coloring thickeners, herbs, calcium and so on.

Even though most of the toothpastes are so nice looking and tasty, they can cause unpleasant sensations. Sometimes there are harmful ingredients in toothpastes; active agents that can irritate your gums or cause allergic reactions, especially if you have sensitive gums and teeth. For example, ingredients such as the sodium lauryl sulfate, which kill bacteria and dissolve plaque, can irritate the oral membranes. There’s also tetrasodium pyrophosphate, which prevents the formation of tartar, but can also cause irritations and sensitivity. Abrasives such as the calcium phosphate (chalk) and alumina can be dangerous because they can react with other chemical ingredients. In recent years however, some of these toothpaste ingredients were replaced by others in order to prevent such unpleasant surprises.

If you don’t want to spend money on expensive whiting products, but you still wish to have a white smile, you should try one of the home treatments. There are many of these, but probably the most popular one and also the least expensive is using baking soda to brush the teeth. Baking soda toothpaste is easy to make at home, and it’s also quite effective. Maybe you’ve tried it already, or if not then you are probably quite curious now how it works. It’s very simple.

If you want to make your very own natural baking soda toothpaste you should get some baking soda from the store first. It’s very cheap and you can get it in any supermarket. Once you have the baking soda you just have to create a paste out of it: either mix it with a little water, or just put it on your toothbrush and let your saliva do the job.

The other way to make baking soda whitening toothpaste is to mix a teaspoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of hydrogen peroxide, and if you want you can also add peppermint oil or use lemon flavored toothpaste to freshen it up a bit. You can also choose your favorite kind of flavor; after all you are making your own toothpaste! Brush your teeth with this and in a few weeks you will definitely see the results!

Using baking soda for brushing teeth is fast and cheap, however, you might want to know that using only baking soda to wash your teeth might not be such a good idea. Even though it is very effective, it might cause a bad breath and you definitely don’t want that to happen, do you? Having a repelling breath won’t make anyone less disgusted, even if your teeth are whiter than before… This is why it is a good tip to use baking soda mixed with fresh flavored toothpaste.

If you decide to give it a try, don’t forget a few things: baking soda toothpaste is effective in removing stains and whitening your teeth because of its abrasive nature. However, exactly because of this you might want to be careful if your teeth and gums are sensitive: wash them gently because the small pieces of baking soda can harm both your gums and your tooth enamel.