Do whitening toothpastes really work? The simple answer is yes. Whitening toothpastes can whiten your smile by one shade. But, for many, this one-shade change doesn’t provide the brightening power they desire. None of the home-use whitening toothpastes can come even close to producing the bleaching effect you get from your dentist’s office through chair-side bleaching or power bleaching. But, whitening toothpastes can help remove surface stains and do not contain bleach, which some people prefer. See what whitening toothpastes actually do your teeth and what teeth-whitening option is best for you!
Why Do Your Teeth Stain?
If you have stained teeth, what you’re eating may be to blame. What you eat says a lot about your oral health and how your teeth look. If you eat foods high in sugar, your teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease. This is because plaque (which your mouth makes from sugar) attacks your teeth and your gums. You get that sugar from food. What you also get from food is staining. Many foods have dyes and other substances in them that stain the teeth. Your teeth stain or change color over time due to:
- Drinks. Coffee, teas, sodas and wines will stain your teeth. Watch out for drinks that also have blue, red and purple dyes, as these colors stain your teeth the most. Coffees and teas contain substances called tannins that change your tooth color over time. Not only will many of these beverages change your teeth color, but the acids in them will erode a small amount of your tooth enamel away as well.
- Age. As you age, your tooth enamel thins, showing the inside dentin of your tooth more. You may notice that a person’s teeth will appear more yellow or gray in their later years, and this is the reason why.
- Medications or illnesses. If you have switched to a new medication and are seeing changes in your teeth appearance or oral health, see if your medication is to blame. Certain illnesses can also affect your oral health, such as diabetes.
- Improper oral hygiene. The easiest way to keep your teeth as white as possible is to brush and floss them every day. Not brushing and flossing will cause food and plaque to cake on your teeth, which will change their color over time. Improper oral hygiene habits will also decay your teeth, which can lead to gray or black spots.
Whitening Toothpastes: What Do They Do?
When you hear “whitening toothpastes”, you may think that your teeth are being dyed whiter. Saying that toothpastes are whitening toothpastes may be a bit misleading, as they don’t actually change the natural color of your teeth. These toothpastes mostly aim to clean your teeth and remove food particles that cause your teeth to appear stained. For example, drink a red drink or suck on a hard candy that’s red or blue and you will see your teeth reflect that color. Brushing your teeth afterwards will get them white again. This is what whitening toothpastes do: they brush away food particles so your teeth look polished and clean.
To actually change the color shade of your teeth, you need to use a product with peroxide. Peroxide is a substance that will dye your teeth white once more. Some over-the counter products have peroxide in low doses, while professional whitening treatments have professional-grade amounts of peroxide to whiten your teeth. So, if you’re wanting a whiter smile, you will be waiting a very long time to get it if you solely rely on “whitening toothpastes”. Instead, choose a professional whitening option at our office.
What About Over-the-Counter Options?
Over-the-counter and professional whitening products contain hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching substance) that helps remove stains on the tooth surface as well as stains deep in the tooth. You may be able to lighten the color of your teeth by a few shades using these products. However, these treatments take weeks to take effect, cause a high amount of sensitivity, and can lead to tooth discoloration because the treatment is not a professional one. Some people find success with these products. However, they are nothing compared to the shade improvement that a professional tooth whitening accomplishes.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
The best part about a professional teeth whitening is that you can have your teeth incredibly white in just one office visit. People can use “whitening toothpastes” for months or years and not see a shade difference in their smile. However, an in-office treatment will have you leaving the office with a white smile. A professional whitening is also great for an upcoming important event if you have to whiten your teeth last-minute. Our teeth-whitening system will lift away stains and yellowing that have accumulated in the last 7 years. You can receive this treatment in-office in one visit, or you can take home our professional kit that will whiten your teeth at home within the week.
A Better Smile for You
If you want a better, more beautiful smile, teeth-whitening is one of the easiest options for getting you there. Whitening toothpastes can remove surface stains by simply removing food and plaque on your teeth. Professional whitening products can take your smile a step further by actually bleaching your teeth to a more beautiful white. A whitening consultation with Dr. Bockrath can help you discover which whitening product or treatment will get you the results you desire. To improve the appearance of your smile today, call Mountain Aire Dentistry at (303) 731-7755!
