Key takeaways:
Whitening toothpaste can help remove surface stains from your teeth. But it may not be able to remove deeper stains or discoloration.
Ingredients like peroxide, baking soda, potassium nitrate, and fluoride are best when looking for a whitening toothpaste.
To prevent overuse and damage to your teeth, only use whitening toothpaste twice a day for 2 minutes each time.
Table of contents
Effectiveness
Ingredients
Choosing the best one
How often to use?
Bottom line
References
With so many whitening toothpaste options available in stores, it can be hard to know which one to choose. And you might wonder if using whitening toothpaste is even worth it.
If you’re looking for whiter teeth, there are some ingredients you should look for. Let’s explore how to pick a whitening toothpaste and which ones work best.
Does whitening toothpaste really work?
Whitening toothpaste can help remove surface stains from your teeth. Surface stains are commonly caused by food and drinks like:
Coffee
Tea
Red wine
Berries
Grapes
Tomato-based sauces
While whitening toothpaste can be helpful, it may not work for everyone. If your stains are really deep (intrinsic stains), you may need professional whitening from your dentist. These deeper stains can’t be removed with whitening toothpaste alone. Intrinsic stains are caused by factors like:
Age: With age, the outer enamel layer of your teeth begins to thin. This allows for the yellowish color of the inner layer to show through. This will cause your teeth to appear more yellow.
Medications: Some medications can cause tooth discoloration. This can happen with certain antibiotics, blood pressure medications, and antihistamines, as well as antipsychotics.
What ingredients should you look for in whitening toothpastes?
When choosing a whitening toothpaste, pick one with ingredients that are proven to be effective. Here are the four best ingredients in whitening toothpaste that you should look out for.
1. Carbamide or hydrogen peroxides
The most common ingredients used to whiten teeth are carbamide and hydrogen peroxides. These peroxide agents work in whitening products as an acid to lift up stains from your teeth.
Make sure to look for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval on whitening products bought in the store. These products will have the proper amount of peroxide mixed in to keep your teeth as safe as possible.
2. Baking soda
This is an abrasive ingredient included in some toothpastes that helps to scrub away surface stains. It also shows promising results for oral health. Baking soda may be helpful in reducing plaque and gingivitis (bleeding in and around the gums).
3. Fluoride
Fluoride can’t whiten your teeth when used by itself. But it’s very useful when combined with other whitening ingredients. Fluoride helps strengthen the outer enamel layer of your tooth. This helps reduce tooth discoloration. The regular use of fluoride also helps limit teeth sensitivity that whitening can cause.
4. Potassium nitrate
This ingredient has been clinically proven to help reduce tooth sensitivity. Potassium nitrate releases potassium ions into the channels leading to the nerve canal of each tooth. These ions help to block pain signals going from your tooth to your brain. This will help you feel less sensitivity after whitening.
What are the best whitening toothpastes?
There are several options for whitening toothpaste on the market. So, it can be challenging to know which one to choose. Some of the best whitening toothpaste options include:
Crest 3D White Brilliance Toothpaste: This toothpaste has both baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. These ingredients make it effective in removing surface stains.
Colgate Optic White: The main ingredient in this toothpaste is hydrogen peroxide. It has been known to whiten teeth up to three shades when used as directed.
Arm & Hammer Advance White Toothpaste: This contains baking soda and is an excellent option for removing surface stains.
Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste: This toothpaste has both fluoride and potassium nitrate. And lab data shows it’s effective at strengthening the enamel. This makes it a great choice if you have sensitive teeth.
How often should you brush with whitening toothpastes?
It’s recommended to brush your teeth with whitening toothpaste twice a day for 2 minutes each time. Overuse of whitening toothpaste can lead to tooth sensitivity and the breakdown of your tooth enamel. So, it’s important to use it as directed.
If major sensitivity does occur, speak with your dentist about the proper way to reduce sensitivity. They will most likely suggest that you stop using whitening toothpaste until the symptoms improve.
The bottom line
Whitening toothpaste can be helpful in removing surface stains. An effective whitening toothpaste should contain ingredients like peroxide, baking soda, potassium nitrate, and/or fluoride. But keep in mind that it may not work for everyone. Those with deep or intrinsic stains may need a stronger whitening process by a licensed dentist.
References
American Dental Association. (2023). Whitening.
Barlow, A. P., et al. (2009). Evaluation of different fluoridated dentifrice formulations using an in situ erosion remineralization model. Journal of Clinical Dentistry.
View All References (10)
expand_more
Carvalho, T. S., et al. (2017). Age-related morphological, histological and functional changes in teeth. Journal of Oral Rehabilitation.
Fernandes, T., et al. (2021). Teeth discolouration and prescribed slimming magistral formula: A case report. Annals of Medicine.
Ghassemi, A., et al. (2012). Effectiveness of a new dentifrice with baking soda and peroxide in removing extrinsic stain and whitening teeth. Journal of Clinical Dentistry.
Jamwal, N., et al. (2022). Effect of whitening toothpaste on surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. F1000 Research.
Karadas, M. (2015). Efficacy of whitening oral rinses and dentifrices on color stability of bleached teeth. Acta Biomaterialia Odontologica Scandinavica.
Lee, S. S., et al. (2014). Clinical investigation of whitening efficacy on Colgate Optic White toothpaste. International Association for Dental Research.
Sharma, S., et al. (2012). Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of potassium nitrate desensitizing mouthwash and a toothpaste in the treatment of dentinal hypersensitivity. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dentistry.
Valkenburg, C., et al. (2019). The efficacy of baking soda dentifrice in controlling plaque and gingivitis: A systematic review. International Journal of Dental Hygiene.
Vaz, V. T. P., et al. (2019). Whitening toothpaste containing activated charcoal, blue covarine, hydrogen peroxide or microbeads: Which one is the most effective? Journal of Applied Oral Science.
Wakasa, M., et al. (2015). Fine structure of tooth enamel in the yellowing human teeth: SEM and HRTEM studies. Microscopy Research & Technique.
GoodRx Health has strict sourcing policies and relies on primary sources such as medical organizations, governmental agencies, academic institutions, and peer-reviewed scientific journals. Learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate, thorough, and unbiased by reading our editorial guidelines.
Was this page helpful?
Get the facts on Dental Care.
Sign up for our newsletter to get expert tips on condition management and prescription savings.
By signing up, I agree to GoodRx's Terms and Privacy Policy, and to receive marketing messages from GoodRx.
