By Last Updated: March 7, 2022

 

Many people use teeth whitening toothpaste to remove stains or discolouration, and to get a brighter and whiter smile! Teeth whitening toothpaste is also popular because it can be used at home as part of your daily oral care routine, and it is relatively inexpensive. Many people wonder how teeth whitening toothpaste works, as well as how effective and safe it is to use.

Other at-home whitening products, or products used in whitening procedures done at the dentist’s, usually contain peroxide, which actually bleaches your teeth. This makes them more effective at removing stains and whitening your teeth.

Whitening toothpaste does not contain peroxide but instead may contain abrasive materials that polish the teeth, or chemicals that break down stains. Whitening toothpaste works by removing surface stains from the teeth. If the stains go deeper than the surface, whitening toothpaste won’t be able to lighten them, because it can’t actually change the colour of your teeth.

When using whitening toothpaste you should always follow the instructions on the label. However, whitening toothpaste should typically be used twice a day, and you can expect results to appear in two to six weeks.

While using whitening toothpaste, you can improve your results by cutting back on food, drink, and other things that stain and discolour teeth. These may include acidic or sugary foods, tea, coffee, alcohol, and smoking. Some foods that are otherwise very healthy, such as beets or dark berries, can also stain teeth. Rather than avoiding these foods and their health benefits, make sure to brush your teeth after eating and consume them with water.

If you are unhappy with the results from your teeth whitening toothpaste, or you aren’t seeing any at all, first make sure you are restricting the above-mentioned foods and habits, and that you are brushing regularly and drinking plenty of water. If your teeth are deeply stained, teeth whitening toothpaste alone may not be able to make an improvement.

Teeth whitening toothpaste is suited to those who have naturally white teeth and want to eliminate some surface stains. If your teeth are quite yellow, stained or discoloured, you may need to use other whitening methods to achieve the results you want.

For more information about teeth whitening, and which procedures may be right for you, speak to your dentist!