Think that your teeth could use a little brightening but don’t have the money for in-office whitening treatments? Try a whitening toothpaste.
When used regularly, a whitening toothpaste can help remove stains and plaque and contribute to a healthy smile. In fact, they are specially formulated to remove surface stains from natural teeth. They usually contain mild abrasives, such as hydrated silica, or chemicals with stain-dissolving properties, such as sodium hexametaphosphate.
The truth is, everyone’s teeth are different. So just because your friend, spouse or child appears to have much whiter teeth after using whitening toothpaste, it does not guarantee that you’ll have identical results. Also keep in mind that false teeth, or teeth that have been treated with dental sealants, veneers or dental bonding, respond differently to stains and whitening products than natural tooth enamel does. And whitening toothpaste does not always produce noticeable effects on tooth-colored crowns or fillings that have become stained.
Whitening toothpaste is mild enough to be safe for most people, although some people report that the stain-removing chemicals make their teeth feel more sensitive. To solve that issue, there are now whitening toothpastes which offer sensitivity protection.
It may take some trial and error to find the type of whitening toothpaste you like. But, along with in-office tooth-whitening procedures performed by dentists, they are an increasingly popular approach to brightening teeth.