Do whitening toothpastes work?

Does whitening toothpaste (Colgate, Crest, etc) really work? Are they to abrasive?

2 answers to “Do whitening toothpastes work?”

A: Different stains on teeth

Annalee S. Kruyer DDS

Whitening tooth pastes are very abrasive and are helpful in removing "extrinsic" stains on teeth or stains on the outside of your teeth. Whitening, works more like Oxy-Clean using a safe derivative of hydrogen peroxide to remove the stains from deep within your teeth. If you have sensitivity or... more

A: Yes, but very limited results

Lance Timmerman, DMD

Most whitening toothpastes do not deliver what people desire.  Many have abrasives in them that can dull the finish of dental restorations, but CAN make the natural teeth slightly lighter in color IF the discoloration is a superficial stain.  However, the effects are short lived. Most people... more

Comments

HH
unregistered guest

15 May 2009

of course it does however do not expect it to have a huge effect on the teeth as many people whiten their teeth naturally by brushing them and avoiding surgary food. They gently take stains off of the tooth and bacteria and bits of food stuck on the gumline, in between the teeth and on the enamel. I got this adcive from from my dentist as i used to have braces and i used these tips and they extremely helped.

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