What Is the Best Teeth Whitening Toothpaste?

A bright white smile is definitely an asset, whether you just want to look good or you want to get ahead professionally. With so many different toothpastes on the market that claim to whiten the teeth, what is the best tooth whitening toothpaste for you to choose?

Dozens of Whitening Toothpastes on the Market

The question of what toothpaste is best is a challenging one, since there are more than a dozen whitening formulas being marketed by any number of toothpaste gurus. When you take into account all of the top-selling toothpaste brands, there are easily several dozen formulas crying out to you from the shelf of your local department store at any one time. So which one should you choose for your own personal needs? Let's take a look at some of the things you will want to look at when shopping for the best whitening toothpaste for your needs.

The Ingredients Matter

The effectiveness of any whitening toothpaste is based largely on the ingredients that it contains. Most whitening toothpastes can slightly remove surface staining that are caused by smoking or drinking coffee. They cannot actually reverse the discoloration that is caused by fluoride exposure or tetracycline exposure, or by stains that have penetrated the enamel. Look for ingredients that have special abrasives that will gently polish the teeth or that have ingredients like sodium tripolyphosphate, a chemical that will dissolve stains or at minimum, break the stain down so that you can then brush it away.

Results Depend on Length of Use

Consumers should bear in mind that whitening toothpastes should be used as directed if they want to get the best results. It usually takes around a month of brushing with this type of toothpaste to see any results at all. However, some toothpaste that count a chemical known as blue covarine among their active ingredients can make your teeth appear whiter, sooner, although it is merely an optical illusion. For true whitening, stick with peroxide based whitening pastes, which are offered by several companies. In the case of at least one brand, there is also a prebrush rinse that can be purchased with the toothpaste to make it even more effective.

No matter which toothpaste you choose, the key to finding the answer to the ageless query of "what is the best teeth whitening toothpaste" may involve trial and error. While some products seem to work well for some consumers, other people may find them less effective. Bottom line: find a whitening paste that you like and stick with it. The key to white teeth is brushing regularly and often, visiting your dentist regularly, and avoiding things that can stain your teeth such as cigarettes and coffee.