Teeth Whitening Toothpastes

It is quite common for someone to look in the mirror and not be happy with the way their teeth look. They may not be straight, some may be missing, but the most common characteristic of someone’s teeth that may make them unhappy is discoloration. What you consume in your diet, your smoking habits, your use of antibiotics, and even your age can cause staining that changes the color of your teeth from brilliant white to a dull yellow or brown.

A wonderful thing is that we live in a time where changing the color of your teeth is easy. Sure, you can go to a dentist and pay an arm and a leg for his/her services. But you don’t have to. With some simple tooth whitening products, you can be on your way to a brighter, whiter smile in no time.

Tooth whitening products come in various forms, ranging from whitening toothpastes to entire tooth whitening systems. Whitening toothpastes are interesting products since they don’t contain the same type of ingredients that are found in tooth whitening systems. When compared to other, regular toothpastes, whitening toothpastes contain polishing agents that are designed to remove deep tooth stains. However, even though they are perhaps the most convenient of the tooth whitening products, they don’t do as good a job as other products.

The most popular tooth whitening products are entire systems that are commonly used by dentists. Nowadays, with systems such as Zoom and Britesmile, these systems are now available in at-home versions. They are easy to use and very effective.

There are differences between the various at-home tooth whitening products. However, there are also common components found within them.

At-home tooth whitening systems often contain a tooth whitening gel and also a mouth tray that is designed to be worn by the user. The gel, similar to those used by dentists, contains either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These peroxides are the active ingredients that are found within the gel.

The mouth tray is what holds the tooth whitening gel. A syringe is usually used to apply the gel to the tray. The tray containing the gel is then inserted into the mouth and worn over various periods of time.

Choosing a kit for you can be hard. There are numerous companies that manufacture them, and the components they contain are often similar. But there are other alternatives you can also consider.

Though these kits have proven to be popular, the emergence of other at-home, tooth whitening products are giving them a run for their money.

Those who don’t have the time to wait for the effects of a tray to take place, or don’t have the time to use them as often as recommended, now have options. Tooth whitening products, such as a formula that can be painted directly on to the tooth, or even strips, are very convenient and also very effective.

You should consult your doctor prior to using tooth whitening products. To learn more information on a product before using, carefully read the packaging, or visit the manufacturer’s website.

How do teeth whitening toothpastes work

The primary mode of action of teeth whitening toothpastes is one of abrasion. The formulation of the typical whitening toothpaste will be such that it includes minute, mildly abrasive particles (usually aluminum oxide, dicalcium phosphate dihydrate, hydrated silicas or calcium carbonate). The scrubbing motion of the bristles of a toothbrush in combination with the presence of these small particles creates an action that can have an effect where it scours debris off the surface of teeth. So, as opposed to peroxide-based teeth whiteners

where the whitening effect is produced by a chemical change that occurs within a tooth, whitening toothpastes produce a whitening effect solely by way of removing accumulated debris off a tooth's external surface. For this reason, teeth whitening toothpastes are sometimes referred to as "non-bleaching" whitening products.

Some teeth whitening toothpastes do contain peroxides

The formulations of some teeth whitening toothpastes do include peroxide compounds, however only at low levels. Studies have suggested that a whitening toothpaste with an added peroxide compound will only deliver a 1% (or less) exposure of hydrogen peroxide to a tooth's surface. Because of this low level of peroxide exposure and the relatively brief exposure time teeth have to toothpaste in general, the whitening effect of the peroxide additives found in the formulations of whitening toothpastes is considered to be negligible.

In some cases Toothpaste might be the best choice

On a comparative basis, teeth whitening toothpastes typically are not considered to be the most effective type of tooth whitening products available, primarily because their effect is only one of removing superficial debris as opposed to creating a true internal color change as is the case with peroxide-based whiteners. However, there can be circumstances when whitening toothpaste is the best choice. Here is an example of when this could be true.

Some people may find that they are, for the most part, perfectly content with the color of their teeth. With time however, typically beginning some weeks or months after their most recent professional dental cleaning, they will notice that their teeth have begun to take on a stained appearance. In most cases the stain is only found on a few teeth or just a grouping of teeth. Often the staining will be dark and quite noticeable in some areas and almost unnoticeable in other regions. This type of tooth discoloration is surface staining. And this is precisely the type of staining that a tooth whitening toothpaste is intended to address.

Tooth surface staining is only superficial in nature. Its presence has to do with debris that has accumulated on the surface of the affected teeth. The debris itself either has an inherent color or, more likely, the debris is relatively neutral in color and has become stained due to exposure to chromogenic agents such as coffee, and tobacco products. Surface stain forms usually where a person's oral home care has been ineffective.

The mildly abrasive nature of the particulate substances incorporated into the formulation a whitening toothpaste when combined with the scrubbing action of a toothbrush can often remove surface staining. Even in those cases where the existing build up is too heavy for a whitening toothpaste to provide a solution, initiating the use of one of these products immediately after a professional dental cleaning may keep surface staining from ever forming.

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