If you’re looking for a convenient, low-cost way to reverse minor staining on your teeth or keep your smile white after teeth whitening in Fort Mill, you may be thinking about incorporating a teeth whitening toothpaste into your daily routine.
But how does teeth whitening toothpaste work? In this blog from Luck Family Dental, our Fort Mill dentist takes a look at the two most common types of teeth whitening toothpaste, and give you more information about each one. Let’s get started.
Most toothpastes have some type of abrasive, which helps clean and polish your teeth. Whitening toothpastes typically have a higher level of these buffing compounds, like baking soda or silica. These help rub away plaque, tartar, and surface stains from your teeth, providing you with a brighter smile.
Importantly, though, ADA-approved whitening toothpastes with abrasives contain materials that are not harder than your enamel. The abrasive compounds will clean and polish your teeth, but will not scratch or damage your enamel.
This is not the case with some types of “whitening toothpaste” that are not approved by the ADA. Charcoal toothpaste is a good example. Charcoal is very abrasive, and some types of charcoal toothpaste are rough and hard enough to permanently damage your enamel.
For this reason, you should only choose ADA-approved toothpaste from a well-known, reputable manufacturer. You’ll keep your teeth and your smile safe, and have peace of mind knowing that your enamel is not being harmed by your toothpaste.
Another category of whitening toothpaste uses peroxide, such as carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, to remove stains from your teeth. These are the same chemicals that are used in professional whitening treatments.
Whitening toothpaste with peroxide can remove deeper stains compared to toothpastes that simply use abrasives. If you want to whiten your smile at home, these products are a great choice.
However, you must make sure you choose ADA-approved products, and follow the instructions on the package properly to keep your smile safe. Over-using whitening toothpaste, particularly when using other OTC (over-the-counter) whitening products can put your teeth and gums at risk.
While teeth whitening toothpaste can help remove minor stains and reverse some yellowing, it’s not nearly as powerful as professional, in-office whitening treatment from a dentist like Dr. Leah Luck.
If you’ve been trying to whiten your teeth at home but are not satisfied with the results, we’re here to help. At Luck Family Dental, we specialize in cosmetic dentistry in Fort Mill, and Dr. Luck can assess your oral health and cosmetic dental problems to provide you with customized care.
We offer both in-office and take-home whitening products, and use Philips Zoom! products to provide you with the best results. So don’t wait. If you’re self-conscious about your smile due to stains or yellowing, just contact us online or give us a call at (803) 548-6370 to schedule a cosmetic consultation with Dr. Luck, and get the smile you deserve.
