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How Do I Choose the Best Toothpaste for Whitening?
Choosing the best toothpaste for whitening teeth may seem like a daunting task because many manufacturers produce whitening toothpastes. Some key ingredients to watch for include baking soda, hydrogen or carbamide peroxide, and fluoride. There are also some ingredients that you should avoid whenever possible, such as sodium lauryl sulfate.
The best toothpaste for teeth whitening likely will contain baking soda, a mild abrasive that penetrates tooth enamel and helps to remove stains from teeth. Baking soda gently scrapes away yellow and brown stains caused by drinking coffee, tea, cola, or smoking cigarettes. Toothpastes containing baking soda interact with stain molecules to break down discoloration and leave teeth whiter. Buying baking soda toothpaste will also allow you to receive the daily benefits of brushing with baking soda without harming your tooth enamel.
Hydrogen peroxide also may be included in the best toothpaste for whitening teeth. Toothpaste containing peroxide actually bleaches teeth to some degree because peroxide is mildly acidic and has oxidant properties. Instead of hydrogen peroxide, manufacturers sometimes use carbamide peroxide, which turns into hydrogen peroxide in the mouth.
Calprox® may be a helpful ingredient as well. Food, plaque, and bacteria build up on a thin layer of protein coating your teeth. Calprox® dissolves the layer of protein, preventing the harmful buildup and whitening your teeth in the process. It may be more difficult to find products that contain the substance, but the benefits may be worth the search.
Fluoride is another potential ingredient in the best toothpaste for whitening teeth. Many tooth whitening agents can cause tooth sensitivity, and although fluoride is well-known for preventing cavities, it also reduces tooth sensitivity. Purchasing a whitening toothpaste containing fluoride may prevent the discomfort that sometimes follows the use of whitening toothpastes. You also may find toothpastes that include potassium nitrate, which is another substance that lessens tooth sensitivity.
Lemon may seem like a strange addition to the best toothpaste for whitening teeth, but it could be helpful. The citric acid found in lemons can remove stains from your teeth and freshen breath at the same time. Too much lemon, however, can deplete the calcium in your teeth, and it is important to only use lemon if heavily diluted in premade toothpaste.
There are also a number of ingredients to avoid when choosing a whitening toothpaste. Sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient used to make toothpaste foam while brushing, has been found to cause canker sores. Despite being toxic if swallowed, some manufacturers use stannous chloride, sulfide, and oxide in their toothpastes. Sorbitol, a sweetener used in toothpaste, has laxative properties that you may wish to avoid as well.
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![Consumers should look to see if whitening toothpastes include carbamide peroxide.]()
By: picsfiveConsumers should look to see if whitening toothpastes include carbamide peroxide. -
![Some people use toothpaste that is designed to whiten their teeth.]()
By: sannebergSome people use toothpaste that is designed to whiten their teeth. -
![Baking soda is typically an ingredient in the best whitening toothpastes.]()
By: VidadyBaking soda is typically an ingredient in the best whitening toothpastes. -
![Some people brush with baking soda several times a week in order to whiten their teeth naturally.]()
By: Franny-AnneSome people brush with baking soda several times a week in order to whiten their teeth naturally. -
![There are may toothpastes to choose from when a person wants to achieve whiter teeth.]()
By: Subbotina AnnaThere are may toothpastes to choose from when a person wants to achieve whiter teeth.
Discussion Comments
When choosing the kinds of toothpaste that one should use, I never really considered the ingredients, until reading this informative article, which actually brings up some great points.
While it's true that toothpaste is meant to help you in brushing your teeth, not only are most brands quite different, but some are much more effective than others. I also like how it's mentioned that some brands of toothpaste can cause canker sores.
Before buying any type of toothpaste, not only would the best bet be to look up any potentially dangerous ingredients, but it's also good to read online reviews and get the perspective of other people.
On a final note, one thing that I really want to bring up is toothpaste being toxic if it's swallowed. When I was a kid, I never really considered this, but it definitely makes a lot more sense now. It also explains why I would get stomach aches as a kid when I would sometimes swallow my toothpaste. Thankfully, swallowing toothpaste isn't something that I do anymore.
I don't know about anyone else, but from an early age, I feel that we should teach our kids how to brush our teeth. While it's an easy task that anyone can do, there's still a difference between brushing your teeth, and brushing them the right way. For example, I know some people who barely even "brush" their teeth, and simply slosh the toothbrush and toothpaste around in their mouth for twenty seconds before spitting it out in the sink.
On the other hand, I also know some people who will brush their teeth for five minutes tops, or at least until their teeth are bright and clean. Overall, both of these things are something that one should take care into consideration. While it's not always necessary to brush your teeth for five to ten minutes straight (especially depending on what you just ate), you don't want to take your teeth for granted either. Heck, brushing for longer is something even I should consider doing.
It's amazing what can happen to our mouth if we don't take good care of our teeth, and I'm not just referring to brushing them, I'm also talking about if we don't take a trip to the dentist every six months. Based on my experience, I know a friend who prior to last year, he had never been to the dentist before. That actually surprised me quite a bit. I mean, who has never been to the dentist their entire life?
Regardless, when the dentists cleaned his teeth, his lack of dentist visits really showed. Not only was his mouth filled with plaque, but even more so, he had gingivitis and sensitive bleeding gums. Fortunately, it was all taken care of, but overall, it really shows how there's more to taking care of your teeth than simply brushing them. Our teeth are something that we're going to have for the rest of our lives, and if we lose them, there's no way to get them back.
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