Toothpastes with whitening effects: Clean yes, but are they actually white?

They shine, sparkle and flash – no, we are not talking about your neighbors’ Christmas decorations, but about white teeth. So-called whitening toothpastes promise to gently whiten the teeth when brushing. What is behind it and does it even work? We explain in this article.

First Off, natural teeth are never really white, but have a wide variety of nuances. If teeth were pure white (such as bathroom ceramics), it would look very unnatural on the human face. In fact, many people make this mistake when they ask their dental hygienist to whiten their teeth.

If light-colored teeth are to be created for a denture, the dental technician uses a wide variety of ceramic materials. Why? Because tooth color is a light-optical phenomenon. The decisive factor for the tooth color is not only the natural color of the tooth, but also its light-optical properties, such as transparency, translucency and opacity. So keep this always in mind when you think about whitening your teeth. You don’t want to have this unnaturally looking smile!

Toothpastes with whitening effects at a glance:

• Rough cleaning bodies “rub” discoloration from the tooth due to external influences such as coffee, wine and smoking.
• Pay attention to the RDA value: If it is too high, the risk of enamel increases.
• Fluorides effectively protect against cavities.
• Universal toothpastes often work just as effectively and are better suited for sensitive teeth.

Toothpastes with whitening and their cleaning bodies – this is how discoloration of the color works

Gentle lightening for a natural white: This effect is achieved by the cleaning bodies in the whitening toothpaste. They remove the superficial plaque from the teeth and have an “abrasive” (grinding) effect on the enamel. The size and quantity of cleaning bodies determines the abrasion caused by the toothpaste. The coarser the cleaning bodies, the higher the mechanical load on the enamel, the so-called dentin.

Pay attention to the RDA value

The RDA value can be found on all toothpaste staubes and indicates the “Relative Dentin Abrasion”. This value is measured in the laboratory and shows how much enamel (dentin) is rubbed off by the toothpaste. Toothpastes with an RDA value between 30 and 70 are suitable for regular use.

Plaster bodies remove the external discoloration

Whitening toothpastes usually contain many coarse cleaning bodies. They remove plaque from the teeth and “rub” the discoloration superficially from the enamel.

Toothpastes with whitening effects in the test

Scientists tested various toothpastes and issued a good certificate for most products. In the test, the various toothpastes were applied to an automatic brush, which cleaned the model teeth according to the specifications of the toothpaste manufacturers. The teeth were pretreated with a color solution. Afterwards, the examiners compared the before and after color of the teeth.

Natural teeth are not automatically white

Important to know: Toothpastes with a “whitening effect” only remove external discoloration, for example of nicotine, coffee or red wine.
The teeth thus receive – largely – their original color back. They don’t have to be bright white. Many people do not have white teeth by nature.

Dentist Dr. Christopher Grasse: “Whitening toothpastes clean the teeth, but do not really lighten them. Because the decisive criteria is the thorough cleaning of the teeth, in which the plaque is gently removed. Doing this basically achieves the same result with good gentle brushing and regular professional tooth cleaning!”

Beware of sensitive teeth

Healthy teeth usually tolerate the increased abrasion caused by the toothpastes well. For sensitive teeth, it is better to do without the “whitening effect”.

Universal toothpastes are often just as effective

Use a universal toothpaste especially for sensitive teeth. No matter what special effect a toothpaste brand promises, make sure that it contains fluoride. This protects the teeth from tooth decay. According to the test results, universal toothpastes clean discolored teeth almost as well.

Ask your dentist

Is the whitening effect of your toothpaste not enough according to your expectations? Then talk to the professionals in your dental practice. Here you will find the most important tips for the right toothpaste. And if you want to achieve a bright whitening effect, professional whitening methods are an alternative. Here too your dentist can help you you achieve your desired result.