Beauty Clinic: Whitening toothpastes
Q. I am looking for something to whiten my teeth. I don't want to use bleach so could you recommend a whitening toothpaste?
A. There is a wide range of whitening toothpastes, which may help to some extent. You just need to realise that, according to dentists, all a whitening toothpaste can really do is to clean and shine your teeth. It won’t have the same effect as going to your dentist to have your teeth professionally bleached. Remember that, for a teeth-whitening agent to penetrate the tooth enamel, it must be on the surface for at least 20 minutes.
Professional whitening is a much more expensive solution to a very common situation so it’s certainly worth trying a toothpaste. One simple option is to ask your dentist what they recommend. They will know your individual situation and most will know the products available and which is most likely to suit you.
(NB If you do opt for professional bleaching, do go to a qualified and experienced dental professional, we have heard of beauty salons that offer dental bleaching and that may not be safe. There have long been questions about DIY home bleaching kits as well. Not worth putting your oral health at risk.)
However, we found that the Good Housekeeping Institute, that most trusted of resources, carried out a trial of whitening toothpastes, which was published in November 2019; click here to see the full trial.
The three top products were:
Pearl Drops Strong Polished White Toothpaste/£7 for 75 ml
iWhite Whitening Toothpaste/£10 for 75 ml
Colgate Max Wite Expert Complete Whitening Toothpaste/£12 for 90 ml
For anyone who prefers a really natural whitening toothpaste, pharmacist Shabir Daya recommends LEBON Le White Whitening Toothpaste/£11.45 for 75ml. This contains sweet Moroccan mint and green tea and the whitening effect is down to papaya extracts.
Lastly, remember that crunchy fruits and vegetables – tops are apples, carrots and celery sticks - help keep your teeth healthy by promoting the production of saliva and also act as a ‘scrubbing’ agent for teeth, lifting stains as you crunch. And don't forget strawberries, which contain malic acid – an enzyme that can help to keep your teeth whiter. By the same token, bromelain from pineapple and papain from papaya may both help.
Photo by Lesly Juarez on Unsplash
