Why whitening toothpastes don’t really whiten your teeth

One day I was in the office bathroom, brushing my teeth with whitening toothpaste, when a co-worker asked me if I wasn’t afraid to use it. My response, foaming at the mouth, was a look of doubt. She told me that she had heard that these pastes weaken enamel and that if used for a long time they can damage teeth. Is this an urban myth or is there truth behind this concern?

And I also wondered about their effectiveness: do these pastes really whiten teeth?

“Whitening pastes shouldn’t hurt,” says Mario Barros, a dentist with the UC CHRISTUS Health Network. They are in fact “more abrasive pastes than traditional pastes, which makes them more effective in removing surface stains”. This is why they are defined as launderers. But its maximum abrasiveness “is regulated so as not to damage the enamel”.

However, Patricio Vildosola, academic at the School of Dentistry of Andrés Bello University, specialist in oral rehabilitation, comments that whitening pastes have been scientifically demonstrated as potentially harmful agents for tooth enamel.

“Evidence supports the idea that they not only affect enamel, but can also damage other tissues like dentin and even gums,” explains the professional. The effects of frequent use of these pastes, he says, can vary over time, whether short or long term, depending on various factors that accelerate this process.

“The type of dental tissue exposed, the frequency of brushing, the hardness of the brush (medium or hard), the technique and intensity of brushing, and even the influence of an acidic or hard diet; All of this, in addition to the type of paste, can affect the oral cavity,” he explains.

And what happens if tooth enamel is weakened? What does this mean or how is it expressed in our daily lives? According to Vildosola, the weakening or wear of dental surfaces can have various repercussions on our quality of life.

“From greater sensitivity, especially with cold foods, to the possibility of causing significant wear of the teeth. These are problems that can compromise both the aesthetics and function of our teeth, significantly affecting our oral health and general well-being,” he analyzes.

Currently, Vildosola says, stain removal – and eventually whiter teeth – can be achieved through two different mechanisms.

One of these is abrasion, “which involves the removal of pigments from the outer layer of the tooth or plaque accumulated on the surface.” The second mechanism consists of the elimination of more internal pigments from the tooth, “using active ingredients such as peroxides, which are used in procedures carried out in dental offices or in treatments indicated by professionals for use at home,” he explains.

“The ideal is to carry out prophylaxis or professional dental cleaning to better eliminate stains generated by foods such as coffee or tea,” analyzes Barros. According to him, this can be supplemented by the use of whitening pastes, as they can help keep the surface of the teeth free of stains.

Of course, he warns that if the patient eats a lot of foods that stain the teeth, “their teeth will soon become stained again, no matter what toothpaste they use.”

“If someone wants to improve the color of their teeth, the first step is to consult their trusted professional,” explains Vildosola, so that they can give you a specific diagnosis to evaluate the best teeth whitening alternative. “Options vary in terms of time, financial resources and predictability of treatment, and each patient requires a unique strategy,” he explains.

Among the most effective, stable and long-lasting alternatives are in-office procedures, such as “cleaning” or “scaling”, as well as teeth whitening carried out in a clinic or at home. using devices supervised by professionals, always carried out. by a dentist.

In the case of whitening pastes or whiteningthe UNAB academic comments that there are also alternatives based on peroxides, “although their effectiveness has proven to be less stable and less durable compared to professional procedures.”

Before using any of these toothpastes, it is advisable to have a medical check-up. That is, if you see them in the supermarket and they are at a good price, or if your favorite influencer uses them, these are not strong enough reasons to opt for these options.

If you want to try one, you should talk to your dentist, and she will give you the green or red light on the product. whitening that you want to try.

It is important to heed Vildosola’s warning: by using products without supervision, your problems may worsen or trigger another condition. An important point not to be overlooked is that this type of paste is not the solution for whitening; For this, treatment carried out by a dentist must be followed. A whitening paste or any other “alone will achieve no effect; It should be used with a toothbrush that effectively removes plaque,” ​​says Barros.