Most people know that human teeth are not supposed to be brilliant white. Nevertheless, society has reached the conclusion that whiter teeth are better teeth. Hence the reason why professional teeth whitening kitsand related products are selling in such huge numbers.
One example of such a product being whitening toothpaste. Think back just 10 years or so and you may remember a time when there were only one or two specialist stain-removal toothpastes on the market. Revered and comparatively expensive pastes which promised to make a big difference to our smiles. Head to your local supermarket today and you will see dozens, if not hundreds of high-quality whitening toothpastes.
Clear Confusion…
Whitening toothpaste has never been more popular or widely used. However, evidence would seem to suggest that most people still don’t understand what it is. They group quality teeth whitening kitswithin the same bracket as whitening pastes. Even though in reality, they couldn’t be more different.
Once again therefore, we thought we’d take an independent look at some of the ins and outs of high-qualitywhitening toothpaste. Nailing one important point right away, the answer is yes – some of the best whitening toothpastes on the market are indeed great. But at the same time, you need to be realistic. Expect any whitening paste to have a mind-blowing effect on the colour of your teeth and you’re in for a BIG disappointment.
If you really want to get the most out of the products you purchase, you need to gauge your expectations accordingly.
The Pros of Whitening Toothpaste
Make no mistake about it – high-quality whitening toothpastecan be beneficial. Just as long as you pick up a quality paste from a dependable manufacturer, you could be looking at advantages such as:
- Effective removal of surface stains. Whitening toothpastes are designed to eliminate as many surface stains as possible. Nevertheless, the effectiveness with which this happens differs enormously from one product to the next.
- Easy and convenient to use. If you take home the very best whitening toothpaste on the market, you also benefit from the total package of good oral health and hygiene. While some toothpastes focus on one benefit over another, some cover all bases in one tube.
- Ongoing stain prevention. It’s also worth remembering that if you do intend to enjoy white teeth, you need to preventstains from settling in the first place. If you whiten your teeth using a kit or professional treatment, a quality whitening toothpaste can help keep your teeth whiter for longer.
The Cons of Whitening Toothpaste
So it’s clear that high-quality whitening toothpastehas the potential to live up to its name. Nevertheless, there are some definite disadvantages to whitening toothpaste in general you should probably know about:
- Very modest results. First and foremost, don’t expect even the very best whitening toothpaste on the market to deliver spectacular results. Contrary to what the ads and packaging may have you think, it’s unheard of for a whitening paste to instantly transform the colour of teeth.
- Slow Progress. Even in instances where results are noticeable, you could be looking at several weeks before you see any difference whatsoever. All while accepting that the active ingredient in the paste may have no noticeable effect whatsoever on yourteeth personally.
- Abrasive Ingredients. Depending on your current oral health, it’s possible for certain whitening pastes (and products in general) to do more harm than good. It all comes down to the ingredients they contain, which in some instances are somewhat on the harsh and abrasive side. Particularly if you already have sensitive teeth and gums, whitening pastes have the potential to exacerbate the problem.
Misleading Marketing…
The most important thing to realise when it comes to whitening toothpaste is that marketing can be misleading. Advertising watchdogs seem to have completely overlooked this end of the marketing spectrum. If the ads were to be believed, a few uses of a £2 tube of toothpaste and we’d all have a Hollywood-white smile.
Incredibly misleading, given the fact that even high-quality whitening toothpastesaren’t designed to have this effect. They are simply designed to remove surface stains, prevent stains from setting in and keep teeth whiter for longer.
Not that this is a bad thing – you just have to gauge your expectations accordingly.
Alternatives to Whitening Toothpaste
If you’d prefer not to bother with whitening toothpaste…or would like to double-up your efforts…there are ways of making it happen. Of course, a good oral health regime matters more than anything else. Nevertheless, bring the following into your everyday lifestyle and you could be looking at a brighter, whiter smile for longer:
- Do your best to limit the amount of tea and coffee you drink – both of which are notorious for staining teeth.
- The same also goes for red wine, which should ideally be drunk with a straw to minimise contact with the teeth.
- If you do eat or drink anything known to stain teeth, give your mouth a good rinse with a gentle mouthwash or some warm water afterwards.
- Try to get into the habit of eating celery, raw carrots and other raw fruits and vegetables in general, which can contribute to the stain-removal process.
- If you smoke or chew tobacco, you might want to think about quitting as quickly as possible.
- Invest in a high-quality teeth-whitening kit to get things started, or arrange a professional whitening treatment with your dentist.
Once again, it’s important to acknowledge the fact that discolouration doesn’t necessarily indicate an oral health or hygiene issue. Nevertheless, if you are intent on enjoying a gleaming-white smile long-term, you need to approach whitening pastes with realistic expectations.
