With so many toothpastes to choose from, it’s hard to know if a toothpaste will really do what it claims to do. Looking for the ADA seal of approval is a good place to start, but what if your knowledge went a little deeper?
Teeth whitening products are widely available at grocery stores and drug stores, and teeth whitening agents are among the most popular in toothpastes. With so many toothpastes claiming to brighten your pearly whites, how many of them actually work, and what can you expect?
The way a toothpaste works depends on what it contains. For patients, it’s important to remember that whitening toothpastes won’t whiten your smile like professional teeth whitening will. They can, however, whiten teeth slightly by removing surfaces stains, such as those caused by drinking coffee or smoking. Whitening toothpaste can also be used after a bleaching treatment to help maintain results.
Whitening toothpaste, however, cannot change the natural color of teeth or reverse discoloration caused by excessive exposure to fluoride, deep surface stains, or tooth decay.
When used properly two times a day, whitening toothpaste can take anywhere from two to four weeks to whiten teeth. Although it offers unparalleled results, the cost of professional teeth whitening is often much higher than the cost of a tube of whitening toothpaste. If your smile is free of deep stains and severe discoloration, give whitening toothpaste chance. It may be able to lighten your smile enough to give you the results you wanted. If not, talk to Dr. Foust about the teeth whitening options she offers.
Call Dental Impressions in Ankeny, Iowa at (515) 965-0230 to reserve an appointment with Dr. Amanda Foust, a family and preventive dentist.
