Whitening toothpaste are effective for removing surface stains from the teeth, but they can’t change the natural tooth colour. Those who have noticeable stains from soda, coffee, or cigarettes can expect visible changes with regular use of a quality whitening toothpaste. However, if your discoloration runs deeper, there are other whitening products that can better bring about the changes you’re after.
Look for a whitening toothpaste that contains blue covarine. This chemical diminishes the yellow appearance on the surface of the tooth. The result is immediately perceptible, though not as long-lasting as other methods of tooth whitening. It’s best to combine the optical properties of blue covarine with other approaches to tooth-whitening.
Whitening toothpaste are designed for regular application at least twice a day. For the best results, users must brush daily with these products for several weeks. Products that don’t contain blue covarine can still yield impressive results. However, it’s important for users to understand that the whitening isn’t usually visible after the very first brushing.
If you’re looking for something more effective, speak with your dentist about professionally applied products. These have a higher concentration of the active bleaching ingredient and produce more noticeable results. While an over-the-counter bleaching kit will typically contain 10 percent carbamide peroxide, a professional application can have a hydrogen peroxide concentration ranging from 25 to 40 percent. A protective gel or other agent is used on the gums to prevent irritation with these strong treatments. Professional tooth whitening treatments are also much quicker than other alternatives. Most dentists will complete this treatment in about an hour, saving you weeks of repetitive applications.
Ultimately, you should speak to your dentist about teeth whitening. Depending on the current care and treatment for your teeth, it may be a better idea to stick with toothpaste.