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For just a few dollars (and some regular brushing), using a whitening toothpaste will result in teeth that are "whiter and brighter", "sparkling white" and with "a whiteness you can see" ; if claims on the packaging are to be believed. We put 20 to the test. In brief - For one month, 753 CHOICE Home Testers put their normal toothpaste aside and used an allocated whitening toothpaste twice a day instead.
- Twenty different toothpastes were included in our trial — all claiming to be ‘whitening toothpaste’ — and each product was tested by 32 to 41 trialists.
- 55% of the people in our trial noticed a difference after using whitening toothpaste for a month, but for most, the difference was small.
- Before you buy any whitening product, we'd recommend talking to your dentist about the particular type of stain that affects your teeth, to avoid wasting money and effort on a product that may not work for you.
Stains and their causesThe natural colour of people’s teeth varies from white to yellow, with every shade in between. As you get older the make-up of your teeth changes which can cause colour changes from yellowing to greying. Your general health (when your teeth are forming), diet and lifestyle (once they are in your mouth) also play a key role in the colour of your teeth.
Certain antibiotic drugs and severe fevers can affect the colour of the tooth itself during development as can damage in the form of a blow during contact sports for example. Tea, coffee and smoking are three of the biggest diet and lifestyle culprits of surface staining. Stain removalMany whitening products refer to surface stain removal, but while removing surface stains can restore teeth to their natural colour, this doesn't necessarily maen your teeth will be intrinsically whitened. Deeper stains are more difficult to remove and may not respond to the chemicals used in home treatments. A professional clean at the dentist can also remove surface stains (including those between the teeth), often producing a fresher, whiter appearance. So before you spend money on DIY whitening, it’s probably worth speaking to your dentist first about treatment options for the particular type of stain affecting your teeth. SafetyBleaches and abrasives, the two whitening ingreadients most commonly found in whiteneing products, are generally thought to be safe, but it's useful to be aware of the following: - it's recommended that you consult your dentist before using bleaches
- ensure you follow the instruction carefully
- they are not recommended for children and may cause some sensitivity
See the full CHOICE Online report. Go to choice.com.au for more expert, unbiased advice on appliances, electronics, food and finances. Buy smarter, go to choice.com.au first.
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