Over time, the need for picture-perfect, glowing white tooth has solely grown. While dentists provide whitening procedures, they are often dear and sometimes not price the fee. Instead, many go for teeth-whitening toothpaste — a straightforward and reasonably priced option to brighten your smile.
That stated, whereas a top quality toothpaste marketed for teeth-whitening may help you obtain a brighter smile, it’s essential to grasp its limitations. Teeth-whitening toothpaste has its advantages however can turn into counterproductive if overused. Focusing on total dental well being is essential, as it might assist stop staining within the first place.
It’s essential to acknowledge that some discoloration of tooth is totally regular, so it’s important to have real looking expectations concerning the look of your smile. If you’re inquisitive about brightening your tooth, listed below are some key elements to contemplate when selecting the most effective whitening toothpaste.
Does whitening toothpaste work? Is it protected?
Most whitening toothpastes take away floor stains from tooth through the use of abrasives. While all toothpaste will be abrasive, an excessive amount of scrubbing can hurt your enamel, a protecting outer coating that shields your tooth. Dr. Sarah Tavares, a dentist at Bentway Dental in Toronto, Canada, says whitening components like silica and calcium carbonate will be particularly tough. Other abrasives, akin to baking soda and charcoal, will be extra damaging.
Other whitening brokers in some toothpastes or whitening strips comprise chemical brokers that bleach the tooth, akin to hydrogen peroxide. These could also be “generally safer” on your tooth than extra abrasive components, however Tavares stated, “they can still cause gum irritation or sensitivity if overused or used improperly.
“To cut back the chance of enamel harm, restrict the frequency of whitening therapies to every week at a time with good intervals in between,” she stated.
What is the most effective whitening toothpaste total?
We did not choose a single best whitening toothpaste because the ideal option depends on individual preferences and needs. Below, we have listed various types of whitening toothpaste based on dentist recommendations. However, if you have any questions, it’s best to consult your dental provider for personalized advice.
Best whitening toothpaste of 2025
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Colgate Optic White Pro Series toothpaste is one whitening toothpaste that Dr. Fatima Khan, a dentist in Houston, Texas, recommends. Some of her causes for recommending it embrace its trusted model identify and its 5% hydrogen peroxide whitening agent. Unlike different whitening brokers that work by eradicating stains on the floor of the tooth, hydrogen peroxide can get contained in the tooth so it whitens intrinsically as well as extrinsically.
According to Khan, one draw back to this toothpaste is that it accommodates sodium lauryl sulfate, or SLS, which can trigger irritation, akin to canker sores. Other well-liked whitening toothpastes may comprise SLS, so it is essential to take a look at the components before you purchase a product should you’re delicate to it.
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Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening toothpaste is beneficial by Dr. Elizabeth Himel, proprietor of Aspen Dental. This toothpaste whitens by means of hydrated silica, a light abrasive. Crest can also be a well known model with many merchandise (fairly a number of of them marketed towards whitening), making this an approachable selection for a lot of.
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Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening toothpaste was beneficial by Khan, given its low degree of abrasiveness in comparison with different merchandise.
Sensodyne is a model many individuals with delicate tooth could also be accustomed to. This explicit whitening toothpaste is free from sodium lauryl sulfate, which may irritate many individuals’s mouths.
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Lumineux whitening toothpaste is one other toothpaste beneficial by Khan and accommodates important oils and extra “natural” components like coconut oil and lifeless sea salt, making this a extra interesting selection for some. It whitens with hydrated silica, and has a extra “medium” abrasiveness, based on Khan.
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This toothpaste is not as closely marketed towards whitening as different merchandise on this checklist, but it surely was highlighted by Kahn as a result of it is a good fluoride-free possibility for these searching for one, and it makes use of nano-hydroxyapatite to remineralize the tooth, which can brighten them as it really works to assist rebuild enamel.
Best whitening toothpaste in contrast
| Toothpaste | Superlative | Main whitening agent | Contains sodium lauryl sulfate | Contains fluoride | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colgate Optic White Pro Series | Best whitening toothpaste with hydrogen peroxide | Hydrogen peroxide, 5% | Yes | Yes | $8 |
| Crest Pro-Health Advanced Extra Whitening toothpaste | Most reasonably priced whitening toothpaste | Hydrated silica | Yes | Yes | $4 |
| Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening | Best whitening toothpaste for delicate tooth | Hydrated silica | No | Yes | $17 (3-pack) |
| Lumineux Whitening toothpaste | Best whitening toothpaste with important oils | Hydrated silica | No | Yes | $7 |
| Boka Ela Mint n-Ha toothpaste | Best pure whitening toothpaste | Hydrated Silica | No | No | $10 |
We made these choices based mostly on suggestions from two dentists. We additionally thought of method, model repute and the vary of merchandise obtainable to go well with totally different wants.
Khan says that you need to choose a whitening toothpaste that is comparatively much less abrasive and fewer prone to harm your enamel. One method to try this is to search for the relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) worth, if the product or model supplies it.
The American Dental Association recommends using toothpaste that contains fluoride, and most whitening toothpastes available on the market will comprise it. However, a more recent ingredient referred to as hydroxyapatite has additionally been shown to help with the well being of tooth by working to “remineralize” the enamel, doubtlessly helping with look as properly. People ought to select a toothpaste with both fluoride or hydroxyapatite, Kahn stated.
“It restores mineral density, and therefore makes teeth appear whiter and less translucent,” Kahn stated, referring to hydroxyapatite.
Not essentially. Dr. Erin Fraundorf, founding father of BOCA Orthodontic and Whitening Studio, stated that whereas tooth whitening with a toothpaste will be “effective in the short term,” overuse can result in sensitivity and harm over time. Instead of whitening toothpaste, Fraundorf recommends seeing your dentist for in-office whitening, or selecting one other dwelling product akin to whitening strips from Opalescence.
“Toothpaste will not give you the instant whitening results as whitening strips or in-office whitening because those contain a higher concentration of the hydrogen peroxide, and duration of the agent being on your teeth is longer compared to toothpaste,” Khan additionally stated.
It’s essential to remember slightly discoloration is regular and inevitable — tooth could also be white-ish in colour, however that does not imply they should be white white. It’s additionally essential to notice that having white tooth would not essentially imply your oral well being is in tip-top form.
That being stated, there are some issues you are able to do to attenuate your tooth taking up a tint:
Stay on high of normal, skilled cleanings. That’s ideally twice a year, however no less than annually, and perhaps extra typically, as they might successfully and safely take away some floor stains. Also, be sure that your common oral care routine is stable, full with common flossing and an electrical toothbrush.
Swish with water after ingesting espresso or wine. Fraundorf recommends taking a graceful of flat water (not glowing) between sips of espresso or wine, that are two main culprits of staining tooth. Drinking water typically, and transferring it round your mouth, may also assist with the acidity of sure meals and drinks.
Chew sugar-free gum. Another suggestion from Fraundrof, as chewing sugar-free gum after meals has been proven to assist cut back the probability of cavities.
