A dentist has revealed ‘whitening’ toothpaste may not actually be as beneficial for your teeth as it seems revealing some of the longer term effects.
If you hadn’t already been put off from using teeth whitening products after watching what happened on Ross’ date in season six episode eight of Friends, then you may want to take notice of a dentist’s warning instead.
The problem
Rifkin dental in Yorktown Heights and Carmel, New York took to TikTok to share some enlightenment on so-called whitening toothpastes.
In a post shared last week, the account revealed an important ‘dental lesson’.
It states: “Whitening toothpastes do NOT actually whiten your teeth. They just remove external stains by scrubbing away layers of enamel, which can make your teeth look whiter at first.”
However, ‘over time’ your teeth will actually end up ‘thinner’ and ‘more yellow’ as a result. Oh and you’ll have more ‘sensitive teeth‘ too.
And it’s not taken long for people to flood to the comments in despair.
the more ya know! 🪥 #teeth #teethwhitening #dentist #dental #dentalfacts
♬ original sound – rifkindental
One TikTok user said: “Oh my god it’s always something,” while another: “Can I not live in peace?”
A third commented: “At this point I’m pretty sure we’re all breathing wrong too.”
“So what do you recommend for teeth whitening instead?” a fourth questioned.
Thankfully, there are safe ways to use the type of toothpaste if you are after more dazzling gnashers without potential damage.
It’s time to rethink how you’re using whitening toothpaste (Getty Stock Images/ Microgen Images/ Science Photo Library)
Potential solutions
Well, Health explains the ‘best’ whitening toothpaste contains ingredients such as bleaching agents ‘hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide’ which help to ‘remove stains’.
Other whitening agents found in some whitening toothpastes can include ‘antiredeposition agents, which prevent teeth discoloration after whitening,’ alongside dyes to make teeth white and surface-active agents too.
The article notes it’s generally safe to use’ but it’s about how frequently you use it which can end up being the main cause of problems.
However, hydrogen peroxide can be ‘too harsh for sensitive teeth and gums’ and if you do have a sensitive mouth, it’s best to look for other options containing ‘fluoride and potassium nitrate’ which are more gentle.
There are alternatives, of course (Getty stock images)
It adds: “Whitening toothpaste is generally safe to use. However, if you use it for long periods, it may damage enamel and irritate your gums and teeth. Do not use whitening toothpaste more often than the label indicates—for example, once or twice daily for six weeks—or as a dentist advises.”
Other options include getting professional whitening treatments at the dentist, using whitening trays or strips or painting ‘whitening gels on your teeth’.
Or you can just try your best to prevent yellowing in the first place by reducing your coffee and tea intake – and apparently soy sauce too – washing your mouth soon after consuming, not smoking, brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes and limiting super sugary food and drink.