You might be surprised to learn that the whitening toothpaste you use every day could actually make your teeth appear more yellow!
Cosmetic dentist Dr Bronagh Keane told personal trainer and wellness speaker Karl Henry on his podcast, “Your whitening toothpaste is going to give you yellow teeth. The whitening in the EU has been regulated and for over-the-counter products like your whitening strips, toothpaste and whitening mouthwash, they are not licensed to have more than 0.1 per cent of hydrogen peroxide. So that’s compared to a prescription amount of six per cent from your dentist when you get the professional whitening.”
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Karl Henry (@karlhenrypt)
She highlighted how the difference in the quantities of hydrogen peroxide used are stark. To make up for this, most brands, she said, add ‘acids and abrasive particles to whiten your teeth’. This results in these products only being effective on the top layer of the teeth. The abrasive particles also lead to a thinning of the top white layer or the enamel, causing the teeth to become yellow over time.
Can whitening toothpastes cause enamel erosions leading to yellowing of teeth over time?
Dr Niyati Arora, BDS, MDS (prosthodontist) at Krown Hub Dental Clinic, Pitampura, agreed with Dr Keane. She said, “The usefulness of whitening toothpaste has always been a topic of discussion with questionable and controversial answers.”
“Now, the brightening effect of whitening toothpaste is mainly due to two factors.
- Use of mechanical abrasives
- Use of peroxides.
“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,” she told indianexpress.com.
The downside is that the mechanical abrasives like hydrated silica, charcoal and baking soda slowly, and over time, cause abrasions to the tooth surface. These abrasions, she said, slowly abrade away the topmost outer layer of our tooth along with the stains on them, giving the impression that your teeth are getting cleaned. But in the long run, you are losing something much more important i.e. the enamel – the outermost and protective layer of our tooth that prevents tooth sensitivity.
Dr Niyati Arora, BDS, MDS (prosthodontist) at Krown Hub Dental Clinic, Pitampura, says, “The usefulness of whitening toothpaste has always been a topic of discussion with questionable and controversial answers.” (Source: Freepik)
Specific oral or dietary habits that might interact with whitening toothpaste and result in yellowing of teeth
“A lot of our oral and dietary habits contribute to the yellowing of teeth,” said Dr Arora. It’s a common notion that brushing our teeth with a medium or hard brush in a vigorous back and forth manner would make the teeth more clean. This not only causes the abrasions and enamel to wear away leading to yellow teeth, but also causes our gums to undergo recession. She suggested, “All of us should use a soft or an ultra soft toothbrush and move our brush in a circular or up and down motion with a soft hand to prevent this.”
Dr Arora pointed out another common habit that can cause yellowing of the teeth – the use of powdered dant manjans. These are nothing but abrasive powders that act to reduce the enamel and cause damage to gums.
Additionally, some of the common food items that can cause staining are tea, coffee, wine and aerated drinks like coke, pepsi. “Tea (including green tea), and coffee, contain tannins that cause staining, but these are only extrinsic stains that can be cleaned easily with professional cleaning and polishing. Aerated drinks are acidic in nature that can wear away enamel and cause our teeth to turn sensitive and yellow,” Dr Arora told indianexpress.com.
How frequency of using whitening toothpastes impact its potential to cause yellowish or discolouration of teeth
“Use of whitening toothpastes for a brief period or time prescribed by the dentist may have little to no damage or side effects to your teeth,” Dr Arora said. But, using them on a prolonged basis can not only cause harm to the teeth but also the gums.
The side effects don’t happen overnight or even in a week or a month. It takes time to precipitate and show their effects. Thus, the abrasions due to the abrasive particles show effects in a few months.
As far as the use of peroxides are concerned, Dr Arora mentioned the prolonged use or abuse of peroxides may damage enamel, irritate the gums, and lead to prolonged sensitivity. These serious side effects have led to strict regulations on the amount and concentration of peroxides that is permissible in a toothpaste.
