How to Choose a Whitening Toothpaste in the UK
Keep these simple tips in mind when looking for a whitening toothpaste; by following our guide you’ll find it much easier to narrow down your own needs and the kind of product that will polish your teeth to their brightest and best.
1
Know Which Ingredients Have the Best Whitening Effects
It’s vital when shopping for a whitening toothpaste to look further than the gorgeous model flashing her gnashers in the adverts and to carefully read the ingredients list.
Mildly Abrasive Particles Gently Clear Away Stains
Whitening toothpastes utilise abrasive particles topolish the teeth by sloughing stains away from the surface of the tooth. Hydrated silica is the most common ingredient that will scrub stains (rather than bleaching or lightening the tooth enamel), with calcium carbonate removing plaque in a similar way.
Other abrasives you may spot on your toothpaste’s ingredients list which will sufficiently clear away mild staining whilst remaining gentle on the enamel are silica gels, phosphate salts, magnesium carbonate, hydrated aluminium oxides and silicates.
Mica: Polishes and Adds a Sparkle
Some toothpastes contain powdered mica, an ingredient from the phyllosilicate mineral family used specifically in certain toothpastes for its sparkling quality. Since it also acts as a mild abrasive, this ingredient works in two ways to brighten up teeth.
Mica is often literally named on ingredients lists as ‘sparkle (Cl 77019 & Cl 77891)’ and gives toothpaste a scintillating appearance.
Baking Soda: Whitens, but Harsh on Enamel
There’s no doubt that – short of paying extortionate prices at your dentist for laser or bleach whitening treatments – sodium bicarbonate or baking soda is one of the most effective whitening products you can use on your teeth.
Widely recommended for careful use in D.I.Y. whitening pastes and ever more common in professional toothpastes, baking soda products have a noticeable and instant whitening effect. For sensitive teeth, consider using sodium bicarbonate every other day to protect the enamel
Activated Charcoal: A Trending Ingredient But No Guarantee of Whitening
Though activated charcoal has been a huge trend in skincare, dental care and even hair treatments over the last couple of years, there is unfortunately not a great deal of science to back up its whitening capacities, but rather a wealth of anecdotal evidence.
That is not to say that toothpastes containing this trending ingredient should be overlooked, however. Not only is the experience of brushing teeth with this jet black paste extremely satisfying to use, the long-lauded properties of activated charcoal include the fact it’s highly antibacterial.
Coconut Oil Adds Flavour and Is Anti-Fungal
Apart from its origins in the Ayurvedic practice of oil-pulling, which suggest coconut oil may be helpful in drawing toxins away from the teeth and gums, coconut oil as an addition to toothpaste also gives a delicious depth of taste to any mint-flavoured toothpaste.
It also may be beneficial for teeth as its anti-fungal properties ensure a fresh, clean mouth and help fight decay. As for whitening, the evidence is also largely anecdotal, but many online consumers swear by its natural capacity to rinse away yellow surface staining.
Here's some information about the benefits of oil-pulling products.
2
Fluoride Is Beneficial, but Some Prefer to Avoid It
The mineral fluoride occurs naturally in water, and depending whereabouts you live in the UK, there will be varying amounts of it in the supply. It has no whitening effect per se, but as it prevents tooth decay by making teeth more resistant to acids, it improves your overall oral health – which in the long term will help whiten the teeth.
Children and those with allergies benefit most from fluoride-free toothpaste, but some adults prefer to skip it too as they feel they’re getting enough from the water supply. There is no evidence to link fluoride and health conditions, so going fluoride-free isn’t essential but may put your mind at ease.
3
Keep an Eye on Special Formulations for Extra Benefits
If your enamel is particularly thin and delicate, try a toothpaste that’s formulated to leave a protective layer on your teeth for strength. As mentioned above, fluoride can protect against cavities, so check for it in the ingredients for a paste that aids in fighting decay.
When it comes to tartar the pastes that promise to remove this will usually contain sodium pyrophosphate which reduces the levels of calcium and magnesium in your saliva. Tartar build-up can make the teeth appear yellowed or brown, so keeping it at bay will ensure a brighter and whiter smile.
Smile with confidence with the help of teeth whitening kits and tooth powders!
