Is whitening toothpaste safe?

The facts:

Whitening toothpaste is a great way to help remove extrinsic staining on the tooth's surface such as coffee and tea staining. It can also act as a buffer to lightly polish the teeth and remove these stains without having to go to your hygienist for a scale and polish.

However, are they safe for your enamel?

Yes and no. And here’s why!

We recommend staying away from cheap whitening toothpastes, or toothpastes with a gritty/abrasive feel to them. This is because these toothpastes will often contain heavily abrasive materials that will damage enamel which cannot be repaired. Whitening toothpastes that claim to use ‘activated charcoal’ can potentially damage the surface of the tooth as charcoal is a highly abrasive ingredient and will often do more harm than good.

Tips for using whitening toothpaste

• Don’t overload your toothbrush with toothpaste. Using larger amounts of whitening toothpaste than instructed by the manufacturer will only damage the tooth's surface and will not give you faster or whiter results. 
• Charcoal toothpastes can often contain very harsh abrasives. It is important to find a whitening toothpaste that only uses low abrasives in order to protect enamel.
• Using a soft-bristled brush will allow the toothpaste to do all the work when using a whitening toothpaste, without having the added harshness on the surface of your enamel from a toothbrush.

Overall, whitening toothpaste can be the perfect tool to keep your pearly whites gleaming without having to take an expensive trip to the dentist. It is important to remember to stay away from cheap, gritty feeling toothpastes that will damage the surface of the tooth.