Most of us want bright, white smiles that attract attention. This demand has prompted product manufacturers to create a variety of whitening toothpastes that utilize peroxide, abrasives and enzymes which help to prevent stains from bonding to teeth. To the chagrin of consumers, however, research indicates that these whitening products don’t actually live up to their manufacturers promises.
Popular Brands Fail Test
MailOnline recently tested six popular toothpastes which claim to provide whiter smiles. According to the British news website, the brands, included:
- BlanX Intense Stain Removal
- Arm & Hammer Advanced Whitening Toothpaste
- Oral B 3D White Enamel Protect
- Beverly Hills Natural Whitening Expert
- SwissDent Xtreme Whitening Toothpaste
- Rembrandt Complete Whitening Mint
To test the products, MailOnline recruited several volunteers and asked them to brush their teeth using each whitening toothpaste according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Unfortunately, all six brands of whitening toothpastes performed so poorly, they appeared to make no discernible changes at all.
Not Too Surprising
While many consumers may be disappointed to learn that over-the-counter toothpaste doesn’t offer substantial whitening power; they really shouldn’t be surprised. According to MailOnline, Oral B admits its very own in-house clinical trial revealed that its product had no effect on nearly half of all users, with some actually ending up with darker teeth. Additionally, last year, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) demanded that Arm & Hammer cease an advertising campaign that exaggerated the effectiveness of its whitening toothpaste.
How to Get a White Smile
In the end, you probably won’t ever get a whiter smile from an over-the-counter toothpaste. On the other and, Drs. Ken and Marnie Collins provide their patients with brighter, whiter teeth. if you have questions about teeth whitening, contact our Spokane dental office at (509) 532-1111.
