Does Whitening Toothpaste Work?

Question
Whitening toothpaste: Does it whiten teeth?
Answer
Whitening toothpaste can whiten teeth slightly by removing surface stains, such as those caused by drinking coffee or smoking. Whitening toothpaste can also be used after a bleaching treatment to help maintain results. However, whitening toothpaste can't change the natural color of teeth or reverse discoloration caused by excessive exposure to fluoride during tooth development, penetrating surface stains or decay.

To remove surface stains, whitening toothpaste may include:

Special abrasives that gently polish the teeth
Chemicals, such as sodium tripolyphosphate, that help break down or dissolve stains
When used twice a day, whitening toothpaste typically takes two to four weeks to make teeth whiter. However, new research shows that whitening toothpaste containing the chemical blue covarine can make teeth appear immediately whiter. After use, blue covarine adheres to the surface of the teeth and creates an optical illusion that makes teeth appear less yellow.

Whitening toothpaste is generally safe for daily use, but excessive use might damage tooth enamel. If you're considering using a whitening toothpaste, look for a brand that has a seal of approval from a reputable dental organization — such as the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance, which indicates that the toothpaste is effective at removing surface stains and reducing tooth decay. If you're not satisfied with the effect of whitening toothpaste, talk to your dentist or dental hygienist about more effective tooth whitening options.

Rochester Advanced Dentistry 248.656.2020

Why Your Dentist may be the most important Doctor you see this year…

The days of a dental cleaning consisting of a quick “buff and polish” are over. Today’s dental visit should be more like a physical. Many findings during a dental visit can have a major impact on your overall health.

1. Blood Pressure: At every dental appointment, your blood pressure should be taken. High blood pressure is a sign that your heart is working too hard. If your blood pressure is too high, a visit to your medical doctor is recommended.

2. Oral Cancer Detection: At every dental cleaning, a thorough cancer screening should be conducted. Oral cancers are on the rise and are easier to treat and survive the earlier they are detected.

3. Sleep Apnea Diagnosis: Sleep Apnea is a very serious condition that involves a person stopping breathing several times throughout the night. Small airways, large necks, and snoring are good indicators that sleep apnea is present, or may be present in the future. Some dentists have screening equipment that can actually test you for sleep apnea. At that time, a referral to a sleep physician or a sleep appliance made by the dentist may be recommended.

4. Gum Disease : Bacteria in your mouth leads to bleeding gums and bone loss around your teeth. According to the ADA, 78% of the adult population has some form of periodontal (gum) disease. In addition, periodontal disease is not just an infection that affects your mouth, it affects your entire body. Periodontal disease has been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, and a weakened immune system. Therefore, your dentist should be measuring and monitoring your gums with each cleaning, and when necessary, treating your gum disease accordingly.

Dental Tip of the Month:

Want to live longer…Floss!

In today’s society, we are rushed, stressed, and over committed and it comes as no surprise that we are all looking for ways to save time. Many of my patients feel that they have no time to floss. While this seems like a valid excuse, you may have less time on your hands if you don’t floss.

• If you start flossing today, you could add up to 6 years on to your life!

• 6 years would be an additional 3.1 million minutes.

• Let’s say you are a REALLY slow flosser and it took you 5 minutes per day.

• Let’s say you floss every day of your 100 year life- you would spend 182,500 minutes of your life flossing.

• This would leave you with an additional 5.6 years to do whatever you want!!