Toothpaste That Whitens Teeth From Cigarette Smoke & Coffee Stains
Coffee and cigarette smoke have ingredients with a high propensity for staining teeth. The only foolproof method to prevent those stains from ruining your smile is to abstain from smoking and drinking coffee entirely. Some dentist-recommended toothpastes can lighten teeth slightly and gradually, but if you continue smoking and drinking coffee, the benefits of whitening toothpastes will only be temporary. Tell your dentist if you have a coffee or smoking habit that concerns you, and ask for recommendations for teeth-whitening toothpastes.
Surface Tension
Stains from drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes deposit on the outer layers of the teeth. The stains tend to become fixed over time, making them increasingly difficult to remove. Toothpastes intended to remove those stains often rely on abrasive ingredients to help lift them. Brushing with teeth-whitening toothpastes can help loosen and remove stains, but the abrasiveness can also damage tooth enamel 3.
- Stains from drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes deposit on the outer layers of the teeth.
- Brushing with teeth-whitening toothpastes can help loosen and remove stains, but the abrasiveness can also damage tooth enamel 3.
Chemical Reactions
Baking Soda & Peroxide for a Teeth Whitener
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The ingredients vary among toothpaste brands that claim to have whitening benefits. Some chemicals, such as blue covarine, are widely included in toothpastes to help make teeth appear whiter. But they may not actually reduce yellowing of the teeth and merely disguise stains. Only dental professionals can prescribe and provide whitening treatments that involve complex solutions to remove deep-seated stains.
- The ingredients vary among toothpaste brands that claim to have whitening benefits.
- Only dental professionals can prescribe and provide whitening treatments that involve complex solutions to remove deep-seated stains.
Rough Shedding
Toothpastes that help to whiten teeth stained by drinking coffee or smoking contain abrasive ingredients intended to work, relatively, like they're scraping barnacles off of a boat. Even if you use a toothpaste containing abrasives and chemicals proven to be effective, it can take as long as six weeks to see any noticeable relief from stains. Baking soda -- which people consume safely in baked goods -- is a featured ingredient of some stain-fighting toothpastes, and is noted for its potential to help whiten teeth with minimal chemical interaction.
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The American Dental Association lists more than a dozen toothpastes that meet its minimum requirement for aiding in coffee and cigarette stain whitening 1. These products earned the ADA seal of approval for safety and effectiveness. The Colgate brand earned the most approval seals, followed by teeth-whitening toothpastes produced by Crest and Tom's of Maine for the most mentions.
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References
- American Dental Association: Toothpastes With At Least These Attributes: Whitening
- Mayo Clinic: Does Whitening Toothpaste Actually Whiten Teeth?
- Toothpaste.com: How Teeth-Whitening Toothpastes Can Help Brighten Your Smile
- Zimmer S, Kirchner G, Bizhang M, Benedix M. Influence of various acidic beverages on tooth erosion. Evaluation by a new method. PLoS One. 2015;10(6):e0129462. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0129462
- Oral Health Foundation. Diet and my teeth.
- Kwon SR, Meharry M, Oyoyo U, Li Y. Efficacy of do-it-yourself whitening as compared to conventional tooth whitening modalities: an in vitro study. Oper Dent. 2015 Jan-Feb;40(1):E21-7. doi: 10.2341/13-333-LR
- Ciancio SG. Baking soda dentifrices and oral health. J Am Dent Assoc. 2017;148(11S):S1-S3.
- NIH National Library of Medicine. Potassium hydroxide.
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Writer Bio
A. Scott Walton began his journalism career in 1985 at the "Nashville Tennessean." His reports have extended to radio, television and the Web and he has written extensively for the "Detroit Free Press," the "Atlanta Journal-Constitution," the "Atlanta Voice" and many other publications. Walton holds a Bachelor of Arts in communications from Vanderbilt University.