The use of whitening toothpastes it is very popular among those consumers who, by using them consistently, hope to obtain a whiter and brighter smile. But do these toothpastes really keep their promises without compromising the health of your teeth? To clarify, 60 Millions de Consumers led a test on this type of toothpaste to evaluate its effectiveness but also its safety.
The test compared 12 whitening toothpastes among the most popular on the marketboth from popular brands such as Signal and Colgate, and from private labels such as Monoprix and Carrefour.
But let’s start immediately from an important premise: as explained by the Dr. Julien Cardonamember of the French union Les Chirurgiens-Dentistes de France, the term “whitening” is often used incorrectly by toothpaste manufacturersgiven that, in reality, only professional treatments can change the natural color of the dentin, the internal part of the tooth.
Whitening toothpastes, on the other hand, they act mainly on the surface of the toothreducing surface stains with the use of abrasives such as hydrated silica, sodium bicarbonate and, in some cases, activated carbon.
Do whitening toothpastes really work?
The test results showed that many of the toothpastes promise a whitening effect which, in most cases, is limited to a slight lightening of the enamelrather than actual whitening.
Overall, Dr. Cardona said:
Whitening toothpastes have no effect or their effectiveness is linked to a notable abrasiveness on the enamel, which is higher than desirable.
And the test actually confirms: Some whitening toothpastes can damage enamel due to the high abrasiveness of their ingredients. Abrasives such as baking soda are relatively gentle, but other substances found in the composition of toothpastes, such as alumina and activated charcoal, are too strong, risking compromising enamel and, consequently, oral health.
As you read above 60 Millions:
Our results confirm that the least abrasive toothpastes (L’Arbre vert, Carrefour Soft bio and Melvita) are those whose whitening effect is insufficient. 3 toothpastes, on the other hand, are the most abrasive and quite effective but with a risk for the enamel and gums.
In addition to abrasive agents, some toothpastes contain potentially harmful ingredients such as titanium dioxide (TiO₂), a controversial substance suspected of having genotoxic effects, i.e. capable of damaging DNA. Although titanium dioxide is banned in foods, it is still allowed in cosmetics, including oral care products.
In the end, among the toothpastes tested, only a few received a positive Cosméto’Score, an evaluation that considers them safe for daily use.
The French experts can only conclude that, those who want whiter teeth should contact a dentist for advice on professional whitening treatments, which are less risky than toothpastes which can be abrasive.
The best and worst toothpastes
Toothpastes promoted with “green” scores are typical references on the French market, but among these there is the Carrefour soft organic white which should also be present in the brand’s Italian sales points.
Between the “failed” toothpastes instead we find the tested products of Parodontax, Sensodyne and in last position Colgate Max White Oneabout which French experts write:
The last toothpaste in the ranking contains phosphoric acid. This ingredient whitens enamel but alters it and its whitening effect is not long-lasting.
In the other “failed” cases:
We find pollutants such as cocamidopropyl betaine; irritants such as sodium lauryl sulfate; sensitizers such as limonene; or suspected of being genotoxic, i.e. capable of damaging DNA, like titanium dioxide (TiO2).