It can be impossible to choose a whitening toothpaste. Walk into a pharmacy or supermarket and you are confronted with shelves and shelves of toothpastes. Each will make its own claims and quite a lot will claim to whiten your teeth.
How are we going to choose between all of these whitening toothpastes? In this article, we will explain how whitening toothpastes work and how they differ from professional whitening with a dentist. We will explain how to use whitening toothpastes and what you need to be careful of.
Best whitening toothpaste
Here’s your answer. The best whitening toothpaste available in the UK at the moment is actually not a toothpaste. It’s a powder; an activated charcoal powder to be precise. This activated charcoal is made by the Pro Teeth Whitening Company and it’s a brilliant product. We will explain below how whitening toothpastes work but if you’re after the best at-home whitening product on the market, this is it.
- EFFECTIVE TEETH WHITENER FOR THAT PERFECT SMILE - Getting pearly whites isn't always easy. Smoking and certain food and drinks could cause teeth discolouration which are hard to remove with regular brushing. Our Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder is a safe and effective way to gently polish and whiten teeth as it lifts stains to achieve that whiter, brighter smile.
- NO ADDED CHEMICALS, 100% NATURAL - Our vegan friendly Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder latches onto stubborn darks spots to allow the charcoal to remove stains and unwanted markings from your teeth. Formulated with high quality, all-natural ingredients, such as Calcium, Ginger Root and Sodium, it is excellent for stain removal.
- CERTIFIED SAFE FOR DAILY USE - Unlike other teeth whitening options which contain peroxides and bleach that may weaken the enamel and dentin, our premium low-abrasive formula has been certified by the global leader in product testing. On the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 to 250, our RDA Score is only 77 making our product one of the safest charcoal teeth whitening powders available.
- ALL DAY FRESH BREATH - Blended with Bentonite Clay which is excellent at absorbing toxins and odour and maintaining the right pH balance, and Peppermint Extract for its anti-bacterial properties to leave your mouth feeling clean and refreshed, our Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder is what you need to maintain all day oral health protection.
- FORMULATED & MADE IN THE UK - Our award-winning teeth whitening powder has been approved by UK dentists. You can buy with complete confidence from Pro Teeth Whitening Co., as we have been a trusted UK brand since 2015. We only use the highest-purity ingredients, and all our products are safeguarded by the strictest manufacturing standards in the world (GMP).
Please note: This activated charcoal does not contain any fluoride and therefore offers no protection against tooth decay. It is a fantastic product for stain removal and brightening up your smile but it should not be used for prolonged periods. We would not recommend using it for more than several weeks at a time.
The other option you have is to use this charcoal powder in combination with a normal toothpaste that contains fluoride. We would recommend brushing with the activated charcoal, rinsing and then brushing with a fluoride toothpaste. Then spit out the fluoride toothpaste but do not rinse. Or, if you would prefer not to brush again, make sure that you use a fluoride mouthwash after using the activated charcoal so that your teeth get the protective effects of fluoride.
If you would like to know more about whitening toothpastes and what other products are available, please read on.
How do whitening toothpastes work?
They work by being abrasive. Whitening toothpastes contain little particles that polish your teeth during brushing. They can be effective for removing stains that are stuck to the surface of your teeth. These can be stains from tea, coffee or red wine. These could also be stains from smoking.
Please remember that no whitening toothpaste available in the UK can change the natural colour of your teeth. They are not removing discolouration from the inside of your teeth. Whitening toothpastes only remove stain on the surface of your teeth. Some people get amazing results with whitening toothpaste. Other people don’t see any difference. If you try whitening toothpaste and your teeth do not change, it is because you are trying to change the natural colour of your teeth. The only way to actually change the colour of your natural teeth is to have professional whitening with a dentist.
If you want to get rid of stains on your teeth then a whitening toothpaste is perfect. There is a limit to how much stain a whitening toothpaste will remove. If it’s really stuck on then you may need a professional clean with a dentist or hygienist.
Our top 3 whitening toothpastes available in the United Kingdom (UK)
Let us give you our top three whitening toothpastes and then we will explain in a bit more detail.
- Activated Charcoal by Pro Teeth Whitening Co
- Opalescence Whitening Toothpaste Fluoride Cool Mint
- Crest 3D White Glamorous White
Activated Charcoal by Pro Teeth Whitening Co
We described this above and there’s more on it below. It’s a fantastic product and the best whitening toothpaste product on the market at the moment (even though it’s actually a powder).
- EFFECTIVE TEETH WHITENER FOR THAT PERFECT SMILE - Getting pearly whites isn't always easy. Smoking and certain food and drinks could cause teeth discolouration which are hard to remove with regular brushing. Our Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder is a safe and effective way to gently polish and whiten teeth as it lifts stains to achieve that whiter, brighter smile.
- NO ADDED CHEMICALS, 100% NATURAL - Our vegan friendly Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder latches onto stubborn darks spots to allow the charcoal to remove stains and unwanted markings from your teeth. Formulated with high quality, all-natural ingredients, such as Calcium, Ginger Root and Sodium, it is excellent for stain removal.
- CERTIFIED SAFE FOR DAILY USE - Unlike other teeth whitening options which contain peroxides and bleach that may weaken the enamel and dentin, our premium low-abrasive formula has been certified by the global leader in product testing. On the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 to 250, our RDA Score is only 77 making our product one of the safest charcoal teeth whitening powders available.
- ALL DAY FRESH BREATH - Blended with Bentonite Clay which is excellent at absorbing toxins and odour and maintaining the right pH balance, and Peppermint Extract for its anti-bacterial properties to leave your mouth feeling clean and refreshed, our Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder is what you need to maintain all day oral health protection.
- FORMULATED & MADE IN THE UK - Our award-winning teeth whitening powder has been approved by UK dentists. You can buy with complete confidence from Pro Teeth Whitening Co., as we have been a trusted UK brand since 2015. We only use the highest-purity ingredients, and all our products are safeguarded by the strictest manufacturing standards in the world (GMP).
Opalescence Whitening Toothpaste Fluoride Cool Mint
Okay, so this one really is a toothpaste. The big benefit of this over the activated charcoal above is that this contains fluoride. This means that the toothpaste will not only remove stain from your teeth; it will also protect against tooth decay. Whiter AND stronger teeth is a winning combo that makes this a great toothpaste. If you want something that you can use every day forever, this is the best whitening toothpaste for you.
(Remember that we mentioned above that you should only use the activated charcoal powder for maybe 3 to 4 weeks at a time because it doesn’t contain any fluoride. If you missed it, scroll back up. We’ve actually given you some handy tips on getting around this problem.)
Sorry, the image doesn’t work here.
- Maximum enamel and dentin restoration protection.
Crest 3D White Glamorous White Toothpaste
The Crest 3D White Glamorous White toothpaste is brilliant at removing stain without causing damage to the enamel. Again, this toothpaste contains fluoride which adds itself to the surface of your teeth to protect them against decay. We’ve judged it at number three, behind the Opalescence whitening toothpaste purely because we prefer the flavour and texture of the Opalescence product. They are both equally good at removing stain, brightening your smile and strengthening teeth. Here’s a link to a pack of three tubes on Amazon.
- Does not come with a foil safety seal (under the cap) covering the tube. Cartons are glued shut for tamper evidence
And the one to avoid…
Please do not buy the Arm & Hammer Arm & Hammer Advance White Fluoride Toothpaste Baking Soda And Peroxide. We do not like Arm and Hammer toothpastes at the best of times because they never contain enough fluoride to protect your teeth. This one contains baking soda that we believe can damage your enamel if used for a long time. It also contains sodium carbonate peroxide but they won’t disclose how much. It is listed as an inactive ingredient, indicating that there is too little in there for it to actually have any whitening effect. We believe that they have put ‘peroxide’ on the box as a little sales trick. Do not believe the sales pitch, please avoid this product.
- Safely polishes with micro-polishers for whiter and brighter teeth
- Gently cleans away surface stains
- Recommended for everyday use
Charcoal toothpaste
So what about these new charcoal toothpastes?
Charcoal toothpastes or powders work in the same way that other whitening toothpastes do. They are abrasive so that they remove staining from teeth. If you’re interested in trying this out, we would recommend this Activated Charcoal. This is a powder rather than a paste. It’s gentle and safe on your enamel when used as instructed.
- EFFECTIVE TEETH WHITENER FOR THAT PERFECT SMILE - Getting pearly whites isn't always easy. Smoking and certain food and drinks could cause teeth discolouration which are hard to remove with regular brushing. Our Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder is a safe and effective way to gently polish and whiten teeth as it lifts stains to achieve that whiter, brighter smile.
- NO ADDED CHEMICALS, 100% NATURAL - Our vegan friendly Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder latches onto stubborn darks spots to allow the charcoal to remove stains and unwanted markings from your teeth. Formulated with high quality, all-natural ingredients, such as Calcium, Ginger Root and Sodium, it is excellent for stain removal.
- CERTIFIED SAFE FOR DAILY USE - Unlike other teeth whitening options which contain peroxides and bleach that may weaken the enamel and dentin, our premium low-abrasive formula has been certified by the global leader in product testing. On the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 to 250, our RDA Score is only 77 making our product one of the safest charcoal teeth whitening powders available.
- ALL DAY FRESH BREATH - Blended with Bentonite Clay which is excellent at absorbing toxins and odour and maintaining the right pH balance, and Peppermint Extract for its anti-bacterial properties to leave your mouth feeling clean and refreshed, our Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder is what you need to maintain all day oral health protection.
- FORMULATED & MADE IN THE UK - Our award-winning teeth whitening powder has been approved by UK dentists. You can buy with complete confidence from Pro Teeth Whitening Co., as we have been a trusted UK brand since 2015. We only use the highest-purity ingredients, and all our products are safeguarded by the strictest manufacturing standards in the world (GMP).
We have recommended this as the best product on the market for brightening up your smile BUT it doesn’t contain any fluoride. This means that it offers no protection against cavities and tooth decay. For this reason, this product should not be used for long periods of time. We recommend that you use it for a maximum of 3 or 4 weeks at a time and then go back to using a fluoride toothpaste for a while.
We all want a beautiful, white smile but this must not come at the sacrifice of the health of your teeth and gums. We will always be completely honest with you and our main aim is to protect the health of your teeth.
Oil pulling
I’m afraid this won’t whiten your teeth. This is such a fad and completely useless. Do not bother even considering this. It’s a complete waste of time and will make no difference to the colour of your teeth. Please read our oil pulling article for more information.
Whitening toothpaste warnings; what everyone else won’t tell you
The first warning is that whitening toothpaste might not work for you. Whitening toothpastes remove stain from the surfaces of your teeth. If your teeth are naturally quite yellow or dark, a whitening toothpaste might not make much difference.
Lots of whitening products do not protect against tooth decay. If you are going to use a whitening toothpaste or charcoal powder that does not contain fluoride, you are leaving yourself at risk of getting cavities in your teeth.
Whitening toothpastes are abrasive and could damage your enamel, especially if used for long periods of time.
This is why the Activated Charcoal powder by the Pro Tooth Whitening Company is our recommended whitening toothpaste. It is a tested product that is safe and gentle on your teeth while brightening your smile.
- EFFECTIVE TEETH WHITENER FOR THAT PERFECT SMILE - Getting pearly whites isn't always easy. Smoking and certain food and drinks could cause teeth discolouration which are hard to remove with regular brushing. Our Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder is a safe and effective way to gently polish and whiten teeth as it lifts stains to achieve that whiter, brighter smile.
- NO ADDED CHEMICALS, 100% NATURAL - Our vegan friendly Activated Charcoal Teeth Whitening Powder latches onto stubborn darks spots to allow the charcoal to remove stains and unwanted markings from your teeth. Formulated with high quality, all-natural ingredients, such as Calcium, Ginger Root and Sodium, it is excellent for stain removal.
- CERTIFIED SAFE FOR DAILY USE - Unlike other teeth whitening options which contain peroxides and bleach that may weaken the enamel and dentin, our premium low-abrasive formula has been certified by the global leader in product testing. On the Relative Dentin Abrasivity (RDA) scale of 0 to 250, our RDA Score is only 77 making our product one of the safest charcoal teeth whitening powders available.
- ALL DAY FRESH BREATH - Blended with Bentonite Clay which is excellent at absorbing toxins and odour and maintaining the right pH balance, and Peppermint Extract for its anti-bacterial properties to leave your mouth feeling clean and refreshed, our Teeth Whitening Charcoal Powder is what you need to maintain all day oral health protection.
- FORMULATED & MADE IN THE UK - Our award-winning teeth whitening powder has been approved by UK dentists. You can buy with complete confidence from Pro Teeth Whitening Co., as we have been a trusted UK brand since 2015. We only use the highest-purity ingredients, and all our products are safeguarded by the strictest manufacturing standards in the world (GMP).
What if whitening toothpaste didn’t work for you?
Do not despair. If whitening toothpaste didn’t work for you, you may wish to consider professional whitening with your dentist.
Professional whitening is the only way to safely whiten the natural colour of your teeth. This can be done with an ‘in surgery’ system where you spend a couple of hours at the dentist. Or it can be done with an ‘at home’ system.
The ‘at home’ system tends to get the best results in my experience. Your dentist takes some impressions of your teeth and has some whitening trays made. You then load these trays up with whitening gel supplied by your dentist and wear them overnight for a few weeks.
Gradually, over those few weeks, your teeth gently brighten up. When you’re happy with the results, you stop. The great thing is that you are in control.
If you would like to know more about whitening, please read our article.
Whitening toothpastes can be brilliant at brightening up your smile. However, they won’t work for everyone. They are very good at removing stain but they won’t change the natural colour of the tooth underneath.
About The Online Dentist and our advice
All of our advice is written by dentists. The opinions in this article were written by our award winning dentist, Dr Andrew Wilson, who has been featured on BBC Breakfast and ITV News. All opinions are given honestly and openly as we have no links to the manufacturers of these toothpastes. We hope that we have given you enough information for you to make an informed decision. It you have any questions, please feel free to get in contact or leave us a comment at the bottom of this article.
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