Enamel Abrasion and Stain Removal Efficacy of Two Whitening Toothpastes

Statement of the problem:

Access to in-office treatments is restricted to a lot of population. Therefore, there has been an interest in developing methods so that patients can remove stains and apply tooth whitening at home. Accordingly, toothpastes, due to their ease of use and low cost, have been used as vehicles for whitening agents as an alternative to home/office whitening.

Hydrogen peroxide is the most commonly used agent for whitening teeth, which is used in various concentrations according to various techniques at home and office. Bleaching of teeth in office is done at a high concentration of Hydrogen peroxide for a specified period of time. In addition to conventional whitening treatments, over-the-counter products, including gels, toothpastes, bleaching strips, mouthwashes, and pens with different Hydrogen peroxide levels, have been developed. In-office teeth whitening is one of the more costly forms of teeth whitening and the concentration of the bleaching element is higher, it is better monitored by a professional.

Whitening toothpaste is probably the one of the most affordable options for someone looking to whiten their teeth at home, which contain abrasive and chemical agents and have the ability to remove external stains from the tooth. The abrasiveness of toothpastes depends on the hardness, size, and shape of abrasive particles. Furthermore, factors such as the brushing technique, brushing pressure, toothbrush hardness, and the number of brush strokes affect tooth abrasion. Abrasive agents include silica, phosphates, carbonates, and bicarbonates Chemical agents present in whitening toothpastes are sodium citrate, phosphate salt, which react with chromogenic molecules of superficial dental stains and eliminate them from the tooth surface.

Whitening toothpastes include different active ingredients in their composition. It normally contain a higher amount of abrasives and detergents than do conventional toothpastes In this sense, it is important to point out that toothpastes with higher amounts of abrasives may produce increased surface roughness in dental tissues, or restorations, or even tooth sensitivity, especially if they are used routinely