Whitening toothpastes claim they contain additional abrasives and polishes to make the brushing action more effective. Some also have ingredients to remove staining material or to chemically alter stains so they're less able to stick to your teeth.
Australian and UK consumer organisations have conducted user trials of these products. After four weeks, half the Australian triallists and three-quarters of those in the UK felt their teeth were somewhat whiter. The UK report noted, however, that some of the positive results could be because the triallists brushed their teeth for longer - the full two minutes demanded by the trial.
Safety
The abrasive ingredients in whitening toothpastes aren't likely to damage tooth enamel.
The bottom line
Whitening toothpastes should remove some surface staining, but they won't lighten the natural colour of your teeth and they're usually more expensive than other toothpastes in the same range and pack size. Simply brushing your teeth for longer with an ordinary toothpaste may well achieve the same effect.
We tried them
Ten Consumer staff members used whitening toothpastes (pictured above) for four weeks. They rated their teeth on a shade guide at the start of the trial and when the four weeks were up.
Six thought their teeth "maybe" looked a little whiter and five said they might consider buying the product they tried - not exactly a whole-hearted endorsement.
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