Before we start, lets go over some basic tooth anatomy so you know what I'm taking about...
Your teeth have three layers:
- The outer enamel - which is translucent, not white
- The underlying dentin - which is spongy and yellow
- The inner pulp - which has blood vessels and nerves (it's red)
Most people believe that they can change the colour of their enamel from yellowish to white by using whitening toothpaste. Actually, it's the underlying dentin that needs to change colour - not your enamel. Your enamel is translucent, so the colour of your dentin shows right through it. The most effective way to whiten your teeth in this case is to bleach the dentin at home or at the dental office.
When we chew and bite our teeth, the enamel flexes and microscopic cracks are present. Foods/drinks that stain can seep through these cracks and stain the dentin a darker yellow over time. When we do whitening treatments, the bleach seeps through these cracks and bleaches the dentin making teeth appear whiter.
Whitening toothpastes are very abrasive - they are meant to tackle surface stains (from tobacco, medications, poor oral homecare, etc) that are rough and removable. If you don't have any rough surface stains, then you're unnecessarily removing microscopic layers off your enamel. Over time, this can lead to significant wear of the enamel and teeth may appear even more yellow...yikes!
In a nutshell, if you have to have whiter teeth but don't have surface stains, go for a professional treatment or an at-home whitening tray. Whitening toothpaste is not an effective or safe way to actually whiten your teeth unless you have surface stains like this:
Keep in mind: doing any whitening treatments may increase tooth sensitivity for a short period of time.
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