What's the best toothpaste for whitening your teeth?

[beals692]

I'm hoping this is the right section to post this in...

I get bad staining on my teeth and most toothpastes, even whitening ones, don't seem to make any difference.

I did find one Colgate whitening one that worked pretty well - but, when I went to buy some more, I realised that Colgate actually sell about 6 different types of whitening toothpaste and I couldn't remember the exact the name of the good one I'd bought previously. (I bought one of them but, sadly, it clearly wasn't the same one, as it made no impact on the staining whatsoever.)

Has anyone got any recommendations? Should I try smokers' toothpaste - even though I don't smoke?

[Skinheadmermaid]

I definitely noticed a difference when i used pearl drops, picked it up from the pound shop. I must get some more...

[NoGoatsToe]

Janina toothpaste is good and non-abrasive. I think it's made from natural fruit enzymes from pineapple?? I get mine from a large Boots but you can get it on Amazon with free delivery. www.amazon.co.uk/Janina-Ultra-Strength-Whitening-Toothpaste/dp/B0039IFLMC?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[Weelady77]

I've never tried it but google bicarbonated soda that's supposed to be really good, my niece has the whitest teeth ever so white they have refused to whiten them (god knows why she even wanted them done) but she uses normal Colgate then pearl drops (non smoker)afterwards and she swears by this!
Maybe you would notice a difference if you got a scale and polish first

[LakeFlyPie]

I asked my dentist and she said none, they don't work.

[Bonsoir]

Elgydium.

[beals692]

Thanks for the suggestions.

[KumquatandCustard]

Funnily enough I asked my dentist yesterday - she said none of them work ,in fact all the different toothpastes i.e for gums or enamel make no difference, just need to ensure toothpaste has fluoride in it - it is the actual cleaning of the teeth that is important. I said I was thinking about buying an electric toothbrush and she agreed this was the best way to clean teeth and this was the only way to actually make any difference.

[Walnut8]

Of course dentists would say that wouldn't they?? They want you to pay for professional teeth whitening etc (or mine would).

I saw a recommendation for colgate peroxyl mouthwash on here and it seems to make a bit of difference to mine. I dont have really bad staining though, just a bit yellow.

Why do you get such bad staining?

[Cocolepew]

Pearl drops.

[Bonsoir]

I agree - take your dentist's opinion on cheap OTC remedies with a pinch of salt. Her business is to sell you expensive treatments in her surgery!

[Custardo]

bicarb of soda

[LakeFlyPie]

My dentist is NHS and has never suggested or recommended any sort of private treatment so I took her advice at face value.

[youmakemydreams]

Eucryl powders. They aren't meant to be used every day and I'm certein they are probably doing horrible things to my teeth in the long term but they really do work. I get them out of poundland but boots and superdrug sell them too.

[FloatMyBoat]

Crest dental whitening strips definitely work. I used to get them when i was in the USA (you can't get them in the shops here) but i have seen them on Amazon. They're about £50 but you do see a difference

[FloatMyBoat]

Sorry probably not that much i was thinking of dollars

[callamia]

I went to a talk lately by a dental nurse, go was definitely not trying to sell anything (it was a baby dental health talk), and she explained that the amount of bleaching agent allowed in over the counter stuff is unlikely to make any real difference to your teeth. She said any effect may be short-term and surface after cleaning, becaise the peroxide is t strong enough to get into your teeth. She also said the best thing is the amount of fluoride.

If you're buying pearl drops rom the pound shop because you like them, then may as well carry on - but no point spending a tenner on 'Hollywood smile' or whatever. I like the bicarbonate toothpastes though, so I think I'll continue with them!

[louwn]

Only thing that has made a difference for me was using crest whitestrips before my wedding.

[rpitchfo]

The biggest difference I noticed was after I bought a whitening kit from boots - they were like £18 when I bought.

[Madamecastafiore]

My teeth are always commented on and all I do is brush once a week with a mouthful of 5% hydrogen peroxide solution.

I have paid for them to be whitened at dentist but waiting till finished breastfeeding to have it done. I want scarily white teeth!!

[babySophieRose]

Janina ultra white, often 1/3 off in Boots.

[beals692]

I think the staining is caused by drinking tea (I drink pretty much nothing else during the day). As I said, one of the Colgate ones did seem to make a difference but then I couldn't remember which one it was out of the numerous whitening toothpastes that they sell.

[MiniTheMinx]

Pearl drops. I had a stain on one front tooth, like you from drinking tea. The hygienist scaled and polished my teeth and they looked fab, but I am sure she left one tooth with a less that smooth surface and so it stained. The pearl drops got rid of this in less than 4 days. Not sure if my teeth are actually glow white though!

[mcmoonfucker]

Crest white strips.
Work a treat

[TeacupDrama]

crest white strips can not be sold in UK/EU have to be bought via USA as not legal to sell in UK/EU they work but are too harsh for long term use

i'm a dentist mostly NHS and spend very little if any time in selling surgery whitening, the legal limit for over counter purchases is so low it does not work, all whitening toothpastes work by being abrasive on stains to a greater or lesser extent hence they appear to work, they do not actually make teeth whiter but stop them staining reduce staining

some toothpaste for sensitive teeth work but if you do not have sensitive teeth any toothpaste with fluoride in works as it is the brushing technique that really matters ( supermarket own brand is fine)

in surgery whitening or whitening with take home kits from the dentist does work as the "bleach" type gel is strong enough to work but it is illegal for anyone in EU to sell this except for dentists it can not be done at a beauty salon, hairdressers etc, however some people find it makes their teeth very sensitive

[Lottapianos]

I find Blanx toothpaste had worked pretty well on my teeth, they're not white but they do look much brighter and cleaner