Charcoal, in some higher strength formulations, can also be too abrasive, which could wear down tooth enamel over time. Furthermore some charcoal toothpastes are also fluoride-free, which our experts would not recommend. Hydrated silica, mica and calcium carbonate Vaz VTP, et al. (2019). Whitening toothpaste containing activated charcoal, blue covarine, hydrogen peroxide or microbeads: Which one is the most effective? These might have an immediate whitening effect, but won’t last as saliva washes away most paste quite rapidly. Look carefully and you'll see the claims have small print to this effect. When we challenged Colgate about its Purple Reveal toothpaste, it couldn't tell us exactly how long the effect would last. Sodium bicarbonate Unilever’s Regenerate Enamel Science Advanced toothpaste claims to regenerate enamel through the action of calcium silicate and sodium phosphate interacting with hydroxyapatite (what tooth enamel is made of).

Artificial or added sweeteners and flavour providers - ingredients such as limonene, cinnamal, peppermint oil, sucralose, lota carrageenan, sodium saccharin, aroma and mint flavour are there to improve the taste. The first three essential oils are known allergens. When used correctly, whitening toothpaste can remove surface stains from teeth. Some also lessen intrinsic stains from within teeth. You can expect an effective whitening toothpaste to lighten teeth by two or three shades. Does whitening toothpaste damage enamel? Tablets - the majority of scientific research has been done into how pastes work in combination with brushing, not tablets, so there is no guarantee that these will offer the same protection. Watch out for ones that are also fluoride-free (see above).There are three types of fluoride: sodium fluoride, sodium monoflurophosphate and stannous fluoride. For extra freshness, a gel-based toothpaste is your best bet but if you want to keep those cavities at bay, go for fluoride toothpaste. Not a fan of that tingling sensation you get after eating hot or cold food? Go for a sensitive toothpaste to curb those sharp sensations. Or if you want to get your teeth looking bright and white, we’ve even got whitening toothpaste to make them shine. And if you want something that can do a little bit of everything, a multi-benefit toothpaste will give you the best of all worlds. Zinc - a replacement for triclosan which, although not banned in the UK, has now been removed from most toothpastes over concerns about its safety. Zinc has antibacterial properties and is a common ingredient in toothpaste, but experts agree that the most important factor in removing bacteria is brushing effectively. Whitening toothpastes are on shakier ground when it comes to whether they live up to their claims or not. Extrinsic staining surface stains typically caused by smoking, or drinking tea, coffee or red wine. These respond well to brushing with whitening toothpaste, which contains ingredients to help remove stains, but won’t change the underlying colour of your teeth.

Sodium bicarbonate is an effective stain remover with mild abrasive action. It also has some anti-bacterial properties. It’s a favourite for ‘natural’ toothpastes, for example Arm & Hammer uses it across its range. CharcoalDantas AAR, et al. (2015). Can a bleaching toothpaste containing blue covarine demonstrate the same bleaching as conventional techniques? An in vitro, randomized and blinded study.