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- Adding a whitening toothpaste to your oral hygiene routine is a great way to keep your smile shining and your teeth clean and healthy.
- Colgate's Optic White Express White Toothpaste is our top choice because results show up in just three days.
Like so many Americans, I have been using whitening toothpaste for so many years that I hardly recall using a toothpaste not designed (and marketed) as such. In a world filled with things that readily stain teeth, from coffee to blueberries to marinara sauce, I figure I might as well fight back against those stains every time I brush.
If you have yet to adopt a whitening paste yourself, there's really no reason not to do so. Contrary to occasional misconceptions, most whitening toothpaste is safe and suitable for daily use, and quite effective when used as part of a larger oral care regimen. When you pull up a search engine (and yes, I'm using Google for this example) and type in the words "does whitening toothpaste..." the auto-fill search suggestions include everything from "...remove enamel" to "...cause sensitivity" to "...cause acne."
Some harsh whitening toothpaste might indeed cause damage to tooth enamel if used for weeks or months at a time, but the ones we've included won't do so. And no, they won't cause tooth sensitivity or acne, either. However, it's important you have realistic expectations for your whitening toothpaste. This kind of toothpaste helps remove surface stains, showing off the natural appearance of the exterior of your teeth. It will not actually whiten the enamel itself, but merely reveal its true color, in other. For deep stains and/or for teeth that are yellowed or otherwise discolored, professional whitening is probably necessary.
And before you start even a DIY tooth whitening program, it's a good idea to see a dentist and get a deep cleaning. That way, your at home whitening efforts can be more of a maintenance approach than an attempt to tackle the issue of stained, discolored teeth.
As for which whitening toothpaste is right for you, that depends on factors ranging from tooth sensitivity to ingredient preference to how much time you're willing to invest daily.
Here are the best whitening toothpaste options in 2019:
- Best whitening toothpaste overall: Colgate Optic White Platinum Express White Toothpaste
- Best deep cleaning whitening toothpaste: Crest 3D White Brilliance Teeth Whitening Two-Step System
- Best activated charcoal whitening toothpaste: Dental Expert Active Whitening Charcoal Toothpaste
- Best budget whitening toothpaste: Arm & Hammer Advance White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste
- Best whitening toothpaste for sensitive teeth: Sensodyne Pronamel Gentle Whitening Flouride Toothpaste
Updated on 04/04/2019 by Malarie Gokey: Updated prices and formatting. Added related buying guides.
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