12 best whitening toothpastes of 2022: which toothpaste is best for whitening teeth?

Expert: Elizaveta Rubinstein

*Review of the best according to the editors of expertology.ru. About the selection criteria. This material is subjective in nature, does not constitute advertising and does not serve as a purchase guide. Before purchasing, consultation with a specialist is required.

A snow-white smile is a person’s main weapon in winning the sympathy of others. Regular visits to the dentist help keep your mouth in order, but at home, keeping your teeth and gums healthy is the job of toothpaste. Choosing a good whitening paste among the many available on the shelves is not always easy. You never know what its effectiveness will be.

Expertology experts selected the 9 best whitening pastes and compiled an up-to-date rating.

How effective are whitening toothpastes?

It should be noted that not all shades of teeth whiten equally well. You will be able to notice a truly noticeable visible “before and after” effect only if the enamel of your teeth initially has a yellowish tint. Teeth of gray and brownish tones will simply be impossible to whiten with toothpastes (we are talking specifically about the brown tint of the enamel, and not about the brown pigment deposit on its surface). In this case, only professional whitening, for example, using the Zoom method, can help.

If you need the most effective whitening toothpaste, reviews say that the maximum whitening effect that you can achieve using toothpastes is 2 shades on the VITA scale (Fig. 2-3). The best effect can be achieved by whitening toothpaste with carbamide peroxide, but you should not trust advertising that says that any toothpaste can whiten your teeth by 3-4 or more tones (shades). This is simply impossible.

Teeth shades according to VITA scale –

If pastes with carbamide peroxide are considered the most effective, then how effective is an abrasive whitening paste - reviews say that such pastes allow you to lighten teeth by an average of 1 tone on the VITA scale. To get a more significant result, it is advisable to combine pastes, for example, use an abrasive bleaching paste for the 1st month, and use a paste with carbamide peroxide for the next 2 months.

Best whitening toothpaste: ranking 2022

We present the rating: The best whitening toothpaste 2022, compiled by the editor-in-chief of 24stoma.ru (a dentist with 19 years of experience). The rating is based on an analysis of the components of toothpastes, personal experience with use, publicly available data on the concentrations of active components and the abrasiveness coefficient (RDA) of each paste.

We have compiled 2 ratings separately. The first rating of whitening toothpastes is dedicated to pastes that work by chemically whitening tooth enamel (this group is the most effective, but the smallest in number). The second rating will be devoted to abrasive whitening toothpastes that work by mechanically removing contaminants from the surface of the enamel.

Important components of whitening toothpastes -

Whitening toothpaste (in addition to abrasive-polishing components and/or carbamide peroxide) may contain additional beneficial components that will increase its effectiveness. Some of these components help remove existing pigmentations, while others will prevent the deposition of pigments and plaque on the teeth (24stoma.ru).

• The enzymes Bromelain and Papain are proteolytic enzymes that help loosen the already formed tightly attached microbial plaque, which certainly contributes to its removal by the abrasive components of toothpastes. This happens due to the fact that enzymes destroy the protein matrix of dental plaque (i.e., intercellular structures). Bromelain is obtained from pineapple, and papain is obtained from papaya.
• Pyrophosphates and Polydon - these components are inhibitors of the crystallization of calcium phosphate (this is a mineral component of tartar). Thus, they prevent the formation of tartar, but do not affect existing tartar. By the way, citrates have a similar effect to pyrophosphates - these are salts of citric acid, which can also sometimes be found in toothpastes (usually sodium citrate is used for this).
• Polyphosphates - polyphosphates include, for example, Sodium Hexametaphosphate and Trisodium Phosphate. These are excellent components that prevent pigments and plaque from sticking to the teeth and, accordingly, they help prevent the formation of tartar (but they do not affect existing plaque). Polyphosphates are found in some whitening toothpastes “President”, “Lacalut”, as well as in the “Blend-a-med Pro-EXPERT” series of toothpastes.
• Hydroxyapatite – the deposition of a thin layer of hydroxyapatite particles on the teeth will prevent bacteria from attaching to the tooth enamel, and hence the formation of plaque.

Editor's Choice

Himalaya toothpaste

The product is made by the Himalaya brand, an expert in herbal cosmetics and hygiene products from India, which has been present on the market for 90 years. The paste contains no fluorides, SLS, gluten, carrageenans or other chemical ingredients.

The product is intended for comprehensive oral care: whitens enamel, freshens breath and helps remove plaque. This is achieved through a herbal formula that includes papaya and pineapple enzymes, mint extracts, pomegranate fruits, neem leaves and other natural ingredients.

In addition, the paste fights bacteria, relieves inflammation and tones. Natural whiteness and shine of teeth is quite possible with Himalaya.

Anti-plaque paste with vanilla and mint Powersmile

Jason Natural is a brand from the USA that, since 1959, has been producing effective and environmentally friendly, and therefore safe, products.

Raw materials, equipment and technologies meet the highest standards. The paste does not contain fluorine, sulfates, parabens, gluten, GMOs, artificial colors and raw materials of animal origin.

Calcium and soda gently lighten the enamel and help keep teeth strong, grapefruit and perilla seed extracts neutralize the effects of sugar, vanilla and mint oils give a long-lasting feeling of freshness. Regular use prevents the formation of plaque and tartar.

The best whitening toothpaste for smokers –

As a dentist, I can tell you about an alternative whitening option that is especially suitable for smokers, strong tea or coffee drinkers, as well as patients with rapid formation of bacterial and pigmented plaque. This method will be much more effective than using conventional abrasive whitening toothpastes - even the best ones rated above. It will work for you if you have an Oral-b electric toothbrush (or if you are ready to buy one).

The working head of an electric toothbrush is exactly like the head that a dentist uses to polish teeth. In standard mode, the nozzle makes not only more than 8,000 rotating movements per minute, but also at least 20,000 pulsating movements. The pulsations allow you to loosen plaque, which is then removed with rotational movements. Patients using Oral-B electric toothbrushes develop much less plaque or tartar on their teeth than when brushing with a regular manual toothbrush.

Electric brush Oral-B –

You will whiten your teeth much faster if you use an abrasive whitening toothpaste with an electric toothbrush. Those. you are essentially receiving a dentist's tool that the latter uses for professional oral hygiene in the dental office. But! There are several rules here. For example, if you use toothpaste with RDA 100, then you can safely use it 2 times a day for 1-2 months, using an electric brush in the standard “Daily Cleaning” mode (from 8000 to 10,000 rotational, + 20,000 pulsating movements).

If you use a more abrasive toothpaste with an RDA 120 along with an electric brush (for example, LACALUT White or PRESIDENT PROFI Smokers toothpastes), we would recommend using such toothpastes only once a day for 3-4 weeks, or 2 once a day, but not more than 2 weeks. This treatment will significantly increase the effectiveness of removing moderately pronounced pigmented plaque from teeth, but will not cope with strong pigmented plaque and densely attached mineralized plaque (small tartar).

The most effective way is

The most effective way is to use a professional teeth cleaning product that is used by a dentist during professional oral hygiene. The paste is called Detartrine Z, although there is also regular Detartrine (which is different in that it does not contain zircon granules and is therefore slightly less effective). You can buy it in online stores, sometimes you can even find it on Ozon. These are professional pastes that can not only perfectly remove pigment plaque, but also cope with even small tartar.

Polishing pastes of the “Detartrine” series (France) –

The volume of the paste is 45 g, and this amount will last you for at least a year or two, given that you won’t have to use it more than once every couple of months. Cost from 2000 to 3000 rubles. The following is very important: this professional teeth polishing paste should and can only be used at low rotation speeds of the electric toothbrush head (for example, in the “for sensitive teeth” or “polishing/whitening” modes). There are no pulsating movements in these modes. In addition, it is best to use the “Precision Clean” type of nozzles - see photo above.

Detartrine Z paste contains zircon grains, which very well remove even a pronounced layer of pigmented plaque, and even small hard dental deposits. This is an ideal option for smokers and those who drink strong tea or coffee. But if you have a very thick layer of pigmented plaque or massive tartar, then such home whitening will not help you and you will need to see a dentist in any case.

A less effective way is to use a regular whitening toothpaste with an abrasiveness of 150-200 RDA instead of this polishing paste (for example, “PRESIDENT Black” or “PRESIDENT PROFI PLUS White Plus”). This can be done no more than once a month and only at low speeds of an electric brush - either in the “For sensitive teeth” or “Polishing/whitening” mode. More information about how the procedure is carried out is in the article at the link below.

→ Removing pigmented plaque at home

Classification

The choice of toothpaste can be influenced by many reasons, including: the condition of tooth enamel, oral cavity, the presence or absence of tartar, and the age of the consumer. Therefore, the classification of these products will help determine which toothpaste is best for brushing the teeth of a particular buyer:

• Hygienic pastes with a preventive effect . Such products help ensure oral hygiene, protect tooth enamel from caries and periodontal disease, and remove plaque. Suitable for those who do not experience problems with dental and oral health.
• Anti-caries toothpastes . They help cope with already developed caries and stop the destruction of enamel. Such products have the property of penetrating into the most inaccessible corners, strengthening the enamel, protecting teeth from hypersensitivity.
• Whitening pastes . The composition includes abrasive components that help get rid of old plaque. People with hypersensitive teeth should not use such products.
• Remedies for increased bleeding gums . Thanks to herbal and other medicinal components, they have a hemostatic, wound-healing, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory effect. If the product is chosen correctly, after a month of use there is a decrease in gum bleeding, a decrease in inflammation, and a general improvement in the condition of the oral cavity.
• Products for children . Children and teenagers are recommended to brush their teeth with a gentle toothpaste. It is desirable that the composition include silicon dioxide or dicalcium phosphate, and the RDA index should not be higher than 50. It is better not to use pastes with fluoride before reaching 3 years of age.