Pasta of whitening tooth, can they really clarify your teeth or is it just a claim?

The desire to have a white smile is not new. Since ancient times, humans have sought ways to clean and bleach their teeth. It is known that the Egyptians used a whitening paste With ground pumice stone mixed with wine vinegar. The ancient Romans They bleached The teeth with urine, while the ancient Arabs used branches of the Arak bush. These rudimentary practices reflect human desire for white teeth, an evolutionary attribute associated with health and beauty.

Therefore, it is not surprising that you see in your supermarket a wide selection of whitish tooth pastes, with names such as total white, optical white, white effect or some other sale argument that makes you think that, brushing you every day with that product, you will have a smile of a movie star.

However, the reality is that no toothpaste can bleach the teeth deeply and lasting. The color of the teeth is mainly determined by the dentin, an inner layer that has a naturally yellowish or grayish tone, and by the transparency of the enamel, the hard and translucent outer layer that covers it.

The enamel does not have its own color, but its thickness and quality influence the intensity of the color of the underlying dentin. External factors such as spots caused by food, drinks, tobacco and bacterial plaque accumulation can also obscure the color of the teeth. In addition, over time, enamel wear due to aging or abrasion can cause dentin to be more visible, intensifying the natural yellowish tone.

BLANKING PASTAS AND BLANKING TREATMENTS

Even if not, the teeth are porous and can absorb the color of the substances to which they are exposed. This is the way in which red wine, coffee or tobacco can obscure them. True teeth whitening is only achieved through professional treatments in which hydrogen peroxide (concentrated oxygenated hydrogen) is used in high concentrations to decompose the molecules responsible for color inside the tooth.

This compound penetrates the dental enamel and reaches dentin, where the molecules responsible for internal spots (such as food derivatives, drinks, tobacco or aging) are decomposed and change color. Hydrogen peroxide releases free radicals that break the chemical bonds of chromophores molecules, which are those that produce yellowish or brown color in the teeth. When these molecules fragment, they become smaller and reflect the light differently, resulting in a clearer dental tone.

This procedure, carried out under professional supervision, uses higher concentrations of peroxide than those available in commercial products, which allows a faster and faster result. In addition, the use of LED or laser light in some treatments accelerates the process by activating peroxide and enhancing its action.

Whiting treatments with peroxide to use at home work through the same oxidation principle than professional treatments, but use lower concentrations of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, which makes them safer for use without supervision. The bleaching gel, which contains the active agent, is generally applied by splints or molds that fit the teeth to guarantee uniform contact, and some offer a small LED light to enhance the effect. However, it is always advisable to consult about this type of treatments with a oral health professional.

Types of bleaching pastes

Commercial whitish toothpastes act through a combination of mechanisms designed to reduce surface spots on the teeth or, at least, improve their appearance. One of the main strategies is the use of soft abrasive agents, such as hydrated silica or sodium bicarbonate, which polish the surface of the enamel to remove superficial spots caused by food, drinks or tobacco. These abrasives are effective for external spots, but do not penetrate the inner layers of the tooth.

Other formulas include chemical agents such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, used in professional treatments. Unfortunately, toothpastes containing peroxide They are not more effective To bleach the teeth compared to those that do not contain this ingredient, or with the Kits Homemade bleaching.

Another approach is the use of enzymes, such as papain or bromelin, which break down proteins in the spots adhered to enamel. These enzymes offer softer and non -abrasive action, although they usually require more time to show results. Again, it is a superficial treatment that does not penetrate the dentin that gives the true color to the tooth.

In some products, optical agents such as Covarina Azul are also used, which deposit a slight blue dye on the teeth, generating a visual effect that causes them to seem whiter when neutralizing the yellow tones of the interior. This effect is temporary and disappears with the rinse.

Finally, some ingredients such as fluoride or hydroxyapatite help strengthen weakened enamel. Although they do not bleach directly, by improving the quality and uniformity of the enamel, they contribute to the teeth to better reflect light, increasing the perception of whiteness.

The color of teeth and health

Thus, the concept of “whitening” in toothpastes is more related to the elimination of surface spots. An important part for the maintenance of white teeth is the prevention of the accumulation of tartar, a yellowish and hard material that is formed when the bacterial plaque hardens. Although it does not cause caries, the tartar indicates that the demineralization process has already begun. Once formed, the tartar can only be eliminated by a professional curettage in the dentist.

However, ingredients such as pyrophosphate or sodium hexametaphosphate can prevent the accumulation of tartar when reacting with calcium and form a soluble compound that can be rinsed. On the other hand, fluoride in the pasta is incorporated into the tooth structure and reduces the demineralization rate. Keeping healthy teeth will also keep them whiter.

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