Teeth Whitening: What Works (And What Doesn’t!) For A Brighter Smile

Fancy a brighter, whiter smile? You’re not the only one. An estimated 35.22 million people in the US are expected to use some sort of tooth whitener this year – but do any of the most popular methods they might end up using actually work?

Before we get started, it should be noted that it’s normal to not have perfectly white teeth – genetics, aging, medications, and certain diseases (or even just your daily coffee fix) can all cause discoloration . But if you’re set on whitening your chompers – or are simply curious – read on to find out which methods work, and which are a bit more questionable.

DIY methods

Charcoal

Scrubbing your teeth with activated charcoal – “ activated ” it’s undergone a process to make it more porous, with a larger surface area – is perhaps one of the most widely claimed ways to whiten them. You’d be hard-pressed to find a big-name drugstore that doesn’t stock some sort of charcoal powder or toothpaste for whitening.

However, those claims are unfounded. In a 2017 review published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, researchers found there was “insufficient scientific evidence” to support that charcoal powders and pastes can whiten teeth – nor was there enough evidence to say they’re safe to use either (although activated charcoal on its own is likely safe in the short-term when it’s ingested, but be cautious if you take any medications by mouth as it can decrease absorption).

There’s also a possibility that it could end up damaging your teeth. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), use a powder that’s too abrasive and could wear away the enamel, the teeth’s protective covering. Do that over a long enough period of time and you might achieve the opposite of what you set out to do – worn-away enamel exposes a yellow layer called dentin underneath.

Baking soda

Baking soda is another favorite of at-home teeth whitening proponents and to be fair, on its own, can do some short-term whitening. As ADA spokesperson and dentist Dr Matt Messina told CNN Health , it has mild abrasive and bleaching properties, but tread carefully – like charcoal, that can eventually cause damage.

“You might see short-term whitening with an abrasive, as it will remove surface stains and teeth may get whiter quickly, but the long-term damage is in no way worth that,” said Messina.

Another oft-touted method is combining baking soda with lemon juice. In theory, the two should neutralize each other – one’s basic and the other’s acidic. Attempting to get that balance right at home, however, probably isn’t worth it; as with the abrasiveness of baking soda, the acidity of lemon juice can also wear away enamel.

Drugstore products

While baking soda and charcoal might’ve been around for longer, the shelves of drugstores are now stacked with apparent teeth-whitening products, from strips and pens to gels and pastes, to save you from making your own concoctions.

Do they work? It’s difficult to know for each and every one, and it doesn’t help that manufacturers don’t even necessarily have to prove that they’re effective.

In the US, lots of teeth whitening products – even some containing the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide – available in stores could legally be considered as “cosmetics” and thus aren’t subject to FDA approval, which would otherwise require rigorous testing and evidence to show that the products can live up to their claims.

Some products, however, carry the ADA’s “ Seal of Acceptance ”. Though, under the law, it’s not the same thing as getting FDA approval , the ADA does require safety and efficacy data from lab or clinical studies, which is then examined by a panel of experts, in order for a product to get the seal.

One product that’s yet to receive the seal is purple toothpaste, which has shot up in popularity over the last year or so.

It works on the same principle for yellow-stained teeth as purple shampoo does for yellow-ish bleached hair – yellow and purple are opposite each other on the color wheel, so bung some purple toothpaste on and the stains should be neutralized, leaving you with pearly whites.

This might have immediately visible effects – but will it last? Speaking to Health , Jason Cellars, DDS, gave that a firm no.

"People see instant results because the purple hue turns the yellow hue of your teeth white," said Cellars. "Unfortunately, this illusion is short-lived, and your teeth will only appear whiter until the toothpaste fully washes off."

At the dentist’s office

Often the most expensive of the teeth whitening options is getting it done by a dentist . This might include enamel microabrasion – achieving the same thing as baking soda might, but faster – or more well known, the use of gels or solutions containing the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide.

As Gennaro Cataldo, a professor of general dentistry at the Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, told BU Today , these solutions are “ totally different from the material you buy in the drugstore.”

“It’s highly concentrated; the gums actually have to be protected from this material,” said Cataldo.

While it’ll cost you, the procedure is effective; according to Cataldo, the whitening effect can last up to two years.

Though done professionally, this method of teeth whitening can still have side effects, such as a short period of tooth sensitivity and/or irritated gums. Some dentists offer tray-based treatments to use at home as a cheaper alternative to the in-office procedure, which might bump up the risk of these side effects given that it’s partly unsupervised.

The bottom line

There’s a myriad of methods that claim to be effective at whitening teeth, but whether or not something actually works, if you’re planning on teeth whitening, it’s best to visit the dentist’s office before you do.

Not only is that because it’s always a good idea to make sure your teeth are healthy – especially if you’re going to be doing something abrasive to them – but it can also give you an idea of which method might be best for you.

“Whitening may not work on all teeth,” says the ADA , “and if you are a candidate, some methods – whether at-home or in the dental office – may be better for your teeth than others.”

All “explainer” articles are confirmed by fact checkers to be correct at time of publishing. Text, images, and links may be edited, removed, or added to at a later date to keep information current.

The content of this article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.