Do teeth whitening toothpastes work?

The simple answer is ABSOLUTELY NOT. Next to health care professionals who make wild promises, the biggest scammers are dentists and the teeth cleaning industry making preposterous claims. Dentists having run out of patients from whom they can pull put wisdom teeth, have now resorted to making exorbitant claims about toothpastes and teeth whitening. 

There are hundreds of teeth whitening products on the market and unfortunately, all of them are a waste of your hard-earned money. Next to weight loss gimmicks, teeth whitening products are another major swindle. To make matters worse, many dentists continue to make false claims about these products.

The only people who claim that that these products work are dentists and people who are paid to make the ads. Whether you buy your toothpaste made by Colgate, Aqua fresh or Crest, it does not make any difference. You will not have white teeth from any toothpaste!

Some toothpastes use peroxide to whiten teeth. However, the amount of peroxide in toothpaste is so minute that even if you brush your teeth every hour for a whole year, your teeth will still look yellow. Other toothpastes contain sodium tripolyphosphate but the concentration is again too small to cause teeth whitening. Besides bleaching agents, some toothpastes also contain abrasive agents that may help remove stains while your brush. These abrasive agents can even remove your unwanted hair.

However, the question is, “do these teeth whitening products work?” the answer is NO. Teeth whitening toothpastes do not work. Brushing a few minutes every day is not enough to whiten teeth. When you have stains from coffee and or smoking which have developed over many years, one has to be realistic.  Teeth whitening products only work for the most superficial stains. Moreover, if you use toothpastes that contain abrasives, not only will you not have any stains but most will also remove your enamel and you will have no teeth later in life.

The nice white pristine teeth that one sees on Celebrities is often done with the use of lasers or veneers (which can cost thousands of dollars). Veneers can cost as much a brand new car and in today’s economy, which one do you want more? 

If you want white teeth, stop smoking; avoid drinking too many colas and coffee. Moreover, brush and floss your teeth every day. The only thing teeth whitening toothpastes will do for you is bring a lot of disappointments.

What does it mean if you have weird purple sores in your mouth that don’t go away? (Female, 17)

Based on the little history provided, you may have a canker sore. Canker sores are very shallow painful sores in the mouth. They are usually red or purple and sometimes have a white coating over them. Canker sores often occur on the inside of lips and cheeks, base of the gums and underneath the tongue. Canker sores are different from the cold sores (fever blisters) which usually occur on the outside on the lips and along the corners of the mouth. Another name for canker sores is aphthous ulcers.

Anyone can develop canker sores but they are most common in young females. Canker sores often run in families but are not contagious. The cause of canker sores is not known but may perhaps be related to stress, poor nutrition, food allergies or the menstrual cycle. There is unfortunately no cure for canker sores and most disappear spontaneously in 7-10 days. If there is moderate to severe pain, one may take an over the counter pain pill. There are also a number of creams sold over the counter that can help protect the canker sore from getting further irritated when you drink, eat or brush your teeth.

There is no way of preventing canker sores from occurring. However, one can reduce the irritation in the mouth by avoiding hot spicy foods, not chewing gum or smoking. It is recommended that one use a soft toothbrush and maintain good oral hygiene. If your canker sores are painful or recurrent, speak to your family doctor for more assistance.