Long term use of whitening toothpastes can lead to some unwanted side effects.  All toothpastes are given a relative dentin abrasivity (RDA) number by the American Dental Association. The higher the RDA number, the more abrasive it is to the tooth surface. Whitening and tartar control toothpastes have high RDA numbers. With whitening toothpaste, abrasive particles are added to scrub surface stains harder. They don’t chemically whiten teeth the way that over the counter white strips would. These toothpastes can initially make teeth appear whiter because they scrub away.

Here is the problem: The paste is so abrasive that it wears away tooth enamel, and eventually the second layer of tooth called dentin.  Enamel is the outer white layer of tooth, dentin is the inner yellow layer. If you wear away the enamel, your teeth will become less shiny, more yellow, and you may notice notches along the gumline, called “abfractions”. Your gums can be affected as well, and recession can occur. To protect your teeth over time, we recommend toothpastes with an RDA value of 70 or less. 

If you tend to build up tartar quickly, more frequent cleanings are much healthier than tartar control toothpaste. If you want a whiter and brighter smile, that is absolutely possible; just don’t count on your toothpaste to do it.