Whitening Toothpaste Can Scrub Your Teeth Duller

It doesn't bleach. It sands.

Whitening toothpaste sounds like it lightens your teeth. Mostly, it just scratches the stains off — and that method has a limit.

Abrasion, not bleaching

Most whitening pastes work with abrasives that physically scrub surface stains. Fine in moderation. But high-abrasion formulas, used hard twice a day, can wear down enamel over time — and enamel doesn't grow back. Thinner enamel actually looks more yellow, because the layer underneath shows through.

The RDA number

Toothpastes have an abrasivity score called RDA. Gentler is better for daily use; the aggressive "whitening" ones are the ones to use sparingly, if at all.

The move

For daily brushing, pick a gentle paste. If you want real whitening, that's a peroxide treatment — a different process — not something a scrubby paste can deliver without a cost.

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