Did you know whitening toothpastes tend to wear off fillings?

A recent study evaluated the abrasive effects of three whitening toothpastes on tooth-colored restorations (fillings). The toothpastes evaluated were Oral-B Pro-Expert Whitening, Signal White Now, and Crest 3D White Arctic Fresh. Out of the three toothpastes, two of them caused a noticeable wear on the fillings. Only the Oral-B toothpaste did not cause any significant wear. Note the whitening efficacy of these toothpastes were not evaluated; only their abrasive effects were tested.
What can you do to better protect your fillings?
- Do not whiten your teeth if you don’t really need it. All whitening products also tend to cause some degree of tooth sensitivity.
- Use professional whitening and desensitization treatments provided by your dentist. This is usually required once a year as opposed to brushing daily with abrasive whitening toothpastes.
You can read more about this study here:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32597775/