Whitening toothpastes do not always help against cavities

Whitening toothpastes are supposed to remove stains from teeth and simultaneously protect against cavities. In a test by the Association for Consumer Information (VKI) and the German Stiftung Warentest, three out of 17 products failed in cavity prevention: They offer "little or no protection" against cavities. Thirteen pastes are recommended, with four even rated as "very good." Two products were downgraded because they contain titanium dioxide.

Some Whitening Toothpastes Weaken in Cavity Protection

All tested toothpastes remove stains. When it comes to cavity protection, the wheat is separated from the chaff. "Effective cavity prevention is only possible with fluoride according to current scientific knowledge," said VKI project manager Christian Undeutsch. One manufacturer instead relies on hydroxyapatite. "However, there is currently no reliable scientific evidence for sufficient preventive effect against cavities." The toothpaste was therefore rated as "not satisfactory." The type and concentration of fluoride used in two other pastes were also critically evaluated. Both received the rating "less satisfactory."

Titanium Dioxide and Packaging as Points of Criticism

There were also negative points for the use of titanium dioxide. "The white pigment is suspected of damaging genetic material when ingested orally," explained Undeutsch. "Therefore, it has been banned in food for three years." In cosmetic products that are partially swallowed, a gene-damaging effect cannot be ruled out. "As long as there is no proof that titanium dioxide is harmless, we cannot recommend products with this ingredient for precautionary reasons." A toothpaste containing the complexing agent EDTA, a chemical that can impair drinking water quality, was also downgraded.

Several tubes are lined with a thin layer of aluminum and are therefore difficult to recycle. Almost all products were additionally packaged in an "unnecessary" folding box.

Products Offer No Bleaching Effect

"Even the best whitening toothpaste cannot make teeth whiter in the long term than they naturally are. At best, whitening toothpastes merely bring out the original tooth color," noted the VKI expert. These products do not have a real bleaching effect. This can only be achieved with a professional bleaching treatment.

The detailed test results will be available from 25.09.2025 in the October issue of the magazine KONSUMENT and on www.vki.at/whitening-zahnpasten-2025

(APA/Red)

This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.