Does Purple Toothpaste Work? (2024)

Purple toothpaste is a toothpaste that's purported on social media to instantly brighten smiles. But despite the hype, the toothpaste doesn'tactuallybleach teeth or scrub away stains. Purple toothpaste only masks the appearance of yellow teeth.

Here's how purple toothpaste works and what dental professionals thinks of this tooth-whitening trend.

Purple toothpaste is atoothpaste, serum, or foam that has a purple color. Unlike regularwhitening toothpaste, purple toothpaste rarely contains mild abrasives or bleaching agents to remove stains andwhiten teeth. "Purple toothpaste contains pigments that counterbalance yellow tones on teeth,"David Chen, DDS, a dentist based in New York, toldHealth."These pigments react with light, offering a visually whiter appearance."

Some purple toothpaste also functions as regular toothpaste and removes plaque and bacteria from the teeth, noted Chen. However, many purple toothpaste are serums or foams that don't contain common toothpaste ingredients like fluoride.

What Does Purple Toothpaste Do?

Purple toothpaste uses color correction to help the teethappearwhiter by coating the teeth in purple pigment. The effect is similar to using purple shampoo to reduce yellowing in white-blonde hair. "Purple toothpaste contains color-correcting pigments that are meant to counteract yellow or off-white discoloration," said Chen. "The purple coloration is designed to neutralize yellow stains, enhancing the natural whiteness of the teeth."

Purple can counteract yellow because they are complementary colors—meaning they are on the opposite end of the color wheel. As part of color theory, mixing these complementary colors can create white.

"People see instant results because the purple hue turns the yellow hue of your teeth white,"Jason Cellars, DDS, a dentist at Sea Cliff Dental in California, toldHealth. "Unfortunately, this illusion is short-lived, and your teeth will only appear whiter until the toothpaste fully washes off."

The 10 Best Natural Toothpastes for a Healthy Smile

"It can be a quick fix for an instant photo but will not achieve sustainable whitening," said Cellars. Purple toothpaste doesn't actually whiten yellow teeth or reduce tooth stains. It only gives the illusion of white teeth using color theory. "Its whitening effect is mainly superficial, targeting the appearance of teeth rather than deeply cleaning or bleaching them," said Chen.

To whiten teeth, products must removesurface stainson the enamel (extrinsic) and bleach stains inside the tooth (intrinsic). Whitening agents likehydrogen peroxideor carbamide peroxide can penetrate deep into the teeth to brighten their appearance. Purple toothpaste can't bleach and whiten the teeth without these ingredients.

The whitening effects of purple toothpaste are also temporary. "It works on the surface and does not change the intrinsic color of the teeth," said Chen. "Regular use may maintain the appearance, but it's not a permanent solution to discoloration."

Is Purple Toothpaste Safe?

The American Dental Association (ADA) has not approved any purple toothpaste for safety and effectiveness. However, if you follow the instructions, Chen notes that most purple toothpaste should be safe. Like otherwhitening toothpaste, it is possible to experience side effects like gum irritation andtooth sensitivity—especially if you overuse it or already havedental issues.

Because purple toothpaste gets its color from food dye, your tongue or lips may also temporarily turn purple or blue. People with food dye allergies are also at risk of allergic reactions to purple toothpaste, said Cellars. Purple toothpaste typically contains artificial dyes like Blue 1 and Red 40 or Red 33, which are all linked to allergic reactions. Allergic reactions to food dye are unusual, and allergy symptoms usually affect the skin—think swelling, hives, oreczema flare-ups. Discontinue use and talk to your dentist if you experience any reactions after using purple toothpaste.

Some dentists are also concerned that quick-fix products like purple toothpaste undermine oral hygiene habits. "While such products might provide temporary aesthetic benefits, long-term dental health and appearance are best achieved through regular professional dental care and hygiene practices," said Chen. According to the ADA, the best way to keep your smile bright and healthy is by brushing your teeth twice a day,flossingdaily, and havingregular dental visits.

If you want longer-lasting whitening results that tackle surface stains or tooth discoloration, consider these over-the-counter (OTC) and professional whitening treatments:

  • Whitening toothpaste:These kinds of toothpaste remove surface stains using mild abrasives. Whitening toothpaste may also contain hydrogen or carbamide peroxide to bleach teeth and fade stains.
  • Paint-on whitening gel (whitening pens):OTC hydrogen or carbamide peroxide gels adhere to the teeth to start bleaching. Paint-on-gel is often used as needed or for about a week.
  • Whitening gel trays:These OTC tooth trays contain varying percentages of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gel. The trays are kept on the teeth for an extended time and repeated for up to 10 days.
  • Whitening strips:OTC strips containing 5-14% hydrogen peroxide are placed on the teeth for about 30 minutes, bleaching internal and external tooth stains. Research shows whitening strips are the most effective OTC tooth whitening method. This method is often used daily for about 14 days.
  • At-home professional whitening trays:These dentist-provided custom trays contain higher percentages of carbamide peroxide to whiten teeth. Depending on the desired effect, at-home trays are designed to be worn daily for a few hours and repeatedly used for up to a month.
  • In-office dentist tooth whitening:A dentist applies high peroxide concentrations to bleach the surface and deep staining. This is often combined with light-activated bleaching systems, which help accelerate and enhance the bleaching process.
  • In-office enamel microabrasion/rubber-cup prophylaxis:For surface tooth stains, a dentist may apply abrasive gel to remove thin layers of enamel to remove stains. Rubber-cup prophylaxis uses a rubber rotary cup attachment to scrub away plaque, stains, and tartar from the surface of the teeth.

When choosing an OTC whitening product, look for the ADA Seal of Acceptance, which shows the products meet ADA safety and effectiveness requirements.

A Quick Review

Despite claims, purple toothpaste doesn't whiten teeth or remove stains. Purple toothpaste uses color theory to neutralize yellow teeth by applying purple dye to the teeth, giving the illusion of a whiter smile. This effect is temporary and won't whiten teeth over time. Most purple toothpaste is not true toothpaste, either, so make sure you're still brushing your teeth with proper toothpaste to help preventcavities.

If you desire a brighter smile with long-term results, try effective hydrogen peroxide methods like OTC whiteners, in-office bleaching procedures, and at-home whitening trays.

Does Purple Toothpaste Work? (2024)

FAQs

Does Purple Toothpaste Work? ›

Despite claims, purple toothpaste doesn't whiten teeth or remove stains. Purple toothpaste uses color theory to neutralize yellow teeth by applying purple dye to the teeth, giving the illusion of a whiter smile. This effect is temporary and won't whiten teeth over time.

Do purple toothpastes actually work? ›

Purple toothpaste is based on the principle of color theory, where the purple hue is supposed to neutralize yellow stains on teeth. While this might sound scientifically plausible, the reality is it's more of an optical illusion than an oral health solution. The effect is purely cosmetic and extremely temporary.

Does Colgate purple Reveal work? ›

Product works well as toothpaste, unfortunately the usual while marks from toothpaste around and in the sink, instead of the usual white/cream, it's purple. If you enjoy cleaning the bathroom sink every day, this toothpaste is for you!

Does the Hismile really work? ›

"If the stains on your teeth are difficult or ingrained, it's unlikely to work," he says. "But if your issue is with surface stains, such as those from coffee, tea, red wine, berries or sauces, products like HiSmile may reduce their colour, leaving you with less staining on your teeth."

Is there a toothpaste that actually whitens teeth? ›

Removes Surface Stains

Extrinsic stains on our teeth from consuming coffee, wine, or tobacco can ruin our otherwise perfect smiles. Thankfully, the best toothpaste for whitening those pearly whites is designed to scrub off these surface stains. Products like Colgate Optic White are an excellent option for this.

Do dentists recommend purple toothpaste? ›

Many dental professionals caution that purple toothpaste for teeth whitening is not as effective as traditional toothpaste. Most warn that purple toothpaste should not replace traditional toothpaste, as it does not remove bacterial plaque and many not contain safe ingredients.

What are the side effects of purple toothpaste? ›

Purple toothpaste could have some side effects. For example, the products could easily turn your lips and mouth purple (though like the whitening effect, this would only be temporary).

Is purple toothpaste FDA approved? ›

In fact, purple toothpaste doesn't always work like a regular toothpaste with cleaning agents — some are just purple serums or pastes meant to be used after normal toothpaste. They contain FDA-approved synthetic colorants to give them a bluish-purple color.

Do you use purple toothpaste everyday? ›

Purple toothpaste is generally safe for daily use. Most purple toothpaste products use dental color correcting technology without harsh chemicals and abrasives. However, important to note, there are few risks for adverse reactions.

Does Kim Kardashian use Hismile? ›

Kim, 42, happens to be the latest spokesperson for the dental hygiene brand Hismile. Yesterday Hismile shared a video of Kim, founder of Skims, using their teeth whitening toothpaste on her teeth and showing the results on their business Instagram account.

What are the negative effects of Hismile? ›

These effects are most commonly tooth hypersensitivity (often referred to as 'zingers'), and soft tissue (gum) irritation. Whitening at the dentist can definitely mitigate these side reactions, but not always guarantee they won't occur.

Does Vicks VapoRub whiten teeth? ›

Vicks VapoRub is toxic to consume and should not be used for teeth whitening.

What whitens teeth really fast? ›

Using hydrogen peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that can help to whiten stained teeth . For optimal whitening, a person can try brushing with a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for 1–2 minutes twice a day for a week.

Can yellow teeth get white again? ›

Fortunately, there are ways of making your yellow teeth white, from improving your oral hygiene and diet to visiting the dentist and having them professionally whitened. There's no need to feel ashamed of your smile anymore.

What actually whitens teeth at home? ›

Hydrogen Peroxide

It's the bleaching agent found in most home whitening kits. It actually changes a tooth's color. One study found that painting an over-the-counter gel with 6% hydrogen peroxide on teeth made a noticeable difference after 2 weeks.

Can you really use purple shampoo on your teeth? ›

Using purple shampoo won't whiten the teeth like the TikTok user claims and people could end up feeling very ill if they use shampoo to clean their teeth. Dr Kasem encouraged patients to ignore beauty trends they see on social media, which tend to be ineffective and can be harmful.

What is the best toothpaste for Discoloured teeth? ›

Healthline's picks of the best whitening toothpaste
  • Colgate Optic White Whitening Toothpaste. ...
  • Colgate Optic White Renewal Teeth-Whitening Toothpaste. ...
  • Tom's of Maine Simply White Natural Toothpaste. ...
  • Sensodyne ProNamel Gentle Whitening Toothpaste. ...
  • Arm & Hammer Advanced White Extreme Whitening Toothpaste.
Oct 22, 2019

What actually whitens teeth? ›

Hydrogen peroxide is a mild bleach that can help to whiten stained teeth . For optimal whitening, a person can try brushing with a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for 1–2 minutes twice a day for a week.

Does anti gingivitis toothpaste work? ›

The Council on Scientific Affairs has found that toothpastes containing stannous fluoride are associated with a decreased risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease. It's the active ingredient in parodontax, anti-gingivitis toothpastes.

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