Nowadays, there are many ranges of toothpastes dedicated to whitening. This promise often justifies a higher price, especially if the product contains natural components. But are these formulas really effective? This is what the magazine 60 Millions de consommateurs explores in its latest essay (No. 607-November 2024) by comparing 12 toothpaste references representative of the market.
The experts looked at the ingredients present in the formulations and the effectiveness of the references.
Experts took into consideration the quality of the composition, effectiveness and level of abrasiveness
To carry out their tests, the association took into consideration the quality of the composition (which examines health and environmental risks), the bleaching effectiveness and the level of abrasiveness.
“In order not to select effective toothpastes to the detriment of enamel protection, we tested this abrasiveness”. The problem is that test results show that the least abrasive toothpastes are not the most effective.
Another concern raised concerns the composition: irritants and pollutants are frequently present. “There are various problematic ingredients. The last in the ranking, Max White One from Colgate, contains, for example, phosphoric acid. This ingredient whitens enamel but it alters it and its whitening effect is not long-lasting.“, says 60 million consumers.
In other products, we notice the presence of polluting components such as cocamidopropyl betaine. : “irritants like sodium lauryl sulfate; sensitizers like limonene, or suspected of being genotoxic, that is to say capable of damaging DNA like titanium dioxide (Ti02)“.
The green tree, Whiteness mint aroma, first in the ranking
The toothpaste that managed to climb to the top of the ranking is none other than The green tree, Whiteness mint aroma (2.45 euros per 75 ml tube). Despite its questionable effectiveness regarding the whitening effect, the product has the merit of sparing enamel and dentin.
Its Cosméto’Score also has something to do with it: the reference gets an A for its effects on health and the environment.
Read to go further : 60 million consumers, N°607-November 2024
Source: www.topsante.com
