Purple toothpaste is pretty popular these days. This toothpaste owes most of its popularity to social media. Most people know about purple toothpaste through TikTok and Instagram videos. You should know that despite all the hype around it, it does not actually remove stains from your teeth. Purple whitening toothpaste only works to mask the yellowness of your teeth. 

Let Us Find Out The Truth About Purple Toothpaste 

What is Purple Teeth Whitening Toothpaste?

Purple toothpaste is a type of toothpaste, foam, or serum that is purple. Purple toothpaste is not like regular toothpaste because it does not contain any mild abrasives or bleaching agents to whiten your teeth and remove yellow stains. 

Purple teeth whitening toothpaste only works on making the teeth “appear” white rather than actually whitening the teeth. Purple toothpaste has pigments that neutralize or counterbalance the yellow coloration on your tooth. When these pigments interact with light, they make the teeth look whiter for a short while. 

Crest purple toothpaste is one of the most popular brands of purple teeth-whitening toothpaste. 

There are a few purple toothpaste brands that have some plaque-removing properties of regular toothpaste. However, most purple whitening toothpastes are just serums that do not have components like fluoride. 

How Does Purple Teeth-Whitening Toothpaste Work?

Purple toothpaste works on the simple principle of color correction. Since purple and yellow are complementary colors, mixing them in theory creates white. The purple pigment present in purple toothpaste counteracts the yellow color of the teeth and makes the teeth appear whiter. So this is just basic science. 

These two colors are opposite to each other on the color wheel and thus when purple toothpaste is applied, the teeth appear to be white. It should be noted that the teeth do not get white but only appear to be white until the toothpaste washes off completely. 

The results are pretty short-lived and you should know that this is not actual teeth whitening. 

Does Purple Teeth-Whitening Toothpaste Do Anything?

Purple toothpaste does not do anything to whiten your teeth or to reduce stains on your teeth. Purple whitening toothpaste creates an illusion of whiter-looking teeth. Purple teeth whitening toothpaste does not clean or bleach your teeth. To properly clean and bleach your teeth, your toothpaste needs to have some cleaning ingredients. 

This is why purple teeth whitening toothpaste cannot clean your teeth to remove the yellow discoloration. 

However, it cannot be discounted that purple toothpaste does give a whiter appearance to your teeth for a short while. Regularly using this may maintain the white look of the teeth but will not do anything about the actual issue. 

Is Using Purple Toothpaste Safe for You?

It is believed that if you use purple toothpaste according to the instructions given by the brand, you should be safe. However, you should know that the American Dental Association has not given approval to any brand of purple toothpaste. 

Let us talk about some possible side effects. Just like other teeth-whitening toothpaste, purple toothpaste can also cause possible side effects. Side effects may include enhanced tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. This is more likely to happen to people with pre-existing dental issues. 

Since food dyes are used in purple toothpaste, you may see that your tongue or lips are temporarily turning purple. If you are someone who is allergic to food dyes, you may have an allergic reaction to purple toothpaste. 

Generally, food dyes like Blue 1 and Red 40/33 are used in purple toothpaste. These food dyes are known to cause allergic reactions. Even though it is not common to have allergy symptoms due to food dyes, you should be aware of the symptoms that can occur. 

Your skin will most likely be affected if you have an allergic reaction. You may have symptoms that resemble hives or an eczema flare-up. If you have any such symptoms, you should immediately stop using the product and talk to your doctor. 

Take The Right Road – What Should You Do?

Dentists say that people should avoid going after quick-fix solutions like purple toothpaste that do not fix any issues but just cover them up temporarily. While these quick products may offer you temporary benefits, they will not improve your oral health. 

Using products that cover up the issue rather than fixing them may negatively affect your oral health in the long term. This is why using products like purple toothpaste may be more harmful to you than you may think. 

If you need teeth whitening, you should talk to your dentist about getting actual teeth whitening treatments. You will also be guided to take better care of your teeth so that you can avoid teeth staining in the future. Having regular dental visits is the best thing that you can do for your teeth and overall oral health. 

How To Whiten Your Teeth Without Purple Whitening Toothpaste 

• Use Teeth Whitening Toothpaste – If you want to reduce the yellow stains on your teeth, you may want to use teeth-whitening toothpaste that is designed especially for this issue. These types of toothpaste contain mild abrasives and may whiten your teeth and also reduce stains. 

• Paint-on Gels (Teeth Whitening Pens) – These over-the-counter paint-on gels can be used to mildly bleach your teeth. Like other teeth whitening methods, these gels also contain certain amounts of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. You may use these pens for a period of one week or as needed. 

• Teeth Whitening Gel Trays – These trays are meant to deal with long-term teeth discoloration. These can be found over the counter. The trays contain certain amounts of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gel. You are suggested to use these trays for up to 10 days. You are advised to wear these trays for a few hours so that they can do their work. 

• Teeth Whitening Strips – Teeth-whitening strips are considered to be the best OTC teeth-whitening treatment that you can do at home. These whitening strips contain hydrogen peroxide and are placed on the teeth for about half an hour. These strips can bleach your internal and external tooth stains. You may use these strips daily for two weeks. 

• At-Home Teeth Whitening Trays – These at-home teeth whitening trays can be used as an effective and reliable treatment for removing stains and dealing with discoloration. You can talk to your dentist about at-home teeth whitening trays. Your dentist will give you customized trays that have a certain amount of carbamide peroxide. Wearing these trays for a few hours every day may give you the desired results. 

If you have any doubts about teeth whitening treatments, you can reach out to us at Morgan Hill Dentistry. Our team will be happy to answer all your questions and chart a treatment plan for you.