Effect of whitening toothpaste on surface roughness and microhardness of human teeth: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Whitening toothpastes are easily available over the counter without a prescription. The ingredients of a whitening paste range from abrasives such as hydrated silica, calcium carbonate to whitening agents like perlite, peroxides, activated charcoal, blue covarine, hydrogen peroxide and microbeads.

Ideally, whitening toothpastes must remove stains and improve tooth color. However, studies have shown that whitening toothpastes also have deleterious effect on the mineral content of enamel resulting in increased surface roughness and reduced microhardness.

This systematic review was carried out to examine the relationship between whitening toothpastes and surface roughness as well as microhardness of extracted human teeth.