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    Consumer Health: Does whitening toothpaste work?

a happy young woman with a big, beautiful smile and especially white, healthy-looking teethDoes whitening toothpaste actually whiten teeth?
Whitening toothpaste can appear to whiten teeth slightly by removing surface stains, such as those caused by drinking coffee or smoking. However, whitening toothpaste can't change the natural color of your teeth or lighten a stain that goes deeper than a tooth's surface. For that, you'll need over-the-counter or professional bleaching products. Learn more from Dr. Thomas Salinas, a Mayo Clinic prosthodontist.

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