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Charlee Erickson

Mrs. Stevens

Life Science

21 February 2020

Which Whitening Toothpaste Removes the Most Coffee Stains?

Did you know that out of all the bones and substances in your body, tooth enamel is the

hardest (Schaefer)? But it isn’t invisible. Your enamel can still decay, chip, and break off. You

need to take care of your teeth by brushing them everyday with toothpaste. Chicken eggs shells

are very similar in consistency to tooth enamel, so I decided to test my ideas on eggs. ​I thought

that if 10 eggs get soaked in coffee and brush them with whitening toothpastes for 1 week, then

Colgate will whiten the best.

How Are Eggshells Similar to Teeth?

People brush the hardest layer which is called enamel, to prevent acid from breaking

down their teeth. One of the main compounds in eggshells and enamel structures is calcium.

Eggshells and teeth have an outer layer that protects the inner parts from acids. Fluoride in

toothpaste strengthens teeth and eggshells. Eggshells have tiny holes let the air and gasses in and

out, while teeth don’t (Johnson).

What Ingredients in Toothpaste Cause the Whitening of Your Teeth?

Every toothpaste has different ingredients that help whiten your teeth. Calcium carbonate

can whiten your teeth. It is also common in many toothpastes(What’s). Hydrogen peroxide

whitens teeth(Curtis). Carbamide peroxide is typically a whitening tool. Blue covarine can give a

more immediate effect on teeth’s color(Salinas).

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What Is the Most Accurate Way to Measure Teeth Whitening?

A teeth whitening guide is the most accurate way to measure teeth color. Match your

tooth color to a color on the chart so that you have a starting point. Determine what color teeth

you want to have. Compare your teeth periodically to see your progress(What). Not all teeth are

the same shape, color, or hue. People can use a color chart to help them track the progress of

their teeth whiteness(Julie).

How Long Does It Typically Take to Whiten Your Teeth with Toothpaste? Why?

You will see a difference in teeth whiteness when toothpaste is used twice a day.

Typically it takes 2-6 weeks to see color change. It might take longer for people with sensitive

teeth and gums because they will have to use it less often. It may also take longer if you drink

coffee, soda or wine and if you smoke. Good oral hygiene and flossing may improve the

whitening time. By using more expensive products, your teeth may become whiter(Salinas).

What Is PH and How Does PH Levels Affect Teeth?

The definition of pH is ​a measurement of ​hydrogen​ ion ​concentration​, a measure of the

acidity​ or ​alkalinity​ of a ​solution​(Helmenstine). You have a risk of serious health conditions

without proper pH balance. Studies have shown improvement in bone density with pH balance.

An alkaline diet and proper oral hygiene, regulates calcium in bones. If you want to reduce tooth

decay, gum disease and bacteria, pH balance is the way to do it(Dental).

Why Does Coffee Stain Your Teeth?

Coffee has an ingredient called tannins in it. Tannins can make your teeth yellow by

sticking to your teeth after drinking a cup of coffee. Sugar and creamer heighten the yellowing

effect when added to coffee. Tannins are a type of polyphenol that sticks to your teeth because it
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breaks down in water when the coffee is brewed. Proper brushing, dental cleanings and

whitening can help reduce the staining but coffee will always stain your teeth. Coffee can also

cause bacteria to grow in your mouth which causes bad breath and yellowing(Does).

Conclusion

I thought that​ if 10 eggs get soaked in coffee and brush them with whitening toothpastes

for 1 week, then Colgate will whiten the best​, but I found out that Sensodyne whitened the best.

To calculate how white the eggs were I used a whitening scale, where the lower numbers were

the whitest. On average, the Colgate made the eggs an 18 on the scale, the Armand Hammer eggs

were an 18 on the scale, the Crest was a 13 on the scale, Tom’s was 16 on the scale, Sensodyne

was a 3 on the scale, and no toothpaste was a 33 on the scale. The overall result was

16.83333333. If you want to whiten your teeth with toothpaste, pick Sensodyne.
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Works Cited

Curtis, Jae. “Whitening Toothpaste 101: Basics of Daily Whitening: Colgate®.” ​Whitening

Toothpaste 101: Basics of Daily Whitening | Colgate®,​

www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/whitening-toothp

aste-101-the-basics-of-daily-whitening-0414​.

Dental, Carefree. “The Importance of PH Balance in the Mouth.” ​Carefree Dental,​ 28 Mar.

2016,

www.carefreedental.com/resources/17-nutrition/152-the-importance-of-ph-balance-in-the

-mouth​.

“Does Coffee Stain Your Teeth?” ​Healthline​,

www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/what-does-coffee-do-to-your-teeth

Helmenstine, Anne Marie. “The PH Level in Chemistry Distinguishes Acids From Alkalines.”

ThoughtCo,​ ThoughtCo, 7 May 2019,

www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-ph-in-chemistry-604605.

Johnson, Doug. “What Are the Similarities between Eggshells and Teeth?” ​Sciencing,​ 2 Mar.

2019, sciencing.com/similarities-eggshells-teeth-8427281.html.

Julie. “How Are Teeth Shades Determined, and How Do I Get Whiter Teeth?” ​Vitality Dental​,

Vitality Dental, 28 Nov. 2017, vitality-dental.co.uk/teeth-shades-getting-whiter-teeth/.

Salinas, Thomas J. “Is Whitening Toothpaste Worth the Extra Money?” ​Mayo Clinic​, Mayo
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Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 9 Apr. 2019,

www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/whitening-toothpaste/f

aq-20058411​.

Schaefer, Anna. “10 Things You Didn't Know About Your Teeth.” ​Healthline,​ Healthline, 7

June

2018,www.healthline.com/health/dental-and-oral-health/things-you-didnt-know-about-yo

ur-teeth

“What Shade Are My Teeth?: Colgate®.” ​What Shade Are My Teeth? | Colgate®,​ 15 Nov. 2010,

www.colgate.com/en-us/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/how-do-i-know-

what-shade-my-teeth-are.

“What's in Your Toothpaste? A Look at 5 Common Ingredients.” ​What's in Your Toothpaste? - A

Look at 5 Common Ingredients,​ Feb. 2017,

www.deltadentalins.com/oral_health/whats-in-your-toothpaste.html.