title: The benefits of toothpaste--real or imagined? Review of its role in tooth whitening.
abstract: The market for whitening toothpastes in the UK is burgeoning at present, but little has been published about the modes of action or efficacy of such pastes. Much is known about how the individual ingredients work, but toothpaste formulations are complex and there is potential for interaction. Studies have been undertaken to compare the efficacy of various test products, but these have used different types of trial design and consequently direct comparisons are difficult, not least because there are several ways of measuring 'whiteness', and there is no consensus of opinion between workers in this field as to the best way to record it.
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol Dental School, Bristol.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pontefract
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sheen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moran
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D003902:Detergents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011756:Diphosphates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004338:Drug Combinations; D057487:Enzyme Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016877:Oxidants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014073:Tooth Bleaching / Q000379:methods*; D014075:Tooth Discoloration / Q000188:drug therapy*; D014100:Toothpastes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003902:Detergents; D011756:Diphosphates; D004338:Drug Combinations; D016877:Oxidants; D014100:Toothpastes