Current landscape of research on whitening toothpastes and their effects on dental hard tissue.

Purpose: To explore the latest trends in research on whitening toothpaste and to present the issues and future perspectives of these studies.

Methods: An initial PubMed search was performed, followed by a meticulous manual review. A total of 543 papers were initially retrieved, and 54 final research papers were selected and analyzed through a manual review.

Results: The number of studies on whitening toothpastes has significantly increased, and while initial studies primarily focused on the efficacy of various whitening toothpastes, recent studies have shifted towards investigating the potential effects on dental hard tissues such as enamel and dentin. Common active ingredients used in these whitening toothpastes include hydrogen peroxide, activated charcoal, and blue covarine. Most studies have used commercial toothpastes with fixed ingredients rather than experimentally manufactured toothpaste, and it was noted that toothpastes from specific major manufacturers were frequently used.

Clinical significance: Whitening toothpastes should be treated as separate entities based on their active ingredients, and more standardized experimental designs are required for better comparisons. Accurate analysis and labeling of other components of toothpaste are also essential.