Colgate Faces Fraud Lawsuit for Whitening Toothpaste Claims
Suit serves as reminder that the best way to whiten is in your dentist’s office.
Just how white should “whiter” teeth appear after using a teeth whitening treatment? This is the question being debated in a consumer fraud lawsuit recently filed against Colgate Palmolive, the maker of Colgate Optic White toothpaste.
Colgate claims their whitening toothpaste “goes beyond surface stain removal to deeply whiten teeth” and “deeply whitens more than three shades.” Yet toothpaste user Lori Canale says she hasn’t seen this promised whitening improvement, and now she’s suing.
Colgate is perhaps relying on the fact that the claim that the toothpaste can improve tooth color “three shades” is so vague as to be an almost meaningless promise. But Canale alleges that no matter how much improvement the toothpaste promises, it is more than the product can deliver. First of all, the toothpaste is only 1 percent hydrogen peroxide, which is too weak of a concentration to really accomplish much whitening at all. Secondly, the product doesn’t stay on teeth long enough to deliver what little whitening power it has.
Missing the Point of Whitening Toothpaste
It seems both Canale and Colgate are guilty of missing the point when it comes to whitening toothpaste. Colgate claims that their product “goes beyond surface stain removal,” yet this is the primary means by which all whitening toothpastes work. Polishing away surface stains may not sound impressive but it is definitely an important part of keeping teeth white and pretty.
For Truly Whiter Teeth, Visit the Dentist
The simple truth is, over-the-counter whitening products including toothpastes, trays, and strips simply can’t compete with the results you get with professional teeth whitening in your dentist’s office.
Your dentist can use stronger whitening agents, plus special lighting to activate and enhance them. Even if you could access these stronger agents in an over-the-counter product, they wouldn’t be safe to use at home. But when you whiten in your dentist’s office, the process is safe because it is carefully supervised. Your gums will be protected from any contact with the whitening agent, which will be carefully painted on to your teeth. Your dentist will also assess how long it is safe to leave the whitening compound on your teeth based on the health and strength of your tooth enamel.
If you want to see the best possible results from your professional teeth whitening treatment, it is highly advisable to get a professional dental cleaning first. This will ensure all surface stains, plaque and tartar are removed so that the whitening agent can work directly on the enamel with no layers of interference.
Make Your Appointment Today
California Dental Group has multiple locations to serve you. Please contact us today to schedule your dental cleaning and teeth whitening treatment.
