Using whitening mouthwash may not be worth the cost unless you are all in.
Is Whitening Mouthwash Worth It?
Hydrogen peroxide is the ingredient that changes the internal color of teeth. Mouthwash that truly whitens teeth contains one fifth the ingredient that whitening toothpastes and gels use. Studies show that teeth will not whiten from mouthwash alone unless daily use of 2x/day for 60 seconds each for a minimum of 8-12 weeks. These in-vitro studies though show that mouthwash is not nearly as effective compared to whitening gels.
Popular take-home whitening gels can be worn between 20-60 minutes a day and have better, longer lasting results in 3-10 days--seems more practical.
Whitening Suggestions:
If you are determined to use whitening mouthwash, do not use mouthwash alone as your main source of whitening. We suggest to use the following combination:
Mouthwash
Use only mouthwash that contains hydrogen peroxide. The only five mouthwash we found with that ingredient are: Colgate Optic White, Colgate Peroxyl, Crest 3D White Diamond, Crest 3D White Glamorous, Crest Pro-Health Advanced with Extra Whitening
Toothpaste
Use toothpastes that contain hydrogen peroxide. All other 93% of ”whitening” toothpastes on the market remove only extrinsic stains (i.e. coffee, tea, smoking) but do not alter the actual tooth color.
Take-home Whitening Trays
Whiteners with lights dehydrate the teeth and although they will appear whiter, they do not last as long. Whitening gels in trays are the most effective way to whiten teeth that last the longest.
Final Thought
Whitening mouthwash is helpful but there are better products that are more effective. If you don’t want to have such a strict regimen, bag all the whitening products except for whitening gels—it is quicker, most effective, and lasts the longest. Most “whitening” mouthwashes have abrasive properties to remove external staining, but if you really want stains gone, start with whitening-labeled toothpaste--it's more effective.