Comparative Evaluation of Different Teeth Whitening Agents on Extrinsic Stains: An In-Vitro Interventional Study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Extrinsic tooth discoloration from medications and diet is a common aesthetic issue.
• Conventional whitening agents vary in effectiveness based on stain type and formulation.
• Natural tooth-whitening alternatives are gaining interest for safety and cost-effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy of different tooth-whitening modalities against extrinsic stains.
• To compare the effectiveness of whitening strips, whitening gel, and a novel herbal toothpaste containing banana peel extract.
• To assess the impact of stain type (iron medication vs. pomegranate juice) on whitening treatment outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Sixty extracted maxillary incisors were stained with iron medication or pomegranate juice for 15 days.
• Teeth were treated with whitening strips, whitening gel, or a banana peel extract-based herbal toothpaste for 14 days.
• Color change (E) was measured using spectrophotometry (CIE Lab* system) and analyzed statistically.

Main Results:

• Both iron and pomegranate stains significantly discolored teeth, with iron causing more intense staining.
• All tested whitening modalities reduced tooth discoloration (E values).
• The herbal toothpaste demonstrated the highest whitening efficacy (p=0.00000878), followed by whitening strips and gel. Pomegranate stains were more reversible than iron stains.

Conclusions:

• Tooth-whitening agent effectiveness depends on stain type and treatment method.
• A banana peel-based herbal formulation shows significant potential as a safe and effective natural tooth-whitening agent.
• Further in vivo research is recommended to validate these findings for clinical application.