Currently, many short video platforms such as TikTok frequently feature promotional videos from toothpaste sellers. These videos often use chemical experiment principles to deceive consumers about the effects of toothpaste that it doesn’t actually possess. Common misleading short videos promoting whitening toothpaste fall into two categories: one involves brushing dentures, and the other involves brushing quail eggs. What is the principle behind the videos showing dentures instantly turning white after being brushed with whitening toothpaste, and how is it done? The denture brushing videos exploit the chemical property that the color of iodine solution fades when it comes into contact with vitamin C, deceiving consumers into believing that their toothpaste (containing ingredients like baking soda) can whiten teeth. The method involves soaking the dentures in iodine solution, staining them a purplish-black color. A toothbrush dipped in a vitamin C solution is then used to brush the dentures. A chemical reaction occurs, causing the iodine stain on the dentures to fade rapidly upon contact with vitamin C. This effect would occur even without toothpaste. Currently, most of these types of advertisements on short video platforms constitute false advertising.
What is the principle behind the video of whitening quail eggs and making them snow-white? How to operate it?
The video of whitewashing quail eggs essentially deceives consumers by claiming that weak acids react with calcifiers and are corrosive to calcifiers.
The operation method is to soak the quail eggs in an acidic solution such as white vinegar, then take them out and brush the quail eggs with toothpaste. The toothpaste will easily brush off the spots on the surface of the quail eggs. As long as quail eggs have been soaked in an acidic solution, any toothpaste will have this function. This kind of promotional method is also a false one.
What is the principle behind genuine whitening toothpaste? There are mainly two ways to whiten teeth with toothpaste: physical and chemical.
The principle of physical whitening is to add abrasives such as calcium carbonate, sodium bicarbonate and silicon dioxide to toothpaste to make teeth bright and white by rubbing them. However, this method requires control over the abrasive components in the toothpaste. Excessive addition can cause excessive damage to the enamel by rubbing the toothpaste. So, whitening toothpaste through friction is a gradual process and cannot be achieved overnight.
Chemical whitening involves adding titanium dioxy-like components to toothpaste, which adhere to the surface of teeth and release active oxygen through oxides, thereby achieving a certain degree of teeth whitening.
Toothpaste is more effective in cleaning and whitening. It is a special type of cosmetic product and requires a certification from a third-party institution. At present, all toothpaste on the market is ordinary cosmetic products and does not have actual whitening effects. Moreover, the food and drug regulatory authorities do not allow toothpaste to claim whitening effects. Therefore, all toothpaste on the market that claims whitening effects is false advertising.
For manufacturers specializing in toothpaste OEM customization and contract manufacturing, when providing toothpaste contract manufacturing services to various groups, they will clearly inform them of the true efficacy of the toothpaste and do not recommend false or excessive promotion. However, there are still some unscrupulous merchants who mislead consumers for their own interests. It is hoped that more people can have a correct understanding of the efficacy of toothpaste and not be misled.