The second opinion

Product verdicts

The claim on the box, and what Dr. Kahng tells patients in the chair. Each verdict is Pick, Depends or Skip, and practicing clinicians can endorse the ones they stand behind.

Charcoal toothpaste whitens teeth Abrasive enough to thin enamel over time. The whitening is surface stain removal only. Skip Whitening ▲ — Endorse

Water flossers replace string floss Better than nothing by a wide margin. Below the gumline, string still does work water can't. Depends Toothpaste & tools ▲ — Endorse

Silver diamine fluoride stops decay in kids It works, and it can mean no drilling. The staining is permanent, so parents should hear that first. Pick Kids & Airway ▲ — Endorse

Whitening toothpaste is safe for daily use Depends on the abrasivity and your enamel. Fine for some, a sensitivity trigger for others. Depends Whitening ▲ — Endorse

Some product links pay this site a commission. Verdicts are written first and never change for it, and Skip stays on the page.