RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: To measure the instant whitening effect delivered immediately after brushing with a novel silica whitening toothpaste containing blue covarine. METHODS: A controlled, single blind, cross-over study was performed to compare the tooth colour measured in a group of subjects at baseline and immediately after brushing with a silica whitening toothpaste containing blue covarine versus a clear gel negative control toothpaste. Measurements of tooth colour were made using a mobile non-contact camera-based digital imaging system and expressed as CIELAB and WIO whiteness index. RESULTS: Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that the silica whitening toothpaste containing blue covarine was significantly more effective than the negative control toothpaste (p < 0.05), and made teeth measurably less yellow, less red and overall whiter immediately after brushing. CONCLUSION: A statistically significant reduction in tooth yellowness and improvement in tooth whiteness was measured immediately after brushing with a novel whitening toothpaste containing blue covarine.