Why trust us? We already tested and reviewed both of these toothpastes individually, the advanced and the pro series so we can certainly tell you our experience using them.
However, the question on your mind is probably which one is the better whitening toothpaste?
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Comparison Table
Below is a summary overview in a table format comparing the optic white pro series toothpaste with the advanced toothpaste.
| Attributes | Optic White Pro Series | Optic White Advanced |
|---|---|---|
| Whitening agent | 5% hydrogen peroxide | 2% hydrogen peroxide |
| Cost | $$ | $ |
| Size | 3.0 oz (85g) | 3.2 oz (90g) |
| Cap design | Red flip cap | White flip cap |
| Toothpaste color | White | White |
| Fluoride | Sodium monofluorophosphate 0.76% | Sodium monofluorophosphate 0.76% |
| Similar ingredients | Calcium pyrophosphate, PVP, PEG/PPG-166/66 copolymer, Flavor, SLS, Silica, Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, Sodium saccharin, Disodium pyrophosphate, Sucralose, BHT | Calcium pyrophosphate, PVP, PEG/PPG-166/66 copolymer, Flavor, SLS, Silica, Tetrasodium pyrophosphate, Sodium saccharin, Disodium pyrophosphate, Sucralose, BHT |
| Different ingredients | Poloxamer 105 | Propylene glycol, PEG-12, Glycerin, Phosphoric acid, Water |
| Grittiness | More Gritty | Less Gritty |
| Teeth sensitivity | Very Mild | None |
Similarities
There are a lot of similarities between the optic white advanced and the pro series toothpaste.
- Fluoride. They contain Sodium Monofluorophosphate with 0.76% fluoride.
- Ingredients. They share 13 of the same ingredients. For what each one does, please see our comprehensive list of toothpaste ingredients.
- Design. Bold red and white packaging design. They look very similar to one another.
- Cap. Both use a flip cap.
- Enamel safe. They are marketed as enamel safe due to the inclusion of fluoride.
Overall, they are very similar at least in my opinion, so similar that you may have a hard time telling them apart. Then again they are both from Colgate so it is to be expected that they would have similar designs and ingredients.
Differences
Below are the differences between the optic white advanced and pro series toothpaste.
- Peroxide concentration. The pro series has the higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide (5% vs 2%).
- Price. The advanced costs a lot less making it more affordable.
- Size. Slightly different size tubes and net weight.
- Five different ingredients. The other 13 ingredients are near identical though.
- Toothpaste texture. The pro series toothpaste has a much grittier and abrasive texture.
There may be differences between these two toothpastes but it’s still pretty similar in our opinion. If you compare them to a different brand of whitening toothpastes, you will see significantly more differences.
Which one is the better whitening toothpaste?
The colgate optic white pro series is the more effective whitening toothpaste when compared to the optic white advanced. The sole reason is due to the higher peroxide concentration (5% vs 2%) but the slightly more abrasive texture also helps.
Why it’s a superior whitening toothpaste:
- Higher peroxide content. Whitening efficacy is largely determined by the peroxide concentration. The greater the concentration of H2O2 the more effective and faster it’ll be at oxidizing teeth stains. It is a no brainer for which is more potent for 5% vs 2%.
- More abrasive. The grittier the toothpaste texture, the more effective it’ll be at mechanically abrading extrinsic stains. This type of whitening will not remove the intrinsic stains but it can at least scrub away the extrinsic stains on the surface.
With that being said, both of these optic white products will work in whitening your teeth since they both contain peroxide.
- That means they possess the ability to oxidize tooth discolorations.
- Most whitening toothpastes do NOT have peroxide so they don’t actually bleach your teeth. What they will do is scrub away extrinsic stains but that is about all it does.
In summary, if you were to choose the best one between the two for whitening your teeth, the clear winner would be the optic white pro series.
As a matter of fact, it is currently the best whitening toothpaste in the market. Feel free to scour the internet for something better but you won’t find another toothpaste with a more potent H2O2 concentration than the pro series.
Usage precaution
Yes, the pro series is the more potent whitening dentifrice and that does come with some downsides such as mild sensitivity and potential white gums.
- Mild sensitivity. It has a high peroxide concentration so you may experience some mild teeth sensitivity. When I brush with it, I do occasionally feel a tingle/twinge in the teeth and gums but it isn’t discomforting enough for me to stop brushing. I would rate it as a low 1 out of 10 in terms of discomfort, barely noticeable sort to speak.
- White gums. Occasionally when I brush with the pro series, I will notice 1-2 areas of my gums that have been whitened. Yes, I would literally have white gums for about an hour or two.
In regards to the white gums, it’s only temporary and not permanent because it does go away on its own. It’s not painful when it happens so I don’t think it’s a cause for concern.
However, that does bring up two important points:
- It’s a legitimate whitening toothpaste. The fact that it can bleach your gums white means that it DOES work in making your teeth whiter. When have you ever used a toothpaste which was potent enough to do this?
- May not be suitable for daily use. Due to its potency, it makes me wary of using it as a replacement for my daily toothpaste.
Overall, I get the sense that I still need an everyday toothpaste to use. For that I personally believe that the optic white advanced toothpaste with 2% peroxide would be the better choice as an all year round toothpaste.
Video comparison
Which one do I like more?
While the pro series is the better whitening product, I do find myself using and liking the optic white advanced toothpaste more.
Why I prefer the advanced:
- Texture not gritty. It is definitely a lot less gritty and abrasive feeling on my teeth.
- Doesn’t turn my gums white. I’ve never had my gums bleached white using this one so I feel like it is a suitable replacement as an everyday toothpaste and not just an occasion toothpaste.
- Affordable. It’s roughly half the price of the pro series.
For the pro series, I’ll use it again if I’m testing it or if I want to remember what it feels like to use it. However for the advanced, I’ll just pick it up and brush with it on many days of the week even when I’m not reviewing toothpastes.
I don’t know how else to explain it but I just like it a lot more for whatever reason despite knowing that it’s not as potent whitening wise.
Verdict
The optic white pro series toothpaste by Colgate is the more effective whitening toothpaste when compared to the advanced. In terms of whitening prowess, it is the undisputed king in not only whitening toothpastes by Colgate but also compared to every brand in the world.
There is no other toothpaste on the market that has a higher peroxide concentration than the pro series. We’ve done comparisons among all of the peroxide based optic white toothpastes (advanced vs renewal) and (renewal vs pro series).
If you want whiter teeth and are looking for the best whitening toothpaste for the job, you may as well end your search now… because you’ve finally found it.