Extrinsic whitening effects of sodium hexametaphosphate--a review including a dentifrice with stabilized stannous fluoride.

The number of tooth whitening products available to patients has grown dramatically during recent years. While peroxide is the primary agent found in products that bleach and remove intrinsic sources of discoloration, various ingredients are incorporated in formulations to remove and inhibit extrinsic sources of tooth discoloration, ie, tooth stain. Recently, an advanced antitartar ingredient with extrinsic-stain-inhibiting benefits was introduced: sodium hexametaphosphate. This long-chain condensed phosphate, also known as polypyrophosphate, chemically removes existing stains and provides long-lasting inhibition of new-stain chromogen adsorption. Sodium hexametaphosphate was originally introduced in a sodium fluoride dentifrice formulation and was later marketed in a chewing gum delivery system. Recently, sodium hexametaphosphate was launched in another dentifrice formulation containing stabilized stannous fluoride (Crest Pro-Health). This article reviews published clinical and laboratory data demonstrating sodium hexametaphosphate's extrinsic whitening benefits in all three formulations.