Shanghai researchers have developed a tooth-whitening powder; after 12 hours of use, tooth whiteness increased by nearly 50%

Image source: Sr-, Ca-Doped BaTiO3 with Synergistic Piezoelectric Catalysis and Microbial Balance Effects Enables Tooth Whitening for Home Oral Health

DentalGoodNews | In January 2026, a research team from the Xuhui District Dental Disease Prevention and Treatment Center in Shanghai, the Shanghai Institute of Ceramics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, and Donghua University published a study in the authoritative international nanoscience journal ACS Nano. They developed an experimental whitening tooth powder (BSCT ceramic powder) activated by electric toothbrush vibrations. The study shows that this system, based on piezoelectric catalysis technology, achieves efficient whitening while repairing damaged tooth enamel and dentin, and effectively regulates the balance of the oral microbial community.

The study indicates that tooth discoloration is usually caused by genetic factors or long-term consumption of stain-prone foods such as coffee and tea. While widely used peroxide-based whitening agents are effective, their strong oxidizing effects can easily lead to enamel demineralization, soft tissue irritation, and oral microbiota imbalance. To overcome these drawbacks, the joint research team developed a barium titanate (BaTiO3) ceramic powder containing strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) ions, named BSCT.

The research team points out that the core principle of this powder lies in the "piezoelectric effect." When the mechanical vibration of an electric toothbrush acts on the BSCT powder, a weak electric field is generated internally, which in situ catalyzes the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). This ROS, generated in real-time during brushing, can decompose organic stain molecules on the tooth surface to achieve a whitening effect. Since ROS is only produced upon vibration triggering, its scope of action is controlled, significantly reducing potential harm to periodontal tissues.

In vitro laboratory results from the study show that in brushing experiments using this powder with an electric toothbrush on human teeth stained with tea and coffee, a relatively obvious whitening effect could be observed after 4 hours; after 12 hours of brushing, the whiteness of the teeth in the experimental group was nearly 50% higher compared to the control group brushed with saline. More importantly, the BSCT powder demonstrated remineralization and repair capabilities alongside whitening. The strontium, calcium, and barium ions released from the powder form deposits on the tooth surface, effectively filling damaged enamel and dentin structures.

In animal experiments on rats fed a high-sugar diet, the research team found that brushing with BSCT for one minute daily for four consecutive weeks effectively restored the rats' oral microbial community. The study observed a significant decrease in the number of periodontitis-causing bacteria (such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Staphylococcus aureus), and the level of inflammation in the oral cavity also decreased accordingly. The study notes that this piezoelectric polarization field achieves selective antibacterial effects by disrupting bacterial membrane potential and structural integrity, thereby inhibiting bacterial energy synthesis.

The researchers point out that although this technology has not yet been formally developed into a toothpaste product, its integrated strategy combining whitening, repair, and microbiota balance holds promise for providing a safe and convenient alternative for future home oral health care. However, the research is currently only at the laboratory and animal experiment stage, and its long-term efficacy and safety in the human oral environment still require further clinical validation.

According to the researchers, this study received funding from institutions including the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Commission's Key Medical Specialty, the Xuhui District Key Medical Discipline, and the State Key Laboratory of High Performance Ceramics and Superfine Microstructure.