AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the impact of desensitizing toothpastes (D), their whitening versions (DW) and whitening toothpastes (W) on tooth color change.MethodsTooth specimens were allocated into 11 groups (n = 10): 1. Artificial saliva (control); 2. Sensodyne Repair & Protect (SRP–D); 3. Sensodyne Repair & Protect Whitening (SRP–DW); 4. Colgate Sensitive Pro‐Relief (CSPR–D); 5. Colgate Sensitive Pro‐Relief Real White (CSPR–DW); 6. Colgate Total 12 (CT12); 7. Colgate Total 12 Whitening (CT12–W); 8. Sensodyne True White (ST–W); 9. Curaprox Black Is White (CB–W); 10.Oral‐B 3D White Perfection (OB3D‐W) and 11. Erosion‐only. They were submitted to two models: A. abrasion; B. erosion/abrasion. Color change (ΔE00), ΔL, Δa, and Δb were determined with a spectrophotometer. Data were statistically evaluated (α = 0.05).ResultsFor both models, ∆E00 of D did not differ significantly from DW. An overall decrease in luminosity (−∆L) and increase (+∆b) in yellowness of the tooth occurred. In abrasion, all groups reduced redness (−∆a) and only SRP‐DW differed from control (p = 0.016), but for ∆E00, ∆L and ∆b, all toothpastes did not differ from the control. In erosion/abrasion, CB‐W showed significantly lower ∆E00 and ∆b than the control (∆E00: p = 0.026; ∆b: p = 0.005) and SRP‐D (∆E00: p = 0.028; ∆b: p = 0.025). Only SRP‐DW, CSPR‐DW, ST‐W, CB‐W, and erosion‐only had increased redness (+∆a), but none differed from control.ConclusionsThe toothpastes did neither promote whitening nor avoid the yellowish aspect of the tooth after abrasion and erosion‐abrasion, regardless of their claim.Clinical significanceDesensitizing and/or whitening toothpastes induced similar changes on tooth color, without promoting whitening effect or reduction in its yellowish aspect.