Experiment Project 1 Project 1 March 3, 2008 March 3, 2008

Which Toothpaste is the Best Above All the Rest Testing the whitening of toothpaste

PURPOSE The question I’m going to ask is what brand of whitening toothpaste is going to whiten your teeth the best? The question I’m going to ask is what brand of whitening toothpaste is going to whiten your teeth the best?

HYPOTHESIS I think the brand of whitening toothpaste that is going to whiten your teeth the best is Aqua Fresh. I think this because it has micro-buffing particles which I believe will make your teeth whiter.

MATERIALS Pot Pot 12 eggs 12 eggs Kettle Kettle Instant coffee Instant coffee Water Water Spoon Spoon Measuring cup Measuring cup Timer Timer Whitening guide Whitening guide Stove Stove Toothbrush Toothbrush 4 medium containers 4 medium containers Permanent marker Permanent marker 4 small paper plates 4 small paper plates Whitening toothpaste Whitening toothpaste Crest Crest AquaFresh Aqua Fresh Colgate Colgate ArmHammer Arm & Hammer

METHOD 1. Put 4 egg in a pot of water and boil the eggs for 8 min after the water starts boiling 2. Fill the kettle with water and bring to a boil. 3. Put 1 cup of boiling water in each of the medium containers. 4. Put 1 teaspoon of instant coffee in to each of the 4 containers and stir 5. Place 1 boiled egg into each of the 4 containers of coffee 6. Let the eggs soak in the coffee for 3 ½ hours 7. Take out the eggs and place the eggs on the 4 paper plates to dry 8. Get a toothbrush, and put a full strip of one of the toothpastes on it 9. Then brush 1 egg in the same spot with even pressure for 2 min 10. Rinse extra toothpaste off egg and toothbrush 11. Compare the brushed egg to the whitening guide 12. Write the brand of toothpaste on the egg with the marker 13. Record the results 14. Repeat steps 8-12 with the other 3 eggs and 3 toothpastes 15. Repeat steps 1-14 two more times

VARIABLES Manipulating Variables: Manipulating Variables: 1. The brand of toothpaste Responding Variables: Responding Variables: 1. How white the egg got after brushing for 2 minutes Controlled Variables: Controlled Variables: 1. The type and amount of coffee 2. The amount of water 3. The soaking time of the eggs 4. The pressure you use brushing the egg 5. The brushing time for each egg 6. The whitening guide

RESULTS

ANALYASIS

CONCLUSION In conclusion, I found out by doing this experiment that the brand of whitening toothpaste that whitens your teeth the best is Arm & Hammer. My hypothesis was not correct because I said Aqua Fresh was going to be the best, but it came in third. However all the brands of toothpaste were not very far apart in the results, so which ever brand of toothpaste you chose will do a good job. In conclusion, I found out by doing this experiment that the brand of whitening toothpaste that whitens your teeth the best is Arm & Hammer. My hypothesis was not correct because I said Aqua Fresh was going to be the best, but it came in third. However all the brands of toothpaste were not very far apart in the results, so which ever brand of toothpaste you chose will do a good job.

SOURE OF ERROR The pressure used brushing the eggs could have been different for some of the eggs. The pressure used brushing the eggs could have been different for some of the eggs. Could have put more toothpaste on the brush for some of the eggs. Could have put more toothpaste on the brush for some of the eggs. Could have put more coffee in some of the containers than the others, therefore some of the eggs could have been darker to begin. Could have put more coffee in some of the containers than the others, therefore some of the eggs could have been darker to begin. May have not brushed directly in the same spot for 2 minutes. May have not brushed directly in the same spot for 2 minutes.

WAYS TO IMPROVE Could have wet the egg before brushing, because your teeth are wet when you brush them. Could have wet the egg before brushing, because your teeth are wet when you brush them. Could use an electric toothbrush then the pressure would be the same. Could use an electric toothbrush then the pressure would be the same. Could have soaked the eggs with different liquids as well as coffee to get a better idea of the whitening power of the toothpaste. Could have soaked the eggs with different liquids as well as coffee to get a better idea of the whitening power of the toothpaste.