Tooth Bleaching Gel: What Is It, How Does It Work & Why Use It ?

As more and more tooth bleaching products have become available on the market, many more people are using tooth bleaching gel to brighten their smiles and better their self image. In fact, there are so many products in the market place that you are spoilt for choice. But are the various tooth bleaching kits any good and more importantly, is the gel they use safe to use? Let's look at these questions and more.

What Tooth Bleaching Products Are Available?

There are many kinds of tooth bleaching gel available. They vary in the strength of the bleaching agent and how they are applied. The internet and forceful advertising are the probable causes of an amazing recent growth in popularity of tooth bleaching gels even though they have been available for over ten years. And the most well known makes are made by the major tooth paste manufacturers.

Some gels can be applied like toothpaste, like Colgate's Total Advanced Fresh Gel which is designed to remove stains for as long as it is in contact with the teeth. This kind of tooth bleaching gel, however, is often criticized for being inferior in effectiveness because it's virtually impossible to keep a significant amount of gel on your teeth after brushing (after rinsing there's not much left).

Other gels are used in conjunction with a tooth bleaching tray. Some trays are generic in nature; one-size-fits-all if you will. However, their effectiveness is often questioned as not everyone's dental structure is the same. Other companies offer custom made trays which are infinitely better than generic trays. The idea is to fill the trays with tooth bleaching gel and then fit them on one's teeth while sleeping. That way the gels get to stay longer on one's teeth and make for a more effective whitening process.

Another form that tooth bleaching gel is applied by is tooth whitening strips. One side of the strip contains the gel and is stuck to the surface of the teeth, bleaching them. However, the strips do not get into the gaps, groves and depressions in the teeth very well. This leads to an effect called striping which is caused by these bits missing the bleaching.

Then you have a tooth bleaching gel that is painted onto teeth. Like strips and teeth trays, paints can be used overnight for maximum effectiveness. The only drawback is that you can't close your mouth until the tooth bleaching gel has dried on your teeth (anywhere between 15-25 minutes).

Lastly, we have dentists who offer professional tooth bleaching procedures that often entail a few trips to a clinic as well as hundreds of dollars in fees. Dentists use a higher concentration of bleaching agent in their tooth bleaching gel and sometimes a laser to speed up the whitening process. The effects are immediate and some people prefer going to a professional rather than taking the DIY route.

What is Carbamide Peroxide?

Carbamide peroxide is a bleaching agent commonly used in dentistry. Also known as urea peroxide, it is composed of hydrogen peroxide compounded with urea. The concentration usually employed for dentist-based tooth whitening is over 35%. A home-based tooth bleaching gel has a lesser concentration, ranging between 10-35%.

Dosages above 60% will cause irritation and burning to the skin, eyes, and gums.

Some people think that carbamide peroxide is somehow superior to hydrogen peroxide (or vice versa). This is not true. Both bleaches are equally effective and will offer virtually similar effects when employed at their correct concentrations.

Are There Side Effects?

There are generally no adverse side effects because most carbamide peroxide formulations for home use are never higher than 35%. However, it is common to feel a heightened sensitivity after a good bleaching, especially when a wave of cool air hits your teeth. This can be uncomfortable but is temporary and for the majority of people, bearable.

How Do You Choose The Right Tooth Bleaching Product?

As each different tooth bleaching kit has its pros and cons there really isn't one "best" kit. You have to decide. And you must make that decision based on the time you have, how dedicated you are to follow the necessary program, what you expect to get out of tooth bleaching and, finally, the cost. Many think the best home kits are the ones with custom trays but others like the ease of use and low cost of strips. Which kit you use is up to you. Decide carefully and don't forget to balance the tooth whitening cost against the effectiveness of each of the tooth bleaching systems.

by Belinda Sinclair