In the past ten years, teeth whitening gels have become popular as a way to whiten discolored and stained teeth. By incorporating new technologies such as lasers to maximize results, it has increased in popularity as an in-office treatment for many dentists. In addition, teeth whitening kits for in-home use have also improved. Nowadays, you can buy teeth whitening gels at any drugstores and retailers at a surprisingly low price.
There are, however, differences between over-the-counter teeth whitening gels and the ones used by dentists. Over-the-counter gels work more progressively compared to the ones in the dentists' offices, mainly because of the concentrations of the peroxide. The teeth whitening gels that the dentists use have a more concentrated amount of hydrogen peroxide.
There are also alternative formulations of peroxide that can significantly cut down known side effects of teeth whitening gels such as sensitive teeth and irritations of the mouth and gums. For example, formulas that contain carbamide peroxide can reduce teeth sensitivity compared to other peroxide formulas.
Teeth whitening gels usually work in one of two ways. Some gels have some type of bleaching agent included in the ingredients making it effective not only in removing stains on the surface, but also stains buried deep in the tooth enamel. Other types of teeth whitening gels, however, have no bleaching agent in it its ingredients. These types of gels are only limited to getting rid of the surface stains.
Common methods of using teeth whitening gels is by putting a small amount of gel in a mouth tray and placing it over the top and bottom teeth for a few minutes. You may need to repeat this process a few times before you will notice any improvements on the color of your teeth. Another way to use teeth whitening gels is by using plastic strips. Crest WhiteStrips, for example, is a thin plastic strip that is coated on one side with whitening gel. This method of teeth whitening has become the most popular over-the-counter teeth whitening system since it is both effective and more economical compared to other teeth whitening methods.
Using teeth whitening gels the wrong way can cause tooth sensitivity, making it quite painful when eating or drinking. In some cases, it can even destroy your teeth. That is why carefully following instructions on how to use teeth whitening gels is essential.