What do Teeth Whiteners Contain?
If you are interested in taking the plunge into teeth whitening, you first want to make sure that the gels you put into your mouth contain ingredients which are safe.
Most home teeth whitening kits contain some form of peroxide which works to bleach your teeth: either carbamide peroxide (the same used by most dentists and Dr George’s Dental White) or hydrogen peroxide (this is more common in teeth whitening strips).
How does Peroxide work?
Carbamide peroxide essentially breaks down into hydrogen peroxide (note 10% carbamide peroxide breaks down into 3% hydrogen peroxide) and urea, allowing oxygen to enter the enamel and dentin on your teeth. Creating free radicals which attack the double bonds present in stain molecules, this helps to bleach your teeth and make them a lighter colour.
If all teeth whiteners contain peroxide how are they different?
Whilst it is true that all teeth whiteners contain a form of peroxide (carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide), the difference between what makes a good teeth whitener and a bad one is their concentration.
The concentration of peroxide in teeth whitening gels can range from anywhere between 10% -22%; however a higher concentration doesn’t always make it the better choice.
The problem is peroxide is caustic to human tissue and can in fact ‘burn’ your gums causing white spots to appear (these usually disappear after a day or two) or even bleeding. And this can leave your teeth feeling incredibly sensitive.
That is why dentists recommend using teeth whitening gels that contain no more than 16% carbamide peroxide, as this is strong enough to produce the results you crave without causing you discomfort.
How do I use teeth whitening gels?
For the best results it is important to use a tray.
You will notice when you have your teeth whitened at the dentist that they make a custom tray around your teeth. This is to ensure that the whitening solution is delivered to your teeth and isn’t washed away by saliva.
Similarly, this tray prevents the peroxide from travelling to other parts of your gums or down your throat!
Luckily you can now make these trays from the comfort of your own home without having to go to the dentist.
Made from soft silicone or a plastic material, simply heat in warm water and you can essentially create your own teeth mould.
Choosing a teeth whitening gel
Before you invest in any product, it is always important to check what it contains, how it works and its medical endorsements. Check a product thoroughly and you can feel 100% confident that your body is safe.
Take Dr George’s Dental White…
Approved by the FDA, this simple gel contains 120ml/cc of 16% carbamide peroxide and has been proven to help make your teeth 11 shades lighter simply by wearing it for 30 minutes a day for 2 weeks.
