Tooth whitening gel is one of the most popular ways for people to whiten their existing stained teeth by several shades.
Although there are many different products such as strips and pens, by far the most popular is the tooth whitening gel. One reason for this is that it is easy to ensure total coverage of the teeth as the gel will cover every available surface (as any liquid would do). Another reason is that this has always been one of the most reliable methods there is so, all things remaining equal, many people decide to stick with this treatment and not consider any others.
How It Works
The active ingredient in most tooth whitening gels is carbamide peroxide. Sometimes, the alternative of hydrogen peroxide is used.
Both cause an oxidation reaction to occur and hence have a bleaching effect on any stains present.
High Concentration Gels
The most effective gels are those of a high concentration. Using something like a 20% concentration of carbamide peroxide for around 20 minutes will yield an immediate result.
The gel is applied to the teeth using special trays that look like a mouthguard or gum shield. Unfortunately, one of the major downsides of this method is that the gums are not protected as well as they could be. With high concentration gels, some irritation to the games can result. If too high a concentration is used and for too long a time then chemical burns can even occur.
A better result can be obtained at your dentist. They have the means to coat your gums with a protectant prior to applying gel to the teeth. They can also use a high intensity light to accelerate the bleaching process. Although you will pay more for such treatment, it is likely to yield the best results in the shortest amount of time.
Low Concentration Gels
These are less popular now due to the high availability of low concentration gels over the counter.
Again, some of these gels are applied using trays. Although home-use trays used with a high concentration gel have the risk of chemical burns, with low concentration gels this risk is generally not present. A more recent low concentration innovation known as the tooth whitening strip is also quite popular at present. However, with these it is difficult to obtain full coverage of the teeth and some people report that they are unable to remove dark stains from the recesses between their teeth.