Teeth whitening gel like the kind your dentist might apply during a visit is a special gel that contains a large amount of hydrogen peroxide. The gel can contain anywhere from about 10% to 40% hydrogen peroxide, the active ingredient in whitening your teeth. The gel consistency allows the concentration to easily stay in place on your teeth and do its job. The gel does work, and can lighten your teeth from 3 to 6 shades.
You can purchase home teeth whitening gel kits, if you prefer, instead of going to your dentist for the procedure. Most home kits aren’t as strong or as effective as the whitening gel you’ll get at the dentist’s office. And the dentist can help protect your gums much better than you could at home. You’re not in any danger from the gel touching your gums, but the less contact the better. Some gels tend to burn and irritate the gums more than others, depending on the amount of peroxide used.
When the dentist whitens your teeth, he or she will put the teeth whitening gel in special custom trays designed to hold the substance against your teeth and cover them completely. But first the dentist will cover and protect your gums as much as possible. When you use kits at home, you fill a tray similar to the one your dentist uses with the gel, and you leave the substance on your teeth for a half an hour at a time, just as the dentist would.
There are some brands of teeth whitening gel that are designed to be used for several hours at a time or even overnight that use carbamide peroxide instead of hydrogen peroxide. This is a slower working gel, which is why it must remain on the teeth so much longer.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Different Teeth Whitening Gels
The obvious benefit of teeth whitening gel is the ability to brighten and whiten your teeth. These gels do work, but some work dramatically in a short time while others take longer. Many of the gels you buy to use at home don’t work well, or take a lot more product and a lot more time before you’ll see even a slight difference. The gel your dentist uses, however, can lighten the shade of teeth dramatically in just 30 minutes.
One drawback of a teeth whitening gel is its tendency to make your teeth more sensitive. The sensitivity typically goes away in a day or two, but it’s something to consider before you have the procedure or use your home kit. Gum burning and irritation is also a common side effect that can vary from gel to gel.
Glycerin is often used as a base in these gels as the ingredient that makes them thick. But unfortunately glycerin causes tooth sensitivity by drying out the pulp. Fluoride is sometimes added to flood the tooth with minerals to undo the effects of the glycerin, but fluoride slows down the whitening process. A teeth whitening gel that doesn’t use glycerin or fluoride will probably not make your teeth as sensitive, while getting them whiter, faster.