Teeth Whitening Systems: Gels, Rinses and Pastes
There is a vast selection of teeth whitening systems on the market today which include toothpastes, rinses, whitening gels, rinses and other products offered from your dentist. The ideal candidate for teeth whitening is one that has healthy teeth and gums with no fillings. Those who have yellow stains on their teeth are the best for the treatments. People need to keep in mind that teeth whitening is not for everyone.
Next we have the whitening toothpastes. Toothpastes have always contained substances to remove surface stand using a mild abrasive. Whitening toothpastes also contain a gentle polishing agent that provides additional stain removal effectiveness. Toothpastes that whiten can help remove surface stains only and do not contain any bleach. OTC and professional whitening products contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide that helps brighten the color from within the tooth. Whitening toothpastes can lighten your smile by about one shade. For comparison purposes, light-activated whitening at your dentist’s office can make your up to eight shades lighter.
Tooth Whitening gels are mostly peroxide-based which are applied with a brush onto the surface of your teeth. This type of application calls for a twice a day application for 14 days. After just a few days results will be seen and will last for up to four whole months. Whitening strips and thin strips which contain a peroxide-based tooth whitening gel.
Something new to the whitening industry is the rinses. Similar to mouthwash they will freshen your breath, reduce dental plaque and gum disease. In addition the rinses have hydrogen peroxide which cause your teeth to whiten. Using a rinse the makers say it could take up to 12 weeks to see any improvements. Like mouthwash you swish around in your mouth for 60 seconds twice a day prior to brushing your teeth. Experts state that this is probably one of the least effective tactics to use when attempting to whiten teeth. This is due to the fact that the whitening rise is only in your mouth for a short period of time and doesn’t have a long staying power.
Lastly you have the tray-based tooth whitening systems and in-office treatments. Like the name states the tray based system is where you fill your mouth trays with whitening gel which contains the peroxide-bleaching agent and wear it on your mouth for 1/2 hr per night for 2-3 weeks. The in-office whitening is the quickest way to get those teeth white. The whitening product is directly applied to the teeth. The treatment usually is about 30-60 minutes. The only downfall is that this treatment is the most expensive.