The use of a tooth whitening gel to whiten one's teeth and improve one's personal image has become a common practice as more and more people take advantage of home teeth whitening products. Countless whitening kits flood the consumer market today making it easier to pursue whitening at home. The question is: are they reliable? How can you know if a certain whitening gel is safe and effective to use?

Using A Tooth Whitening Gel ? What Products Are Available?

There are different kinds of gels available. Not all of them are the same; their strengths and applications vary. Home tooth whitening gels have been in use for more than a decade now but only recently have they experienced a boom in popularity ? probably because of the internet and aggressive marketing. Among the most popular brands are those by Proctor & Gamble and Colgate-Palmolive.

Some gels can be applied like toothpaste, like Colgate's Total Advanced Fresh Gel which is designed to remove stains for as long as it is in contact with the teeth. This kind of tooth whitening gel, however, is often criticized for being inferior in effectiveness because it's virtually impossible to keep a significant amount of gel on your teeth after brushing (after rinsing there's not much left).

Other gels are used in conjunction with a tooth whitening tray. Some trays are generic in nature; one-size-fits-all if you will. However, their effectiveness is often questioned as not everyone's dental structure is the same. Other companies offer custom made trays which are infinitely better than generic trays. The idea is to fill the trays with tooth whitening gel and then fit them on one's teeth while sleeping. That way the gels get to stay longer on one's teeth and make for a more effective whitening process.

Other gels are applied via strips. The strips are coated with a tooth whitening gel and are designed to be worn over the teeth. They are effective whiteners; however, the chief complaint against strips is that they often leave striping marks. Because strips do not perfectly cover the teeth, discolored nooks and crannies remain after an application.

Then you have a tooth whitening gel that is painted onto teeth. Like strips and teeth trays, paints can be used overnight for maximum effectiveness. The only drawback is that you can't close your mouth until the tooth whitening gel has dried on your teeth (anywhere between 15-25 minutes).

Lastly, we have dentists who offer professional tooth whitening procedures that often entail a few trips to a clinic as well as hundreds of dollars in fees. It's usually worth it though; dentists use a higher concentration of bleaching agent in their tooth whitening gel and sometimes a laser to speed up the whitening process. The effects are immediate and some people prefer going to a professional rather than taking the DIY route.

Using A Tooth Whitening Gel ? What's Carbamide Peroxide?

Carbamide peroxide is a bleaching agent commonly used in dentistry. Also known as urea peroxide, it is composed of hydrogen peroxide compounded with urea. The concentration usually employed for dentist-based tooth whitening is 22%. A home-based tooth whitening gel has a much less concentration, ranging between 10-15%.

Dosages above 35% will cause irritation and burning to the skin, eyes, and gums.

Some people think that carbamide peroxide is somehow superior to hydrogen peroxide (or vice versa). This is not true. Both bleaches are equally powerful and will offer virtually similar effects when employed at similar concentrations.

Using A Tooth Whitening Gel ? Are There Side Effects?

There are generally no adverse side effects because most carbamide peroxide formulations are never higher than 22%. However, it is common to feel a heightened sensitivity after a good bleaching, especially when a wave of cool air hits your teeth. This can be uncomfortable but is temporary and for the majority of people, bearable.

Using A Tooth Whitening Gel ? How Do You Choose The Right Product?

There isn't really a "best" tooth whitening kit - each one has its advantages and disadvantages. You have to choose a tooth whitening gel and system based on your lifestyle, expectations, dedication to the whitening process, and budget. Tooth trays are generally considered to be the most superior of home-based whitening products. Then again, some people prefer to use strips which are less cumbersome. It really is down to you as you weigh the tooth whitening cost as well as the pros and cons of each system. That's the best tooth whitening tip we can give you.