Teeth Whitening Gel

The most important part of a teeth whitening system is the gel that is used. You can have an expensive custom-fitted tray (mouthpiece), but if you don't have the right teeth whitening gel, you will spend far too much time with the tray in your mouth and or your results will not be as expected. Gels are seen by many as the best teeth whiteners because they are easy to apply and they do not etch or use abrasives that can damage your teeth.

To understand the differences between whitening gels and why they are considered as the best tooth whitener, it is preferable to understand exactly what they are made of, and what they actually do. They obviously whiten your teeth, but understanding HOW they do it is important.

Most gels contain either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, and some contain fillers and flavors. Carbamide peroxide actually breaks down into hydrogen peroxide in the mouth. Hydrogen peroxide is the active whitener (it's the same chemical that will bleach your hair).

The difference between most gels is the strength of the peroxide. Most gels these days are around 15% and up, with some of the most popular being around 22%. The strength of the peroxide obviously will play a determining factor in how long you need to leave the tray in your mouth, and tooth sensitivity can be a major part of deciding on what strength to use. But, ins saying that, it is not actually the strength of the peroxide that usually causes sensitivity, but rather the length of time that the teeth are exposed to the chemical. So that is why some people prefer to go for a higher strength (such as 22%) but use it for a shorter period of time. You can also get higher strengths like 35%, but these are only recommended for short 'bursts' of maintenance, perhaps monthly for periods of 15-30mins.

One other very important factor that also differentiates one tooth whitening gel from another is how many fillers and flavors are used, and if the gel is 'tacky' or too runny. A gel that it is too runny will 'bleed' out of the tray and into your mouth. A gel that is tacky will stay where it is supposed to be, and will also help to keep the tray in place.

The best tooth whitening gel for most is the one that means the least amount of time in the mouth. ones with around 20-22% peroxide like DIRECT WHITE are a good balance because although they are a bit stronger than the normal 15-16% gels, they don't need to be in the mouth as long.