Are Tooth Bleaching Gels Safe?

« « The Process of Whitening Teeth | Disadvantages of Tooth Whitening Products » »

Saturday, October 11th, 2008 Subscribe To Our Feed

The first thing to say is that teeth whitening procedures are not equally effective for everybody. It is always worth consulting your dentist before embarking on any course of treatment. Your dentist can clarify for you which of the many options you are able to choose from. Some of them might not work on your teeth.

The question that people face is, does the perceived added safety of a professional procedure by a dentist, justify the extra cost involved. Will the home teeth whitening product be safe and will it be as effective to use? Are there simple instructions and if you follow them, are there any possible ill effects? What are the arguments?

In order to provide a safe product for home use, especially in over the counter products, the teeth gel supplied is of a lower concentration than you would get in a professional treatment. The what are the results, how fast and how long lasting? But there is also a conspiracy theory, that questions this.

Do unscrupulous companies use a more concentrated bleaching agent than they claim, so that their gel will work? It has even been suggested that abrasive materials are added that could be damaging to tooth enamel. I think that neither of these theories hold water. As long as you stick to reputable products you should be fine. The risks of such practices, from massive fines and lawsuits, to withdrawal of the product license, would make it unthinkable.

Reputable manufacturers do major clinical trials before they release their products onto the market. Some research on their websites showyou the results of these trials, and if you want to be extra sur, you can find the links back to the original source documents. It would similarly impact their bottom line and their good name, to make unsubstantiated claims.

Most of these treatments involve placing a tray over your teeth containing the gel, for periods of thirty minutes to an hour. While this may not be too uncomfortable, it is an inconvenience and you are not likely to exceed the recommended time to any great extent. Some products are intended for overnight use and companies boast of how long their gel stays active, compared to lesser rivals.

If you wear the device for longer than recommended, the gel will probably have become inactive. I think it can safely be said that these products are regarded as safe. Another question is, could you get the same benefits that you would from a couple of visits to the dentist.

Here again, it is very unwise for companies to make claims that they cannot substantiate. After all, if the product didn’t work, there are millions of users who would be shouting about it. The question is how good are the results, how fast and how long lasting?After two visits with your dentist, your dazzling new smile is in place. And with good aftercare, it might last for up to 15 years, but it could be as short as 5.

Some of the home teeth gel treatments claim a noticeable difference after only one hour and that with repeated treatments that you can reach the same levels on the dental comparison charts that you would get from professional whitening. And they can be just as long lasting. So, are they a worthwhile alternative?

As I said at the beginning, it is always worth getting professional advice, but a home treatment is definitely worth thinking about. And remember, there are over the counter products, and your dentist can provide a custom solution.

Get Social, Bookmark Us!!:These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.