Today, more and more people are turning to teeth whitening products and especially teeth whitening gel to give them back their beautiful white smile. However, there are so many teeth whitening kits on the market today that use various teeth whitening gels, that it can be very confusing as to which ones really work and which ones are just plain garbage.
When you begin your search, you will be overwhelmed at the large variety of teeth whitening gels you will find on the aisle in your favorite retail store. The one thing to remember is they are not the same! The way in which you apply the gel and even the strength of the bleaching agent can vary quite a bit. Some toothpaste that are in gel form act as teeth whitening solutions, however, the gel will only work while it is on your teeth. Once you rinse, the gel is gone and is no longer working to brighten your smile. These types of teeth whitening gels will work in most cases for superficial stains if you remember to brush your teeth often with a tooth whitening toothpaste.
Another product in the teeth whitening gel category are the teeth whitening strips that use gel. The strips are coated with gel and are placed over your teeth in order to whiten the teeth. The main problem with these types of products is they may not fit your teeth perfectly and will only be able to remove stains that the strip actually touches. The cracks and crevices will have stains that may be seen especially in between your teeth.
Teeth whitening gels that uses trays maybe one of the best products. On the other hand, if you purchase a tray based product with a one size fits all tray you will not be doing yourself a favor. The gel can seep out from around the tray if it does not fit accurately and cause irritation or burns on the gums and soft tissue around the teeth. You can find a few products that offer moldable trays, which are the best for most individuals.
There is another type of teeth whitening gel. This one you just paint on your teeth and leave it overnight. With this type, you have to keep your mouth open until the gel has dried completely.
When you decide which type of teeth whitening gel you wish to use, you should pay close attention to the bleaching agent. In most cases, it will be listed as carbamide peroxide or urea peroxide. The majority of over the counter teeth whitening gels offer somewhere between 10 and 15 percent, whereas, in the dentist office you will find around 22 percent on the product they use.
When you are reading the labels watch the percentage closely. If the percentage is 35% or higher this can cause burning of the skin, eyes, and gums.