Best Teeth Whitening Gels

Like most other at home whitening treatments, whitening gels utilize a peroxide-based bleaching agent either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide. This penetrates your enamel to get discolored molecules and breaks the bonds holding them together, leaving you with whiter teeth. 

Teeth bleaching products contain carbamide peroxide which breaks down into hydrogen peroxide, which then becomes the active bleaching agent.

Hydrogen peroxide is the ideal teeth whitening agent for two reasons:

It is a “weak acid” which means it won’t damage your teeth or enamel with proper use. Most whitening treatments use hydrogen peroxide but others still incorporate Chlorine Dioxide, a pool cleaning chemical and extremely harmful to your teeth.

Because of its oxidizing properties, hydrogen peroxide can penetrate the pores of enamel to destroy stain-causing substances by breaking them apart.

Whitening gels usually contain around 15-20% of hydrogen peroxide compared to 5-6% of hydrogen other over the counter (OTC) whitening methods contain like whitening strips or pens. This means that the if you are wanting whiter teeth, gels are going to be stronger than whitening pens or stripes.

But if you experience tooth sensitivity based on the hydrogen peroxide contents, it might not always be the best bet, as it will increase tooth sensitivity more than other teeth whitening methods. 

Teeth whitening gel is one of the most affective methods of in-home teeth whitening methods and has some of the best results.

Gels are extremely simple and cheap to use, once you have your reusable mouth trays all you have to do is replace the gel. Anyone wanting to keep up with in-home teeth whitening, gels are the perfect way to go. 

The treatment time for whitening gels is a little longer than other at home treatments, but the results are also better. Leaving you with a brighter whiter smile. 

Start by brushing your teeth. It is important to do this before the treatment to wash away any plaque that might be a barrier to the whitening solution. Brushing pre-treatment will ensure that your whitening gel has the best possible contact with your enamel.

To use a whitening gel, start by squeezing the gel from the applicator equally into your reusable mouth trays. Be sure to not place too much gel into your trays to avoid the gel from spilling out when placed over your teeth.

It is also recommended that you only place the whitening gel on your front teeth as no one notices your back teeth. Once you have filled your mouth tray will the whitening gel simply place them over your teeth. 

Are Whitening Gels Difficult To Use?

Whitening with whitening gel is a a simple process and since it is a method that you will use repeated once you have your own mouth trays, it is a method that will be easier and easier over time. You will discover the right amount of whitening gel for you and your teeth.

It’s also important not to rush the application process. You’ll want to wait out the recommended time (usually 20-30 minutes) before removing the trays and brushing your teeth. After such you can 

continue your regular activities, such as eating and drinking.

You will find that your time might vary for how long you will want to keep your whitening gel on depending on your desired shade of white.  

Maintenance VS Correctness

With any teeth whitening method you have to be realistic with your expectations. Anyone who is  a smoker or heavy coffee drinker or those with damaged enamel are not as likely to see a drastic change in tooth color.

Also it is recommended that you refrain from smoking or drinking dark beverages while whitening your teeth.

However mouth trays with whitening gel and whitening strips work more efficiently in than other in-home whitening methods. Mouth trays prevent saliva from reaching the hydrogen peroxide, they also help keep the whitening solution in place. This can prevent the chemicals from coming into contact with your gums, which can result in irritation.

Here are some tips to make the most out of your whitening gel experience:

Dry Your Teeth: For the most effective results, try drying your teeth before application. The whitening gel will have an easier time adhering to your teeth because, as I mentioned above, saliva can actually counteract the process. You can do this by dabbing them with a paper towel or cloth.

Wait the Recommended Time: The instructions on your whitening gel should inform you of how long you should leave the whitening gel on. This is usually 30 minutes - 1 hour, longer if you do not have sensitive teeth. Waiting the recommended time can help the whitening agents sink into the pores of your teeth where it’s harder for them to wash away.

You should also wait to consume food and drinks 30 minutes after your are finished whitening your teeth. Especially foods that could stain your teeth further.

Follow-Up Care

Did you know there are things you can do post-treatment to help maintain your white smile?

For starters, avoid or limit any stain-causing food and beverages.This can include dark sodas, coffee, red meats, tea, etc.

And, as in the case with any whitening treatment that contains hydrogen peroxide, there will be accompanying tooth sensitivity.

To help reduce sensitivity, use a soft-bristled toothbrush and don’t brush too hard. You want to avoid being too abrasive on your teeth because the enamel is weakened and has a higher chance of being damaged. 

You can also swap out your regular toothpaste for a whitening one. Although these toothpastes do not contain any bleach, they do have stain-fighting ingredients that can help keep your teeth white.

Caring For Your Trays

After you are done with your whitening treatment it is important you maintain your trays and gel to ensure further use. It is best your clean your whitening trays with cold water and use a toothbrush or Q-tip to get all the whitening gel out. 

Store your trays in their tray holds in a cool and dry place, that is away from heat and direct sunlight. The whitening gel may be kept in the refrigerated to belong the self life, but do not freeze it. 

How many treatments can I get out of a whitening gels?

Most whitening gels recommend that you use about 1.5 mm of gel per whitening session, so how many treatments you get from your gel will depend on the size of your whitening gels. But usually you can get about 3 treatments per tube or syringe.

It is always important to read the directions so that you have a safe and effective whitening experience. Teeth whitening occurs after consistent and consecutive treatments. Failure to keep-up with your whitening procedure can result in less than ideal results.