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You want to present a clean, healthy, and vibrant smile to the world. That's hard to do if your teeth are yellowed and stained. Discolored teeth act as a social liability: it appears that if you do not care for your teeth, your whole body hygiene may leave much to be desired. If your teeth are yellowed or stained and you seek a whiter, brighter smile, you have two options: at-home care or in-office teeth bleaching. The latter option can be quite pricey.
The good news is, you can get rid of the embarrassment of yellowed or stained teeth by using an affordable teeth whitening gel at home. These products have surged in popularity in recent years, and it’s not surprising. As people discover how confident and happy they feel with a brighter, whiter smile, they become repeat customers.
If you are ready for a sparkling smile, read on to learn more about teeth whitening options. When you are ready to purchase a whitening gel, consider our recommendations.
All types of toothpaste help remove discoloration and surface stains. Some whitening toothpastes also contain gentle chemical or polishing agents for additional help with stain removal. But toothpaste only removes surface stains; it cannot permeate the enamel or the substance just beneath it, known as dentin. An effective teeth whitening gel can remove stains in both of these layers.
Teeth whitening products work on two basic types of stains: extrinsic and intrinsic. Extrinsic stains are those found on the surface of the enamel. As we’ve said, toothpaste is quite effective at lightening or removing extrinsic stains, but it cannot reach and remove stains that are beneath the enamel. These stains are known as intrinsic stains. They are inside the tooth and show through the enamel.
Teeth whitening gels work well for individuals with healthy gums and unrestored teeth (no fillings or crowns). However, teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure with a measure of risk, and it’s not recommended for everyone. See our list of tips to find out more about who shouldn’t use a teeth whitening gel.
Teeth whitening gels contain an active whitening ingredient: hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide penetrates tooth enamel and dentin to get to the discoloration. It interacts with stain molecules, disrupting the chemical bond and ultimately leading to whiter, brighter teeth. Contrary to popular belief, it is dentin, not enamel, that teeth whitening gels target. Enamel is translucent; dentin makes up the bulk of your overall tooth color or shade, which dentists describe as A1, A2, or A3, depending on the degree of discoloration.
At home: Over-the-counter (OTC) teeth whitening products contain from 3% to 20% hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (also known as urea). People with sensitive teeth may find carbamide peroxide to be a gentler alternative to hydrogen peroxide.
At the dentist’s office: In-office tooth whitening systems contain from 15% to 43% peroxide. In one session, the teeth may be lightened from five to ten shades. Whitening that is performed at your dentist’s office can help you achieve brighter, whiter teeth faster. That’s because the in-office solution is much stronger than products designed for home use. Also, ultraviolet light, heat, or a combination of the two may be used to intensify and speed up the whitening process.
Once you stop using a whitening gel, your teeth will begin to show discoloration again — usually within a month. The degree to which wine, coffee, tea, soda, and other foods can stain your teeth depends on the porosity of your enamel. People who avoid beverages and foods that stain and also brush their teeth after every meal can likely go six months to a year between gel treatments.
Usually, the longer you use a strong peroxide solution on your teeth, the whiter they become. However, don’t get carried away: the greater the concentration of peroxide, the less time you should leave it on your teeth. Keeping the whitening gel on longer than recommended dehydrates teeth and leads to increased sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity may last for several days if hydrogen peroxide penetrates past the dentin into the pulp of the tooth. Normally, the sensitivity goes away in just a few days. However, a small percentage of consumers report irreversible damage.
Format: Over-the-counter teeth whitening gels come in several forms. You might choose a handy pocket pen containing gel and a brush for ease of application. You might choose a set of trays which you fill with gel and place in your mouth. You might choose strips that are saturated with gel; the strips adhere to the teeth and stay there for a number of minutes while the peroxide works its magic. You can also purchase syringes filled with gel; often, these are refill products intended to be used with a particular whitening system, such as a tray system. Before you purchase a product, be sure to read the specifications so you know what to expect.
Expiration date: High-quality teeth whitening gels have an expiration date printed on the packaging. The gel you use should be fresh so the product has not had time to break down. Gel should be sold in moisture-proof, air-tight packaging that does not allow light to penetrate. Don’t use a whitening gel from a package that has expired, a package that appears to have been opened, or a package that looks otherwise damaged.
Satisfaction guarantee: Look for a teeth whitening gel with a satisfaction, money-back guarantee. Try several brands until you find the one that works best for your unique dental challenges.
Teeth whitening gel kits in the lower price range tend to have a lower percentage of peroxide. Whitening gels in this price range sell for $13 to $20 for a kit that contains 10 applications. You’ll save money on a kit like this, but bear in mind that the concentration of active ingredients may be low, so your results may be less dramatic.
Brand name tooth whitening gel kits in the medium-price range cost from $20 to $50 for a five-application kit. This is a definite price jump, but you are more likely to be satisfied with the results.
Individuals seeking the highest-quality over-the-counter teeth whitening products should expect to pay from $50 to $130 for a five-application kit. This may seem like a splurge but remember that in-office treatments can cost upwards of $1,850 for a full-mouth treatment.
A. Teeth whitening is effectively accomplished with either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. There is little difference between the results rendered by the two. Hydrogen peroxide on its own is an excellent whitening agent. Carbamide peroxide, also effective, contains hydrogen peroxide in a ratio of 1:3. In other words, a product with 30% carbamide peroxide contains about 10% hydrogen peroxide.
A. Clinical grades of teeth whitening gel contain 22% carbamide peroxide. This is a medium-strength formula, ideal for individuals with tooth sensitivity seeking a gel that is neither too strong nor too weak. You may wish to start here and cut back if you still experience sensitivity.
