Safety and effectiveness of tooth whitening products

With an increasing proliferation of tooth whitening products in the market, it is quite significant factor to understand the safety and effectiveness of tooth whitening products, and also recognise a necessity for uniform definitions when discussing whiteners.

Tooth whitening that simply means to make teeth appear whiter, can only be achieved by two methods. Either you can bleach the tooth; it implies you change the natural colour of tooth. Bleaching is done through peroxide that eliminates both intrinsic and extrinsic stains from the tooth. The second method is using of non-bleaching whitening products that can remove the surface stains only through physical or chemical action.

You can buy teeth whitening kits in Australia or may be administered by dentists. Also, you can buy over-the-counter (OTC) teeth whitening products prescribed by your dentists. There are mainly two major groups of products:

• Peroxide-containing bleaching agents
• Whitening toothpastes (dentifrices)

Peroxide-based bleaching agents

Carbamide peroxide, is generally used in many bleaching products, contains hydrogen peroxide and urea. Hydrogen peroxide is the active bleaching agent, which is the main ingredient for teeth whitening. A bleaching agent doesn't have more than 10 percent of carbamide peroxide yields not more than 3.5 percent hydrogen peroxide.

These bleaching agents largely depend on the sensitivity of tooth, it can create certain sensitivity issue and teeth irritation. However, it is not a regular feature and affects a minimum percentage of people. Tooth sensitivity often happens during initial stages of bleaching treatment. Or rare occasions, irreversible tooth damage has been reported.

Dentist-dispensed and OTC tooth whitening products

Over-the-counter tooth whitening bleaches or teeth whitening kits in Austrailia are approved by oral health association of Australia, contain 10 percent of cabamide peroxide, however, involvement in the program is not controlled by products of this concentration or type of bleach.

Hydrogen peroxide is the main ingredient in the active bleaching agent. Other ingredients in carbamide peroxide are urea, glycerin, carbopol, sodium hydroxide and flavouring agents.

Professionally applied bleaching products

Dentists use various types of tooth bleaching products, which has more than 25 percent to 40 percent of hydrogen peroxide, used with a light or laser. Laser treatment is the latest technology, which activate the whitening process faster than normal whitening products.

Gum tissues are sensitive to teeth whitening products so gums are protected with a rubber dam or application of a gel. The OTC teeth whitening products are intended to use over a two-to-four week period, the professional dentists generally take an hour to complete the process.

Whitening toothpastes

Whitening toothpastes are also popular teeth whitening products that contain chemical agents that improve tooth appearance by removing surface stains. They don't have conventional bleaching agent like hydrogen peroxide, but stains are removed by chemical chelation.

Suggestions

It is always necessary to consult your dentist before you go for any bleaching treatment, especially for patients who have fillings, crowns and extremely dark stains. A thorough oral examination is necessary, if the treatment is under a dentist’s supervision. In-office teeth whitening treatment involves stronger bleaching agent, though it is safer than home system still it demands an expert hand. If you have sensitivity issues then first go for a thorough check and then your dentist will advise you whether you can take teeth whitening agents.