Gel Tooth Whitening – Know the Facts First

Gel tooth whitening is a popular and effective way to get brighter and whiter teeth through the application of peroxide bleach gel. This gel works to restore natural whiteness to teeth that have become discolored due to stains from foods and thinning of enamel. Coffee and nicotine are two stains commonly found on teeth that make them look dull or yellowish. Whitening gel can be an effective way to erase those stains and let your natural white teeth shine through.

There are three choices available when you want to use gel tooth whitening. You can get in-office treatment, buy a kit from your dentist, or buy a kit at the drugstore. Visiting your dentist can be the best option if you can afford it. A dentist is able to use the highest concentration of peroxide so you get several shades of whitening on just one visit. This is also the safest method. Your dentist has been trained in how to care for your teeth so he can minimize problems with tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Before beginning the gel tooth whitening procedure, your dentist will examine and clean your teeth to make sure they are healthy. Next, he will apply a rubber dam to your gums to protect them from the peroxide gel. He will then apply the thick peroxide whitening gel and leave it in place for 15 to 20 minutes. When the time is up, the gel is washed off and then reapplied until it has been in contact with your teeth for at least an hour.

The length of treatment will depend upon how well your teeth respond to the gel. All of your teeth may not need the reapplication, but stubborn stains may require the full 60 minutes of peroxide exposure. It is possible that you won’t get the desired results in one hour and in that case, your dentist may ask you to return at a later time for follow up treatments, or it may be determined that is the maximum whitening level for your teeth.

In-office gel tooth whitening is safe and effective but does have some drawbacks. For one thing it is costly. You can expect to pay up to $650 for one session. Plus there is no guarantee you will get the results you want. You may need additional sessions. It could even be possible that your teeth will not get any whiter due to heredity, stain type, or age. Also, gel whitening is not permanent, so you will probably need to have on-going treatments of some type to keep your teeth white.

You could opt to whiten your teeth at home. You can do this if you buy the gel tooth whitening kit from your dentist. This will save some money since you can buy the kit for under $400. This does not have as high a concentration of peroxide as an in-office treatment but it is higher than store bought gel treatments. You should be able to get results similar to the results you would get from an in-office treatment.

The gel tooth whitening kit you buy from your dentist can be customized for you for optimal results. He can make up a specific concentration of peroxide and preload the gel into the trays for you to use at home. The trays will be custom fitted to your mouth to allow maximum contact. Another benefit is that you will receive detailed instructions of the proper use of the kit as well as any safety precautions you need to take.

You can also choose to buy get gel tooth whitening kits from the drugstore. These over-the-counter kits have the least amount of peroxide. Another drawback is they come with one size tray so you do not get a customized fit. Still, they are much more affordable being priced under $100, and they do a good job of whitening your teeth a few shades. Just don’t expect the results to be as good as or as rapid as the results you get when you visit your dentist for a teeth whitening treatment.

If you want to save money, but still get great results, then home whitening could be the option for you. This method of gel tooth whitening can be highly effective, as long as you know where to find the best quality kits!