| Peroxide, that bubbly stuff used by doctors and moms | | | | though much more expensive results sooner. Although |
| to clean scrapes for years is the base chemical for | | | | you may be tempted to get the highest strength |
| this teeth whitening agent. Surprise! | | | | available, the higher the potency, the higher the risk of |
| Carbamide peroxide and /or Hydrogen peroxide are | | | | problems. For best home teeth bleaching results, use |
| the two main key chemical ingredients used to whiten | | | | the lower or middle range of Carbamide Peroxide |
| teeth. These are found in almost all of the tooth | | | | strengths. |
| bleaching kits and teeth whitening products available | | | | Professional Teeth Whitening kits bleach teeth for |
| today. The main difference between many of these | | | | thousands of people every year without major |
| products is the strength of the Carbamide peroxide | | | | problems. This doesn't mean that using teeth bleaching |
| gel. A general rule is that the higher the strength, the | | | | products are completely free of any problems even if |
| faster the results...and the greater the risks of gum | | | | used incorrectly however. Tooth sensitivity, gum |
| damage. | | | | discoloration and a poor teeth whitening job can result |
| Most professional whitening /bleaching gels use only a | | | | if Carbamide peroxide gels aren't used as directed. |
| couple of different chemicals to whiten teeth: | | | | Peroxide and it's counterpart, Carbamide Peroxide, are |
| Carbamide peroxide, used for a few hours to | | | | bleaching chemicals. Specifically they're known as |
| overnight, or Hydrogen peroxide usually used for about | | | | oxidizing agents. Although you may be more aware of |
| 30 minutes a couple of times a day. | | | | basic chlorine bleach, hydrogen peroxide or peroxide |
| Carbamide peroxide is actually a lower strength | | | | bleaches are also actually another well used and |
| product that can limit the irritating effects of stronger | | | | trusted bleaching agent in many industries. Color safe |
| peroxide chemicals. | | | | bleaches and even the now popular "Oxy-Clean" type |
| Still, Carbamide peroxide gels come in a variety of | | | | bleaches are really oxygenating or an oxidizing bleach. |
| strengths. These range from a very safe 10% to the | | | | To be even more clear, they're selling bleach with an |
| more typical 16 and 20-22% strengths. There's also | | | | oxidizing agent, and most probably it's a compound |
| even stronger gels available that claim upwards of a | | | | that includes peroxide in some strength. |
| 30%+ strength level. These can and will discolor your | | | | Did you know that bleach doesn't really get out stains? |
| mouth soft tissue if the gel comes in contact with it for | | | | Depending on the bleaching chemical used, it actually |
| any length of time. | | | | adds oxygen (oxidizing) to a stain or removes or |
| These stronger peroxide gels should probably only be | | | | (reduces) oxygen to the stain. Chlorine bleach by the |
| considered if done by a dentist or dental professional. | | | | way is considered a reducing agent that removes |
| A dentist can make certain the material is only applied | | | | oxygen from stains. Depending on the type of stain, it |
| to teeth surfaces and can better protect the gums | | | | simply disappears when the right bleaching product is |
| and soft tissue in your mouth. Higher strength products | | | | applied. |
| also are the reason why a dentist can achieve faster, | | | | |