How Safe Are Teeth Whitening Gels?

The first thing to say is that teeth whitening procedures in general are not appropriate for everybody. It is always worth seeking professional advice before embarking on any course of treatment. Your dentist will be able to clarify which of the many options you are able to choose from. Some of them may be of no practical benefit in your particular situation.

The dilemma that people face is the perceived added safety of having a procedure carried out professionally by a dentist, against the possible major cost saving of a home treatment. Will the home teeth whitening product be as effective and will it be safe to use? Is it easy to follow the instructions and if you do, are there any possible side effects? What are the arguments?

In order to provide a safe product for home use, especially in over the counter products, the teeth gel supplied is of a lower concentration than you would get in a professional treatment. So one question that people ask is, with less of the active ingredients, can they produce worthwhile results? But there is also a kind of conspiracy theory, questions this.

Do unscrupulous manufacturers add more of the bleaching agent than they admit to, so that their product will work? It is even suggested that abrasive materials are added that can be potentially damaging to tooth enamel. I think that both of these theories can be discounted. As long as you stick to properly licensed products you should be safe. The penalties for such practices, from major fines and lawsuits, to withdrawal of the product license, would be too costly to contemplate.

Reputable companies carry out major clinical trials before releasing their products into the market. A little research on their websites will lead you to the results of these trials, and if you want to be ultra cautious, you can follow the links back to the original source documents. It would be similarly costly to their bottom line and their reputation, to make claims that they cannot back up with solid evidence.

Most of these treatments involve placing a tray over your teeth containing the gel, for periods of thirty minutes to an hour. While this may not be too uncomfortable, it is an inconvenience and you are not likely to exceed the recommended time to any great extent. There are some products intended for overnight use and some companies boast of how long their gel remains active, compared to inferior rivals.

It is more likely that you will still be wearing the device when it has become ineffective, than that you will suffer any ill effects on your teeth from over use. I think we can safely say that these products can be regarded as safe. The other question is, can they give you the same benefits that you would get from a couple of visits to the dentist.

Here again, it is very difficult for companies to make claims that they cannot substantiate. After all, if the product provided no benefit, there are millions of users who would be shouting it from the rooftops. The question is how good are the results, how fast and how long lasting? After two visits to your dentist, you can walk out with your new, sparkling smile. And with the proper aftercare, it can last for up to 15 years, but it could be as short as 5.

Some of the home teeth gel treatments claim a noticeable difference after only one hour and that with repeated treatments that you can reach the same levels on the dental comparison charts that you would get from professional whitening. And they could be just as long lasting. So, are they a viable alternative?

As I said at the beginning, it is always worth getting professional advice, but a home treatment is definitely worth thinking about. And remember, you are not limited to over the counter products, your dentist can supply you with a customised solution.