How Carbamide Peroxide Gel Is Used In Teeth Whitening
There is much conjecture and testing done on the efficacy and safety of using carbamide peroxide as a teeth whitening agent in take home trays and over the counter whitening treatments. Studies have been done, clinical trials and blind tests have been performed and the general consensus is that while there are some side effects with using carbamide peroxide gel, a 10% strength whitener is safe to use.
In this particular case the carbamide peroxide gel is part of a tray-based tooth whitening system where the gel is contained and measures have been taken to ensure minimal to no contact is made to the gums. These tray-based systems have come to be more accepted by the dental community as a method of tooth whitening that can be controlled to a certain degree.
To answer the question of what exactly carbamide peroxide is. It is a compound variation of hydrogen peroxide that is combined with urea and is also known as hydrogen peroxide urea. It is a gel that has been found will safely whiten teeth without causing significant tooth sensitivity or gum damage. The reason that carbamide peroxide is used rather than hydrogen peroxide is that it is a more stable substance.
By degrading more slowly, carbamide peroxide teeth whiteners can release it’s whitening potential over a longer period of time. This slower release and more gradual whitening effect results in a minimization of adverse side effects.
The carbamide peroxide gels that are used in take home whitening trays usually contain a ratio of around 10-16% of carbamide peroxide. Any gel that contains a higher strength than that runs the risk of causing extreme sensitivity and damage to the gums. A 10% concentration of carbamide peroxide is thought to be a safe level and a recent clinical trial has also shown that there is little difference between a 10% concentration and a 16% concentration.
Some of the tooth whitening products that use carbamide peroxide as the active ingredient plus the concentration used include: DenTek Complete White Touch Up Formula (10%), Nupro White Gold Tooth Whitening (10%), Maximum White Teeth Whitening Kit (22%), Opalescence 15% Teeth Whitening Gel (15%).
iWhite Light Activated Teeth Whitening Kit
A new concept in OTC take home teeth whitening products has been introduced in the form of iWhite Light Activated Teeth Whitening Kits. This system introduces light technology in a compact mouthpiece. The iWhite kit is made by Remedent which is a Belgium-based company.
The iWhite Light Activated Teeth Whitening Kit uses iWhite foam strips that are placed in the mouthpiece for each bleaching session. The bleaching agent is a gel that contains 6% Hydrogen Peroxide. The gel is activated by a light that is embedded in the iWhite tray that is powered by a 3-volt battery. The bluish light pulses the light into the whitening foam strips which catalyses the whitening reaction, speeding up the whitening process.
Treatment time is twenty minutes and it is recommended to follow a 5 day treatment. The whitening foam strips are discarded after each whitening session.
Each iWhite Light Activated Teeth Whitening Kit contains a 3-volt light activated tray and 10 disposable whitening foam strips.
There have been some reviews in about iWhite and those that have used it have expressed their satisfaction with the product finding that it has given good whitening results after only 1 or 2 treatments. There have only been a minority of people who have claimed that the product did not work at all, but there is always going to be a percentage who do not see a benefit.
Sensitivity does not seem to be an issue but because the product contains Hydrogen Peroxide gum inflammation can be an issue if the gel makes contact with the more sensitive parts of the mouth.
Overall these appear to be worthwhile teeth bleaching kits that are worth consideration. The price is around the $40 mark for a 5 day whitening treatment.
