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%).
Unveiling Teeth Whitening Scams
The teeth whitening industry is obviously a booming one, particularly in the at-home, do-it-yourself sector of paint on teeth whiteners. There must be, given the number of scams that are being run by unscrupulous companies selling shonky products.
There are a number of products that can be bought only over the Internet claiming to guarantee results, sell for supposed low, low prices and come with all sorts of glowing testimonials. The problem is, when it all gets boiled down, the products don’t work.
In many cases the companies protect themselves over the fact that their tooth whitening products are worthless with the claim that multiple treatments are required to get the maximum effect. In other words, if you have a complaint, you are advised by the company to buy even more of their product. If you’re not careful you could find yourself stung not once but twice before it dawns on you that what you’ve bought doesn’t actually do anything. Not only that, the manufacturers of these whiteners have a fallback by using the assertion that the results will vary depending on the person trying the product. The whitening product didin’t work for you? You must be one of the unlucky minority for whom this product is less than successful.
The whole teeth whitening business has been a crapshoot over the past few years, but there has recently been a new website that has called on consumers to voice their reviews on products, calling out those they believe are selling worthless products. Basically, they’re calling “scam” on the teeth whitening companies. The site you need to go to is Teeth Whitening Reviews which covers the entire spectrum of teeth whitening products available.
Not only that, there is some very interesting reading, particularly on the subject of the proliferation of review sites on the Internet that have been found to have been created by the manufacturers of some of the undocumented teeth whitening products. The site names products that are believed to be scams as well as the fake review sites.
This is a web-site that anyone thinking of buying teeth whitening products on the Internet should visit first, just to arm yourself with some vital information.
Check with your dentist about the products you’re thinking of trying before you actually shell out your hard earned. If your dentist hasn’t heard of the product then it is very likely that it is a scam.
