Advice on Teeth Whitening Discussion Thread

welshdent

re home bleaching gel ... it isnt hydrogen peroxide. It is carbamide peroxide ... which breaks down to even lower percentages on hydrogen peroxide ... 10% bleaching gel is NOT 10% hydrogen peroxide. It is used in very close fitting trays that adapt only to your teeth and help keep the gel away from your gums. Even then it can cause some quite unpleasant sensitivity

silvercar

George_Bray wrote: »

The generic product is hydrogen peroxide, and that happens to be used in hair colour products (most conveniently as a cream which doesn't drip) but it sounds more dramatic to suggest you're putting "hair bleach" on your teeth. And who said anyone is going to swallow enough of the peroxide to cause significant internal problems? I'm sure it would be exactly the same if you swallowed the chemicals which the dentist allows you to use at home, or if you swallow too often whilst under the dentist's direct care.

I don't generally put other hair products in my mouth, do you?

I wonder if Herbal Essences colour protect conditioner, would protect my white teeth colour?

welshdent

George_Bray wrote: »

I generally figure I'm on to a money saving winner when the main arguments against are like the above and/or from traders trying to protect their income stream.

That is a bit of a nonsense really. The amount of tooth whitening that most dentists I do is really quite small. Yes it is popular but if I never did toothwhitening ever again it would equate to a tiny tiny percentage of my earnings. Also - we as dentists are well aware of the damage that improper tooth whitening can cause. Surely we would want all this extra dentistry to do which WOULD boost incomes

I think you will find that all of us on here are simply trying to help and to prevent people endangering themselves carrying out procedures that they have no training or knowledge for. Personally I have not only a dental degree but also a chemistry one ... I have a vague idea how these chemicals interact ... and there is NO way I would magic myself up some home made bleaching compound and use it on myself

George_Bray

welshdent wrote: »

re home bleaching gel ... it isnt hydrogen peroxide. It is carbamide peroxide ... which breaks down to even lower percentages on hydrogen peroxide ... 10% bleaching gel is NOT 10% hydrogen peroxide. It is used in very close fitting trays that adapt only to your teeth and help keep the gel away from your gums. Even then it can cause some quite unpleasant sensitivity

I'd like to get some closer fitting gel trays too. It will help me keep the hydrogen peroxide cream from my gums or throat. I don't know why carbamide peroxide is used. Can you tell us, please? I know some of these compounds react to light, but why do all that? Can it be stronger acting in terms of whitening but less damaging to gums, than straight hydrogen peroxide?

This is the same as the product I've used:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ION-COLOUR-SOLUTIONS-9-30-VOL-PEROXIDE-CREME-DEVELOPER_W0QQitemZ380165168704QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Health_Beauty_Hair_Care_Hair_Colouring_Dyes_PP?hash=item58839c1e40

Toothsmith

The fact you've not done damage to the gums so far is a combination of luck (Especially if it's something like that you've been using) and the fact that it's not stayed in one place long enough to do damage.

If you manage to knock up some sort of Heath Robinson gel tray that holds it against the teeth and gums for any length of time, it might well be a different story.

If you really want whiter teeth - pay someone to do it. If you don't want to pay, the best moneysaving tip I can give is DON'T DO IT. There's no medical benefit to having whiter teeth, yet there are huge medical pitfalls to having badly damaged gums and teeth.

Even an unregistered beautician doing illegal whitening would be better than the road you're on!

But it would save you money in the long run if you went to a dentist.

welshdent

George_Bray wrote: »

I'd like to get some closer fitting gel trays too. It will help me keep the hydrogen peroxide cream from my gums or throat. I don't know why carbamide peroxide is used. Can you tell us, please? I know some of these compounds react to light, but why do all that? Can it be stronger acting in terms of whitening but less damaging to gums, than straight hydrogen peroxide?

This is the same as the product I've used:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ION-COLOUR-SOLUTIONS-9-30-VOL-PEROXIDE-CREME-DEVELOPER_W0QQitemZ380165168704QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Health_Beauty_Hair_Care_Hair_Colouring_Dyes_PP?hash=item58839c1e40

I will be honest, what you are dong, I consider to be highly dangerous ... and off ebay you have no idea WHAT you are getting. Carbamide peroxide is far safer and held in a nice stable environment until needed. Once in the mouth and in contact is dissocociates in to lower amounts of peroxide ... 10% ----> 3%

roddydogs

silvercar wrote: »

..and you know the byproducts of mixing hydrogen peroxide and salt??

..and the risks of hydrogen peroxide??

(from wiki: Internal ailments. Large oral doses of hydrogen peroxide at a 3% concentration may cause "irritation and blistering to the mouth, (which is known as Black hairy tongue) throat, and abdomen", as well as "abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea".)

Nothing happens when you mix it with salt, unless your daft enough to microwave it.
Who said anything about "Large Oral Doses?"
From the HP 3% Bottle

---

reads for use as a mild disinfectant, mouthwash or gargle. If used on its own use 1/3 with water.

welshdent

roddydogs wrote: »

Nothing happens when you mix it with salt, unless your daft enough to microwave it.
Who said anything about "Large Oral Doses?"
From the HP 3% Bottle

---

reads for use as a mild disinfectant, mouthwash or gargle. If used on its own use 1/3 with water.

Not directly related to you .... but to get whitening off a 3% bottle of "mouthwash" .... (tesco bleach is 5% and I wouldnt gargle with that). you would need to hold it in your mouth uninterupted and in contact with teeth for a few hours a tome for a few days. Anyone prepared to do that and is able to switch off saliva flow that long ... well the deserve white teeth for persistence! I usually recommend a MINMUM of 1 hour wearing home trays daily for a fortnight. Personally when I Do mine i leave it in for the evening. The advantage of the gel is it is a convenient form for use and only contacts the area it needs to contact.

joewa

hi
I was on 23% carbamide peroxide but this did not work and i now have 9% hydrogen peroxide from my dentist and i were it for 30 mins

joewa

Sorry meant wear not were