Home Tooth Bleaching: is it Safe?

The first thing to say is that teeth whitening procedures are not equally effective for everybody. It is always worth getting professional advice before starting any course of treatment. Your dentist can clarify for you which of the options will suit your needs. Some of them may be of no practical benefit in your particular situation.

The question that people face is, does the perceived added safety of a professional procedure by a dentist, justify the extra cost involved. Will the home teeth whitening product be safe and will it be as effective to use? Are there simple instructions and if you follow them, are there any possible ill effects? What are the arguments?

In order to provide a safe, over the counter products for home use, the whitening gel is of a lower concentration than you would get from a professional treatment. The what are the results, how fast and how long lasting? But there is also a conspiracy theory, that questions this.

Do underhanded manufacturers use stronger bleaching agent than they admit to, so that their product is effective? It is even implieded that abrasive substances are added that could harm the tooth enamel. I think that these theories can be discounted. As long as you stick to reputable products you should be fine. 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 similarly hit their bottom line and their reputation, to put forward claims that they cannot substantiate.

The usual method is to wear a tray over your teeth containing the gel, for half an hour to an hour. This is not too uncomfortable, but it is an inconvenient and you are not likely to do it for longer than you need to. There are some products intended for overnight use and some companies boast of how long their gel remains active, compared to inferior rivals.

You will more likely be wearing the tray when the tray when the gel has become ineffective, than that you will suffer any side effects from over use. I think we can safely say that these products are regarded as safe. Another question is, could you get the same benefits that you would 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. So how good are the results, how quick and how long do they last?After two visits with your dentist, your amazing new smile is in place. And with aftercare, the effect can last for 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 can be just as long lasting. So, are they a cost effective alternative?

At the start, I said that it is always worth getting a professional opinion, but a home teeth whitening is a viable option. And remember, apart from over the counter products, your dentist can provide you with a customised solution.