by: Abigail Franks
Many of us wish that we had a whiter brighter smile. Many things dull and stain our teeth. Age has an affect on how white are teeth are along with things like coffee and Tea. With the popularity of the many different flavored coffees on the market there are many people needing to whiten their teeth. There are many teeth whitening products available today.
Home teeth whitening systems are a popular way to bring back that youthful bright white smile. Many people in show business use teeth whiteners to keep their smile looking it's best. It's no secret that bright white teeth and a healthy person are tied so closely together. You can now get that same healthy white smile like the celebrities at your convenience and at home.
There are two basic pieces to a home teeth whitening system. The first is a teeth bleaching tray which keeps the active ingredients in the whitener gel firmly against your tooth surfaces. If you think about it, your mouth is wet and anything that isn't held in place would quickly get diluted and washed away.
The second key part of any whitener system is the gel itself. This material comes in syringes and is a mixture of the whitening agent, typically carbamide peroxide and inert fillers. Be careful as many teeth whitening systems offer more whitening gel but the product is actually more filler and less active ingredient. The result is that some of these whitener systems actually have less material that makes your teeth white which means you need more to get the same amount of whitening power.
Teeth whitening systems all rely on a bleaching technique to whiten the stains and yellowing of your teeth. When using any system, it's important to follow the directions. Still if you think about it, the whitening speed is dependant on the time spent with the whitener gel against your teeth. To be effective, many systems claim they're effective for several hours, but most recommend limiting a single whitening treatment to between 20-60 minutes.
If you have sensitive teeth, a shorter time more often may limit the possibility of your teeth becoming overly sensitive. Keep in mind though that home teeth whitening is not a quick, once and done solution. It's more of an ongoing whitening process until you reach your desired level of white. Millions have used teeth whitening systems and kits without problems. The materials have been shown to be both effective and safe over years of use.
Still, if you have sensitivity in your teeth and gums, you may want to cut back on the length of time you are whitening your teeth. You may also want to check the level of active ingredient in your whitening gel. There are several very aggressive products on the market that use a much higher level of carbamide peroxide which tends to increase teeth sensitivity. Lastly, if you continue to have problems, stop using the product and get yourself to the dentist.