If you have made up your mind to whiten your teeth, don’t underestimate the power of the whitening gel. Of all the teeth whitening options available to you (whitening strips, toothpastes, etc) the whitening gel is by far the most versatile and will likely get you the results you want.

The whitening gel is the staple for most every sort of whitening procedure available to you. For example, if you purchase a home teeth whitening trays and kit, you will still have to apply a whitening gel to your teeth, either by brushing it onto each tooth individually or by placing it in a whitening tray. This gel is very thick and will remain in place, lessening the chance of the active ingredient it contains harming the gum line or creating mouth sores. The gel in whiten teeth at home kits is usually flavorful and easy to apply, but it does not contain the potency as a professional whitening gel.

If you order pre-filled whitening trays from your dentist for use at home, they will be filled with a slightly higher grade whitening gel than the one contained in the home whitening kit. Because it is prescribed by a doctor/dentist, this whitening gel is a bit more closely monitored and can therefore be stronger. The result is that you cannot leave the whitening tray in for as long, but you will still attain good results.

Even the dentist or teeth whitening professional uses whitening gel. If you decide to try a very nouveau treatment, such as laser teeth whitening or UV teeth whitening, you will still have a professional quality whitening gel placed on your teeth. With expensive professional procedures such as these, the active ingredients in the whitening gel are stimulated or excited by the laser or light, making them more effective and efficient.

If everyone is using whitening gel, just how does it work? The gel contains an active ingredient, such as hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. This substance is able to move through the porous enamel covering of your teeth and can break down the double carbon bond of many types of stains, such as those caused by coffee, tobacco, and red wines. The stains are lifted away and back through the porous enamel, leaving you with a brighter smile. This process is the basis for most teeth whitening procedures and is very effective in the whitening gel because of its aforementioned thickness.

If you are considering whitening your teeth, you will definitely come across many types of whitening gels in your research. One of them surely belongs to a teeth bleaching system that falls within your budget, comfort zone and desired level of whitening. If you have questions, ask your dentist or whitening professional regarding the variety of whitening gel available to you, and about your whitening options.