Re: CUSTOM TRAYS

[Anonymous]

FOR WHITENING TEETH THE GELS USED MAY HAVE SOME DANGEROUS INGREDIENTS

Many at home dental bleaching products come with a teeth whitening gel that slowly oxidizes and removes stains over a period of about two weeks. These over the counter teeth whitening products are the kits which include those funny-looking trays. The purpose of the tray is to fit tightly over your teeth so that the dental bleaching gel stays where it is supposed to be rather than leaking out onto your gums and other soft tissues in the oral cavity. Because the active ingredients in these dental teeth bleaching gels are designed to remove hardened stains, they tend to cause irritation and serious discomfort when they do not stay where they are supposed to.

Now, there are other home teeth whitening products to choose from so that you need not bother with the gel, including:

* * Teeth whitening toothpaste
* * Dental bleaching strips
* * Dental teeth whitening gum

While you will not have to worry about any of the gels that accompany the teeth whitening kits, none of the products listed above are very effective when it comes to the removal of even moderate stains and discoloration. Therefore, unless you have very, very mild stains on your teeth and thus need little help in attaining a whiter smile, the teeth whitening trays and their gels need to be considered the best option.

In many of the teeth whitening systems, the ingredients in the dental bleaching gel are the source of the problem. In truth, you want to look for products with the active ingredient carbamide peroxide. This gentle teeth whitening agent has a better pH balance than many of the other ingredients used for dental bleaching, such as:

* Hydrogen peroxide
* Sodium percarbonate
* Sodium perbromate

However, it is not just the bleaching agent itself that you need to concern yourself with when trying to minimize chances of soft tissue irritation. Humectants are ingredients found in teeth bleaching kits and they are there to prevent the product from drying out. Propylene glycol is one such ingredient used for this purpose and it is also a very common thing to find in antifreeze. If this gets on your gums, cheeks, or tongue, then irritation is likely.

Fluoride is also found in many teeth whitening systems and is supposed to be great for the health of your teeth but it can actually worsen discoloration and lead to a series of serious medical problems when used in excessive quantities. Some of the known side effects associated with excess levels of fluoride (as is possible when using teeth bleaching products with fluoride on top of receiving it in your water supply or other oral hygiene products), include:

* Joint problems which can limit mobility
* Teeth degeneration
* Ligament calcification

Therefore, just be sure to avoid any kits with a teeth whitening gel containing either propylene glycol or fluoride and you should be fine.