Many of the teeth whitener products in the market contain carbamide peroxide, which is a compound of urea and hydrogen peroxide, instead of hydrogen peroxide itself. This is because earlier solid carbamide peroxide was used instead of liquid hydrogen peroxide. Hence carbamide peroxide remains popular even today, despite being more expensive as well as harder to formulate.
Most of the peroxide-containing teeth whitener products come in a gel that also contains glycerine as well as carbopol as thickeners besides, flavouring agents. Stannate as well as pyrophosphate salts are also added in order to scavenge metals as well as prevent peroxide decomposition.
The teeth whitener gels that contain 10 or 20% carbamide peroxide can be brushed directly onto the teeth, or delivered in a mouth-guard-like tray, or they can even be embedded in an adhesive plastic strip that can be stuck on the teeth. You need to use these for several weeks in order to see whitening of your teeth with these at-home products.
In the case of professional procedures for teeth whitening, dentists are using up to 35% hydrogen peroxide. Since whitening gels can cause tooth sensitivity as well as gum irritation, extra precautions are taken in order to apply the gel only to the teeth. Lasers as well as other light sources are used at times, in combination with the gel. This is because these light sources simply accelerate the rate of peroxide decomposition, which speeds up the bleaching process.
In case none of these teeth whitener options work for you, you may try tooth veneers. These are thin veneers which are made of porcelain and are bonded to the existing teeth. Porcelain veneers do not last as long as the real teeth. But unlike the real teeth, these pearly whites don’t stain. Thus they are maintenance-free. Though teeth whitening is primarily cosmetic, most individuals who have white teeth also have healthy teeth, thus the two go hand in hand.