Northbrook Dentist Helps You Decide Which Whitening Gel Is the Best

Your smile is the way your greet the world, and having a good-looking smile is important everywhere you go. As a result, many people come to Northbrook dentist, Steven Kacel, DDS, MAGD, FADI,  looking to have their teeth whitened. However, not all whitening gels are the same and depending on your needs, some may be better suited for you than others. Let’s take a look at the two main options available for people looking to have their teeth whitened.

Whitening gels have one of two active ingredients, either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. However, you dentist in Northbrook, IL will be quick to point out that the whitening agent in all gels is hydrogen peroxide. Gels whose active ingredient is carbamide peroxide whiten your teeth when the carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide. So what’s the difference?

If you ask someone at Dr. Kacel’s  Northbrook dental office, they will explain that hydrogen peroxide has a shorter  life than carbamide peroxide. In other words, carbamide peroxide slowly breaks down into hydrogen peroxide, making it more of a time-release gel.

Carbamide peroxide gels are for those looking to use their whitening gel overnight. Additionally, whitening at night is generally more effective because there is less saliva in your mouth to wash the whitening gel away or to dilute it. On the other hand, if you are looking to only have the whitening gel on during short times during the day, hydrogen peroxide gels are the better choice.

There is a third option that Dr. Kacel uses only for very dark teeth that need to be whiter. This technique is called KoR Whitening Deep Bleaching. Dr. Kacel is one of the few dentists in Illinois that is trained to use this process.

When purchasing a whitening gel, make sure to check the expiration date. Some gels, particularly the ones whose active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide, become less effective over time. If you must store any kind of whitening gel it is best to refrigerate it.

Before beginning any teeth whitening program be sure to consult your Northbrook dentist, Dr. Kacel. This way you will know if it is safe to apply the gel to your teeth and you can avoid pain from any sensitive teeth or cavities. If he does not feel it is a good idea for you to begin whitening your teeth, simply wait until your teeth have been fixed and then start.

For more information about teeth whitening or to get answers to any other questions about any other aspect of oral health, reach out to Dr. Steven Kacel and his friendly staff who will happily answer any questions you may have. Call (847) 457-0400 to make an appointment today.