Home Teeth Whitening Kits: The Limitations

By Judy Wellsworth

Smiles can speak volumes, and often much better than any words. But for those who are ashamed of the appearance of their teeth, there is not much to smile about. They feel, and appear, awkward in social situations, and their self-consciousness may make those around them uncomfortable as well. But there is an answer.

Teeth whitening products are more available and advanced than ever, and teeth whitening kits among those for which demand is highest. There are teeth whitening kits with treatments which can be self-administered in the privacy of the user's home, and there are teeth whitening kits which are used with professional supervision. Both of them work, and have long-lasting effectiveness.

People who are reluctant to visit a dentist can take advantage of home teeth whitening kits; but they should realize that such kits have limitations. Those who do not follow the directions in home teeth whitening kits, and take the recommended safety precautions, may experience some gum irritation because of their sensitivity to the peroxide in the teeth whitening gel.

Preventing Irritation

Irritation usually happens because some home teeth whitening kits come with pre-made mouthpieces which are not exactly fitted to the users' mouths. When the gel-fill mouthpiece is fitted over the teeth, some of the gel may escape and come into contact with the gums. Using home teeth whitening kits can be a messy affair, and requires a commitment to complete the usual three to four weeks of daily treatments.

There are solutions to the poorly-fitting mouthpiece issue, however, and the manufacturers of other home teeth whitening kits offer them. One of them is known as the "mouth tray," which is boiled prior to use. Once heated and softened, it molds to the shape of the user's teeth.

Other home teeth whitening kits are a bit less convenient; they include an impression which the user must bite and return to the manufacturer, who uses it to mold and send back an exactly fitting mouth tray. That may not work for someone who is anxious to get started on treatments.

Maximizing Effectiveness

Another limitation of home teeth whitening kits is that the level of the peroxide in the gel they contain is much lower than that which dentists use in office teeth whitening Becasuse of this, home teeth whitening treatments take weeks to complete, and their whitening effects do not last as long as those of treatments done by dentists.

While good home teeth whitening kits may produce results which last between one and two years, laser teeth whitening done by a dentist will last from two to five years. Both kinds of treatment, however, will last longer if the consumption of tooth-staining substances is reduced or stopped.