Teeth Whitening Gels or Toothpaste?

In the past, people used to go to the dentist to get their teeth whitened. Thanks to scientific advances, you can whiten your teeth at home and save some money because there are plenty of options to choose from, like teeth whitening gels and toothpaste.

If you are thinking about whitening your teeth and are not sure which product is more effective, continue reading to find out which product will work best for you.

What is the difference between teeth whitening gels and toothpaste?

Teeth whitening gels are clear gels applied directly to the surface of your teeth with a small brush to lighten the teeth. The gels are designed to help whiten your teeth but do not have an effect on your oral health, so you still have to use toothpaste to brush your teeth.

Whitening toothpastes work just like regular toothpaste but have chemicals that help lighten your teeth. Both products have been proven to work effectively, but they also serve different purposes.

Whitening toothpaste

All toothpastes contain mild abrasives that help remove surface stains from your teeth, but whitening toothpastes have chemical agents that effectively remove additional stains. However, whitening toothpastes can only help remove surface stains and can’t whiten your teeth as well as whitening gels because they do not contain bleach, which is an ingredient other teeth whitening products have.

So, even though whitening toothpastes do work, they can only lighten the color of your tooth by one shade. In contrast, getting your teeth whitened at the dentist’s office can lighten your teeth by three to eight shades.

Teeth whitening gels

Teeth whitening gels usually contain peroxide, which aids in the whitening of your teeth. They are usually applied on the surface of teeth and left there for a few minutes before they have to be rinsed off. The amount of time the gel has to be left on your teeth is determined by the strength of the peroxide.

Because whitening gels come with peroxide, they work much quicker than whitening toothpaste, and you should notice the difference in a matter of days.

Even though teeth whitening gels are safe because the peroxide in them isn’t as strong as the peroxide used by a dentist, it is recommended that you speak with your dentist before you start using them because they can irritate your gums and increase the sensitivity of your teeth if you have an oral condition.

If you have receding gums and use whitening gels, they could expose your root tissues, which will create more problems.

Should I use teeth whitening gels or toothpaste?

Since they are your teeth, the decision is ultimately up to you. If you just want to lighten your teeth a little bit, using a whitening toothpaste should be enough for the job. If you have stains or yellowed teeth, whitening gels will be more effective in lightening your teeth.

However, if you want to lighten your teeth by at least three shades, you should go to the dentist to get it done because the peroxide in whitening gels isn’t strong enough. After whitening your teeth at the dentist’s, you can maintain it by using whitening toothpaste to brush your teeth.

Conclusion

If you are interested in whitening your teeth and don’t know if you should use teeth whitening gels or toothpaste, the information provided should help make the decision easier. If you decide to go with teeth whitening gels, talk to your dentist to make sure it is safe to use on your teeth.

Request an appointment here: https://www.dentistrywalnutcreek.com or call Advanced Dentistry Of Walnut Creek at (925) 937-2273 for an appointment in our Walnut Creek office.