If you are interested in having your teeth professionally whitened, it is important to understand that one of two different types of peroxide will be used in the process. The first type is hydrogen peroxide and the second type is Carbamide peroxide. The bleaching gel that is administered during professional services is dependent upon the peroxide contained in the mix for the actual whitening that occurs. Most dentist office teeth whitening procedures depend upon hydrogen peroxide. This is due to the fact that this type of peroxide has higher levels of concentration than that of Carbamide peroxide. For example, if there is 3.5% of this type of peroxide, it is just as effective as a whole 10% of the Carbamide peroxide.

Hydrogen peroxide in professional teeth whitening procedures is typically used as a means of achieving the task of removing stains from the teeth in a fast manner. You will often discover this type of peroxide used in laser teeth whitening procedures. It is contained in the teeth whitening gel that is placed on the teeth. The gum tissue is typically protected from the bleaching gel through the means of a small rubber piece or a special gel that works to neutralize the high levels of hydrogen peroxide. Seeing that professional teeth whitening is expensive and is not normally covered under the cosmetic procedure section of dental insurance policies, most prefer to have procedures done that are quick acting due to the hydrogen peroxide.

Carbamide peroxide whitens teeth at a slower rate. Many dentists will customize bleaching trays to a patient and request that they wear the tray overnight. The teeth whitening gel contained in the bleaching tray will have Carbamide peroxide contained in it. This type of professional teeth whitening system is appropriate for individuals that have mild to moderate stains on their teeth, and those that are prone to sensitivity in the teeth. If you are unsure as to which professional procedure you should have done, it may be best to consider at home teeth whitening kits. These kits often contain one or both of the peroxide types, but they are much milder and do not result in complications such as sensitivity in the teeth and damage to the soft gum tissue.

If you are interested in having your teeth professionally whitened, it is imperative that you learn to recognize the symptoms associated with an adverse reaction to the hydrogen peroxide contained within the teeth whitening gel. While most individuals experience no reaction to this substance, there have been cases noted in which an allergic reaction was experienced when the individual was subjected to high concentration levels of the substance. Professional teeth whitening procedures often use bleaching gels that have high levels of hydrogen peroxide in order to achieve dramatic whitening results quickly.

Hydrogen peroxide is a substance that has been found to be potentially toxic if it is ingested. While most teeth whitening procedures use it mixed with a gel, there is a possibility that a small amount may be swallowed during the procedure. Typically, small concentrations may not result in any side effects, but case studies on animals and emergencies involving this product and human indicate that there have been complications associated with swallowing larger concentrations of the substance. Erosions in the stomach area, burns to the tissue in the throat, distention related to abdominal gas, vomiting, ulcerations, and diarrhea may occur.

Individuals who experience an immediate allergic reaction to the high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide contained in professional teeth whitening gel may result in an outbreak of hives, breathing complications, and swelling in and around the mouth, face, and throat area. If you are interested in having your teeth whitened, it is often best to select an at home teeth whitening kit. While these do contain peroxide, it is normally a very low percentage and has not been associated with serious health complications. Additionally, hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening systems may be substituted with at home systems that incorporate the use of Carbamide peroxide. While effective in removing stains from the teeth, this mild form of peroxide does not possess the same properties that may cause complications.