Question:
I have purchased a teeth bleaching kit with 22% carbamide peroxide
gel, to get rid of the tobacco and caffeine stains on my teeth.
I have used it 4 times in the last 2 weeks and have got amazing
results.
My question is how long do the results last and how often is it safe
to use the kit ie: every day/once a week/once a month etc.
I ask as a friend with no dental knowledge insists that he read that
if used to often it can destroy the enamel coating on the teeth and
cause long term irrepairable damage!!
Answer:
Most tobacco and coffee/tea stains are on the surface of the tooth and
can be polished off. Bleaches are not designed for this.
22% carbamyl peroxide is a very strong solution, and in my opinion
should not be used unsupervised--certainly not in a tray which is not
custom made. By this I mean that trays formed by putting in hot water
and shaping in the mouth are not acceptable. You run a risk of burning
your gums. The teeth may become sensitive, but you'll know about this,
and if they do you can just discontinue treatment. But this is caustic
stuff, and I don't think you should use it without a dentist's help.
It is not known how safe it is to ingest large quantities of the gel
especially if you get carried away and use it everyday.
also carbamide peroxide as it whitens your teeth breaks down to Urea.
I do not know what effect that will have long term for prolong use.
You also run the risk of overbleaching to a point that it will look
unnatural.
You should do the bleaching now as a maintainence maybe once every 2
months for 1h while awake.
My guess is the product you are using is either nightwhite or daywhite
from discus dental.
