Tooth brightening kits may set you up for a dental disaster

[Editor-in-Chief]

White hot!

But those tooth brightening kits may set you up for a dental disaster



By COLETTE BOUCHEZ
Posted Thursday, July 19th 2007, 4:00 AM


For bright-white teeth, it's safest to go to a dentist.
Blindingly white teeth may be the Hollywood standard, but there's good reason to choose whitening products wisely.

A study of over-the-counter teeth-whitening substances, released last week in the U.K. by the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), found that many home kits contained levels of peroxide so high that in some instances they approached the amount found in hair dye. In one case it was over 230 times the limit allowed in England.

"Our tests found high levels of hydrogen peroxide, which can aggravate gum disease and cause sensitive teeth - or even chemical burns to the mouth," said Ron Gainsford, chief executive of TSI, in a statement.

Because U.S. dentists consider the British legal limit for peroxide - just 0.1% - exceedingly low ("It is not a reasonable standard for us in the United States," says Laura Kelly, president of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), they aren't surprised so many products flunked the test.

NO FIRM RULES
There are no safety regulations concerning how much peroxide a teeth-whitening product may contain. No one, including the FDA, monitors the levels in products sold over the counter, and particularly online.

"In a way it is a little bit of a Wild West - unless you have your whitening done by a dentist, or use an established product your dentist recommends, it can be hard to know exactly what you are getting," says Dr. Jeff Golub-Evans, director of the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry.

While most established brands of U.S. teeth whiteners, like Crest or Colgate, contain what is considered a safe level of 10% or less peroxide, many contain a lot more. Professional products that are readily available can have up to 35%.

"When dentists use these potent products, we take steps to ensure there is no damage to the mouth or gums, so it's not a good idea to use these products on your own," says Golub-Evans.

Experts say peroxide can migrate in the mouth, tongue and throat. And burns and sensitivity may not be your only problem. A number of studies have suggested that prolonged treatment with bleaching agents, even in concentrations as low as 10%, can degrade the mercury in tooth fillings, releasing toxic byproducts.

In a study conducted by the University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem, doctors found that "all groups exposed to bleach showed an increase in mercury release over time."
Kelly, though, advises that turning to a dentist for guidance will ensure good results.

"As currently performed in the United States under the supervision of dental professionals, tooth whitening is safe," she says.

Source

[John]

Twilight Teeth claim 25% whitening agent.

From their website:

Q: Just how strong is the new Twilight Teeth Platinum 25?

A: The strongest money can buy, (other than in office visits) the formula for Platinum 25 utilizes a 25% concentration of whitening agents. Your dentist will affirm that this formula is as strong and even stronger than they supply with at home kits. Plus, Twilight Teeth employs special polymers to dry and adhere to teeth during the tanning session and whiten throughout the day long after you have left the salon.

Hollywood whites is 21%

From thier website:

Hollywood Whites™ Teeth Whitening System utilizes only the highest quality, 21% carbamide peroxide gel. Unlike syringes, our pre-measured doses take the mess and guess-work out of your teeth whitening experience.