Your diet, lifestyle and age can cause you to have yellow teeth despite your efforts in maintaining good dental cleaning habits.
Thankfully, there are also many options for teeth whitening today so you can get that Hollywood movie star smile.
Perhaps too many, because it’s easy to get confused about choosing the most effective option.
There are a few essential chemicals used in teeth whitening that you need to look out for.
Key Ingredient #1: Carbamide Peroxide
The name might trigger nightmares of secondary school chemistry exams.
But really, only your teeth stains should be having nightmares – because carbamide peroxide is proven to be effective in whitening teeth.
It can break down into hydrogen peroxide, which has a whitening effect because it bleaches the dentin within your teeth.
This is a much more effective way of teeth whitening compared to using abrasive substances to remove stains on the surface on your teeth (such as those used in “natural” teeth whitening remedies).
Why not just use hydrogen peroxide directly?
Only small concentrations of hydrogen peroxide between 0.1% to 6% are safe for use in home products, and they cause tooth sensitivity.
If ice cream is your weakness or you relish an icy cold drink in the middle of a hot sunny afternoon, sensitive teeth can quickly turn a pleasurable experience into painful agony from hell.
Carbamide peroxide contains hydrogen peroxide in the ratio of 1:3, so it is safe at concentrations of 0.3% – 18%.
Takeaway
Carbamide peroxide at lower concentrations are gentler on your teeth.
The Tortoise and The Hare: Carbamide peroxide vs hydrogen peroxide
In a race, hydrogen peroxide is the hare while carbamide peroxide is the turtle.
Hydrogen peroxide breaks down at a higher speed than carbamide peroxide so most of its whitening power is released within half an hour to an hour, like an all-out short sprint.
Carbamide peroxide acts more slowly, releasing half of its whitening effect in two hours and the remaining over another six hours.
It takes it slow but steady to the finish line.
Key Ingredient #2: Sodium Fluoride
Fluoride is a natural mineral that builds strong teeth and prevents cavities.
However, this mineral can be lost over time when
- you eat sugary and acidic foods,
- or when bacteria accumulates in your mouth,
- and yes, after bleaching your teeth.
This is where sodium fluoride can help.
It remineralizes and thus supports the development of healthy tooth enamel after you whiten your teeth. Tooth enamel by the way is the outer protective layer of each tooth. The more you take care of it after any teeth-whitening procedure, the stronger and more radiant your smile will be.
So take heed.
Next time you’re browsing teeth-whitening kits and find yourself lost in a sea of “active ingredients” with unpronounceable names…
You know what to look out for:
Carbamide Peroxide and Sodium Fluoride.
Your teeth will thank you for it.
Want Whiter Teeth in Just 10 days?
ZenyumBright™ is a teeth whitening kit containing the key ingredients of carbamide peroxide and sodium fluoride.
There’s no question about it. It works.
