WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HYDROGEN PEROXIDE AND CARBAMIDE PEROXIDE IN THE CONTEXT OF TOOTH WHITENING?
17 APR 2023
"If you’re considering teeth whitening, chances are you’ve seen mentions of both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide . All sounds very scientific."
Whitening
If you’re considering teeth whitening, chances are you’ve seen mentions of both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide around the web.
All sounds very scientific, doesn’t it?
But when it comes down to it, all you need to know is that they both whiten your teeth, just in different ways.
Hydrogen peroxide is more commonly used for day whitening, while carbamide peroxide is used for night whitening. And you can choose which you would prefer when ordering your teeth whitening kits.
So why are there two different options? We caught up with Pro Smile® founder Dr. Julian Perry to find out.
He explained: “Both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are commonly used in tooth whitening products, but there are some differences between them.
“The main difference between hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide in tooth whitening is the concentration and the way they are used.
“Hydrogen peroxide is typically used in higher concentrations and for shorter periods of time, while carbamide peroxide is usually used in lower concentrations and for longer periods of time.
“This is because carbamide peroxide breaks down more slowly, so it needs more time to work effectively. Both compounds can be effective in whitening teeth, but it is important to follow the instructions carefully.
“It’s also worth noting that over-the-counter products that do not require the supervision of a dental professional may only contain 0.1% hydrogen peroxide by law. These products are ineffective in whitening the teeth as the concentration of peroxide is simply too low.”
All sounds very scientific, doesn’t it?
But when it comes down to it, all you need to know is that they both whiten your teeth, just in different ways.
Hydrogen peroxide is more commonly used for day whitening, while carbamide peroxide is used for night whitening. And you can choose which you would prefer when ordering your teeth whitening kits.
So why are there two different options? We caught up with Pro Smile® founder Dr. Julian Perry to find out.
He explained: “Both hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide are commonly used in tooth whitening products, but there are some differences between them.
“The main difference between hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide in tooth whitening is the concentration and the way they are used.
“Hydrogen peroxide is typically used in higher concentrations and for shorter periods of time, while carbamide peroxide is usually used in lower concentrations and for longer periods of time.
“This is because carbamide peroxide breaks down more slowly, so it needs more time to work effectively. Both compounds can be effective in whitening teeth, but it is important to follow the instructions carefully.
“It’s also worth noting that over-the-counter products that do not require the supervision of a dental professional may only contain 0.1% hydrogen peroxide by law. These products are ineffective in whitening the teeth as the concentration of peroxide is simply too low.”
Which should I choose - and why?
Pro Smile®’s Whitening by Day uses a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. As Dr Perry explains, hydrogen peroxide will break down immediately once you place the whitening trays in your mouth.
So if you would prefer to wear your whitening gels for shorter periods of time, we suggest opting for the day option.
Our day gels are perfect for on-the-go wearing, with positive effects of the peroxide appearing after just 20 minutes
We recommend two sessions of one hour of wear per day, with a gap between applications of at least two hours to obtain the best result.
Here’s what’s included in our Pro Smile® Day Whitening Kit:
Does Day Whitening sound right for you? Click here to find out more and order today.
Whitening by Night involves wearing a tray and gel overnight. If you’re happy to wear a guard while you sleep (they’re just like a traditional retainer if you’ve ever tried one of those) then Pro Smile’s Night Whitening Kit is the ideal choice for you.
It contains 16% carbamide peroxide gel, which is equivalent to 5.7% hydrogen peroxide, and we would recommend wearing your gels for six hours or more each night for best results.
Here’s what’s included in our Pro Smile® Night Whitening Kit:
Does Night Whitening sound right for you? Click here to find out more and order today.
So if you would prefer to wear your whitening gels for shorter periods of time, we suggest opting for the day option.
Our day gels are perfect for on-the-go wearing, with positive effects of the peroxide appearing after just 20 minutes
We recommend two sessions of one hour of wear per day, with a gap between applications of at least two hours to obtain the best result.
Here’s what’s included in our Pro Smile® Day Whitening Kit:
- HOME IMPRESSION KIT
- BioMin ® 'F' SMART TOOTHPASTE (RRP £9.99)
- DENTIST SUPERVISION CALL
- 6 x 3ML WHITENING GELS
- 2 x DESENSITISING GELS
- ProFit CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS
- CUSTOM TRAY CASE
Does Day Whitening sound right for you? Click here to find out more and order today.
Whitening by Night involves wearing a tray and gel overnight. If you’re happy to wear a guard while you sleep (they’re just like a traditional retainer if you’ve ever tried one of those) then Pro Smile’s Night Whitening Kit is the ideal choice for you.
It contains 16% carbamide peroxide gel, which is equivalent to 5.7% hydrogen peroxide, and we would recommend wearing your gels for six hours or more each night for best results.
Here’s what’s included in our Pro Smile® Night Whitening Kit:
- HOME IMPRESSION KIT
- BioMin ® 'F' SMART TOOTHPASTE
- DENTIST SUPERVISION CALL
- 6 x 3ML WHITENING GELS
- 2 x DESENSITISING GELS
- ProFit CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS
- CUSTOM TRAY CASE
Does Night Whitening sound right for you? Click here to find out more and order today.
Are peroxides safe to use on your teeth?
The hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide used in Pro Smile® Whitening will definitely NOT harm your teeth.
Enamel is not significantly affected using peroxide-based products such as those used in teeth whitening. A 2001 study by Leonard, et al, found there was no significant effect on the surface of enamel immediately after teeth whitening and it did not worsen over time.
Dr Perry says both are extremely safe to use and are commonly used without issue by thousands of people all over the world every day.
Detailing what actually happens to the gels when applied to your teeth, he continues: “Hydrogen peroxide is a liquid chemical compound with the chemical formula H2O2. It is a powerful oxidising agent and is commonly used as a bleaching agent in tooth whitening products. When it comes into contact with the teeth, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen gas, and the oxygen molecules penetrate the enamel and dentin of the teeth, breaking down the chemical bonds that cause tooth discoloration.
“Carbamide peroxide is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide. It is a solid compound that breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea when it comes into contact with water.
“Carbamide peroxide is commonly used in tooth whitening products because it is more stable than hydrogen peroxide and has a longer shelf life. It also breaks down more slowly, which means that it can be used for longer periods of time without causing irritation to the gums or teeth.”
Enamel is not significantly affected using peroxide-based products such as those used in teeth whitening. A 2001 study by Leonard, et al, found there was no significant effect on the surface of enamel immediately after teeth whitening and it did not worsen over time.
Dr Perry says both are extremely safe to use and are commonly used without issue by thousands of people all over the world every day.
Detailing what actually happens to the gels when applied to your teeth, he continues: “Hydrogen peroxide is a liquid chemical compound with the chemical formula H2O2. It is a powerful oxidising agent and is commonly used as a bleaching agent in tooth whitening products. When it comes into contact with the teeth, hydrogen peroxide breaks down into water and oxygen gas, and the oxygen molecules penetrate the enamel and dentin of the teeth, breaking down the chemical bonds that cause tooth discoloration.
“Carbamide peroxide is a combination of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide. It is a solid compound that breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea when it comes into contact with water.
“Carbamide peroxide is commonly used in tooth whitening products because it is more stable than hydrogen peroxide and has a longer shelf life. It also breaks down more slowly, which means that it can be used for longer periods of time without causing irritation to the gums or teeth.”
Why should I use Pro Smile®?
Whichever Pro Smile® Whitening Kit you choose, you will pay less, start whitening quicker and get more for your money compared to your local dentist.
The Pro Smile® Advanced Kit contains six whitening syringes and our standard kit contains four, whereas a high street dentist’s pack will typically contain just two or three maximum.
This increase in gels is equivalent to up to a month’s extra treatment for your money with our standard kit, and up to five weeks more for our Advanced Kit when compared to industry standards which are usually one to two weeks.
Plus, because Pro Smile® is the UK’s first prescription-grade home teeth whitening kit, you don’t need to book appointments to see a dentist during your busy week.
Professional whitening can only be prescribed by a dentist. That’s why Pro Smile® is staffed by registered UK dentists, ready and waiting to guide you every step of the way through your treatment journey.
Our expert clinicians can prescribe exactly the same standard of whitening gel as your local dentist but charge less and let you complete your course at home.
So once you’re ready to go, we’ll get your professional whitening gels delivered to your door so you can get whitening in as little as three days, while your high street dentist can take up to two weeks!
Click here to begin your journey to a whiter smile with Pro Smile®.
The Pro Smile® Advanced Kit contains six whitening syringes and our standard kit contains four, whereas a high street dentist’s pack will typically contain just two or three maximum.
This increase in gels is equivalent to up to a month’s extra treatment for your money with our standard kit, and up to five weeks more for our Advanced Kit when compared to industry standards which are usually one to two weeks.
Plus, because Pro Smile® is the UK’s first prescription-grade home teeth whitening kit, you don’t need to book appointments to see a dentist during your busy week.
Professional whitening can only be prescribed by a dentist. That’s why Pro Smile® is staffed by registered UK dentists, ready and waiting to guide you every step of the way through your treatment journey.
Our expert clinicians can prescribe exactly the same standard of whitening gel as your local dentist but charge less and let you complete your course at home.
So once you’re ready to go, we’ll get your professional whitening gels delivered to your door so you can get whitening in as little as three days, while your high street dentist can take up to two weeks!
Click here to begin your journey to a whiter smile with Pro Smile®.
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