Frequently Asked Questions

QUESTION - What is the teeth whitening process?

ANSWER - Teeth Whitening is actually a bleaching process that lightens discolorations of tooth enamel. Dental bleaching systems use an effective whitening solution retained in a custom-fitted mouthpiece that is worn over your teeth for 1-4 hours per day, or even overnight. Many people notice an immediate whitening of their teeth just a few hours of bleaching, but it usually takes between 20 - 40 hours of cumulative bleaching time to complete the whitening process (This is true for all at-home dental bleaching systems, no matter who the manufacturer).  You can break your hours into just a few days (for people who are in a hurry) or a few months (for people who are not). Professional strength whitening gel formulated with 16% - 22% carbamide peroxide is the most widely used and most desirable active ingredient in effective dental bleaches.

QUESTION - How do Teeth Whitening Systems remove stains

ANSWER - Teeth Whitening Systems will remove most stains with a gentle action that whitens your teeth. As the active ingredient in the gel (carbamide peroxide), is broken down, oxygen acts upon the stained organic deposits, which oxidizes them into a white color. This process makes the overall tooth color closer to its natural unstained color. Your tooth structure remains unchanged. Years of clinical tests have demonstrated the safety and effectiveness of this system.  Over 95% of people treated achieve some level of tooth whitening. Crowns, bridges, bondings, and fillings do not lighten with dental bleaching systems.

QUESTION - What is the treatment procedure?

ANSWER - An impression of your teeth will be made by you at home with our easy-to-use instant moldable mouthpieces or with our ProLab impression kit.  You will then apply our whitening gel inside the mouthpiece and place the mouthpiece over your teeth.  You may wear the mouthpieces from 30 minutes to 4 hours per day.  Most people see quick results after only a few hours of bleaching time.

QUESTION - Is the whitening process permanent?

ANSWER - For most people, the treatment will last for many years. Your teeth have become stained in the first place from consuming the foods and beverages.  Upon the completion of your initial bleaching process, your teeth are restored to their natural white color. Exposure to foods, drinks (especially coffee, colas and red wines), smoking and other consumables will gradually darken teeth again over time. You may want to periodically bleach your teeth.  After an initial treatment, most people do touchups about once every 6-12 months.

QUESTION - How much whitening gel do I need to whiten my teeth?

ANSWER - Each application will take approximately .5 ml per mouthpiece.  That's 1 ml per dual-arch application.  If you wear your mouthpiece an average of one hour per application, you will need about 40 ml (or eight 5 ml syringes) to complete the whitening process of 10 - 30 cumulative hours. If you have less whitening gel, then you can increase the wear-time per application to make your whitening gel go a little further.

QUESTION - How important are moldable mouthpieces?

ANSWER - Very Important. Having a moldable mouthpiece (either the boil-n-bite or the ProLab mouthpiece) is essential to assure proper bleaching results.  Non-moldable mouthpieces may cause inconsistent bleaching or spotting on the teeth and they are uncomfortable to wear.  We offer both types, the do-it-yourself boil & bite mouthpieces and the professional dental lab-created mouthpieces.  Both types are effective and you may decide which type is best for you. See below for detailed differences between both types of mouthpieces.

QUESTION - What is the difference between the boil-n-bite moldable mouthpieces and the ProLab professional mouthpieces?

ANSWER - Although both mouthpieces are effective and safe, the precision lab-created mouthpieces are more precise and more comfortable to wear. These are the exact mouthpieces that a dentist would provide to you. They help you save bleaching gel and are better for people who may have sensitivities to bleaching gels on their gums. Also, professional mouthpieces are much easier for you to create since there is no hot water involved in the formation process. The downside of these precision mouthpieces is that they cost more since there are more materials needed to create them and professional laboratories are utilized to create the mouthpiece for you. The boil & bite mouthpieces do a great job with dental bleaching, they are a bit less comfortable to wear since they are made from a thicker polymer and they are more difficult to create since boiling water is utilized in the formation process. The upside of the boil & bite mouthpieces is that they are less expensive than the lab-created mouthpieces. Both mouthpieces are effective and you can decide which type is best for you.

QUESTION - I already have a set of moldable mouthpieces.  Can I buy just the whitening gel?

ANSWER - Yes, we sell 16% Carbamide Peroxide whitening gel separately. This refill gel is the same strength that is sold in complete kits and professional dental offices. It can be used with any dental tray in the same way as your previous whitening gel.

QUESTION - Why are our Systems better than others?

ANSWER - Simply put, other products do not work effectively. Whitening Systems found in mass retail markets do not use Carbamide Peroxide, the exact ingredient used in professional dental offices. Some over-the-counter trays are not moldable to your teeth and do not hold the gel in the proper position. Many OTC whitening gels are not thick enough to stay in place and will leak out of the tray. Many OTC gels typically have less effective active ingredients or a lower concentration of active ingredients.

QUESTION - Are our systems the same thing dentists sell me for $500 or more?

ANSWER - Yes, Our systems use the same active ingredients, percent concentration and methodology as those used in professional dental offices.  In fact many dentists sell our whitening gel to their patients.  We provide you with moldable mouthpieces and supply you with a high quality, effective whitening gel exactly like the formula used in dental offices.

QUESTION - What causes tooth discoloration?

ANSWER - There are many causes. The most common include consumption of foods, coffee, tea, wine, sodas and smoking. In other words, our teeth naturally get more and more stained as time goes on and we continue to live our lives. NOTE - Tetracycline discoloration and artificial dental work are usually not greatly responsive to dental bleaching.

QUESTION - Who may benefit from tooth whitening?

ANSWER - Almost everyone. However, there are some cases where treatment may not be effective. Tooth lightening is ideal for patients who have healthy, unrestored teeth and would like a whiter, brighter smile. Tetracycline discolorations and artificial dental work are usually not greatly responsive to dental bleaching.

QUESTION - Is it safe to bleach my teeth at home?

ANSWER - Yes, at-home teeth bleaching is designed to be an easy-to-use system with detailed usage instructions.  Over a decade of research indicates that whitening teeth with carbamide peroxide is safe and effective. All of our products comply with FDA regulations.

QUESTION - How long does the bleaching process take?

ANSWER - Results are dependent upon each individual characteristics of each person and the daily wear-time of the mouthpieces, but most people notice an immediate whitening of their teeth just a few hours of bleaching.  It usually takes between 20 - 40 hours of cumulative bleaching time to complete the whitening process. You can break your hours into just a few days (for people who are in a hurry) or a few months (for people who are not).

QUESTION - Are there any side effects?

ANSWER - Some people experience temporary tooth sensitivity during treatment. Others have reported discomfort in the gums or in loose fillings. Gum irritation usually disappears within 1-3 days after beginning the procedure and always upon the discontinuation or completion of treatment.  There are no other significant side effects.  NOTE - Pregnant or nursing women should not engage in dental bleaching.

QUESTION - What is the self-life of dental whitening gel?

ANSWER - The shelf-life of dental whitening gel is approximately 1 year. By storing the whitening gel in a refrigerator, you may actually get longer shelf-life from you whitening gel.

QUESTION - Should dental whitening gel be refrigerated?

ANSWER - Yes, it is always advisable to store dental whitening gel in the refrigerator, especially over the long-term. It is not necessary to refrigerate dental whitening gel at all times, but it is recommended that when storing unused whitening gel for several months, it should be refrigerated.

Dental Whitening Tips

TIP - Dental Whitening Gel Usage: Whitening gel is placed around the inside, front of the mouthpiece. There is no need for the whitening gel to come in contact with the back side of your teeth since they are not visible to others.  Place the mouthpiece over your teeth. You will notice that the whitening gel squeezes so that full coverage of all teeth is attained.  There may be some additional gel that overflows out of the mouthpiece into you mouth. Simply discard this overflow gel by spitting it out. You should wear the mouthpiece for 1 to 3 hours per whitening session. You may decrease your weartime or frequency of use if you experience sensitivities, although you whitening gel will stay active for up to 4 hours.  Some people report watering of the mouth when whitening their teeth.  This is a normal reaction and tends to diminish as time goes on. You will need to wear your mouthpieces for a total of 20 - 40 cumulative hours to complete the process.  These cumulative hours of weartime can be completed in consecutive days or you may skip days if you like. It will not matter so long as you complete your 20 - 40 cumulative hours. After completion of each whitening session, wash your mouthpieces with water and store in a dry place.  Be sure to keep your whitening gel refrigerated when not in use.  There are several things you can do to make you dental whitening activities more effective and pleasurable. Take the time to read the below tips to make your dental whitening experience as easy and effective as possible.

TIP - Time Frames for Dental Whitening - The best way to whiten your teeth is gradually. Don't knock yourself out by wearing your mouthpieces for hours at a time and trying to force your whitening process too quickly.  It is better to work the whitening process into your daily or weekly routine (perhaps during your shower or bath) for as long as it takes for you to achieve your desired level of whitening.  It took many years to build up the staining on your teeth. It's perfectly all right to take several weeks to remove the staining.  You will not loose any whitening effect by waiting several days between treatments. Some people can see significant whitening effect in as little as a few cumulative hours of bleaching week and others in as long as 10 - 15 hours.

TIP - Forming your Boil & Bite Mouthpieces - You must form your mouthpieces in order to achieve the best results from the Boil-n-Bite Whitening Kits. This is a very simple process of heating the mouthpiece in hot water so that it becomes soft and moldable.  Keep in mind that you do not need a perfect mold of your teeth for your dental bleaching system to be effective. We provide an extra mouthpiece in each kit so that you can experiment with this process if needed.  To mold your mouthpieces you should bring a pot of water to a boil and then turn off the stove to let the water begin cooling. While holding the mouthpiece by its specially designed holding-tab, submerge the mouthpiece into the water for approximately 10 seconds. This will make the mouthpiece soft.  After letting it cool just enough not to burn your mouth, place the mouthpiece over your teeth (either upper or lower). Now press the mouthpiece down onto the front of your teeth using your fingers while using your tongue and teeth to press the rear of the mouthpiece to that back of your teeth. If the mouthpiece seems to big for you, simply put it back into the hot water and it will shrink to fit any sized mouth. Repeat these steps for both upper and lower teeth. When the mouthpiece has cooled, test the fit and repeat the above process if you need to adjust the shape of the mouthpiece.  When the molding process is completed, cut the holding-tabs off of the mouthpieces so that you can close your mouth completely when the mouthpieces are in your mouth.

TIP - Making your Dental Impressions for Professional Lab-created Mouthpieces - With the Professional (ProLab Mouthpiece) Kits, you will need to make your dental impressions from the included professional impression materials.  These impressions are then sent to our dental lab so that we can create your professional quality mouthpieces.  Be sure to mix the two types of impression putty together very thoroughly so that it will harden properly after you have imprinted your teeth into it. After mixing the putty together and placing it into the impression tray, bite down on the tray so that your teeth are completely submerged into the impression putty such that about 1/4 of an inch of your gums is included in the impressions. Also when biting down, make sure that your teeth do not scrape down the side of the plastic tray that hold the impression putty. Your teeth should be completely surrounded by impression putty on all sides.  Keep your teeth embedded in the impression putty for 3 minutes to allow putty to begin to harden. Do not remove the putty from the tray as you will be mailing the tray with putty to our lab.

TIP - Filling the Mouthpiece with Whitening Gel - When you put the whitening gel into your mouthpieces, the best way to do it is to put a thin layer of gel around the inside front of the mouthpiece (the part that contacts the front of your teeth). When you place the mouthpiece over your teeth the whitening gel will distribute itself such that it comes in contact with the surface of your teeth. It may take you a few applications to determine the right amount of gel to use in each mouthpiece. It only takes a very thin layer of gel on the surface of your teeth to be effective.

TIP - A Time and Place for Dental Whitening - A great place to whiten your teeth is in the shower or bath.  Just keep your dental whitening system in the shower and use it as a routine part of your morning or evening hygiene. The shower is a great place to use your dental bleaching system because you can easily discard any extra whitening gel that squeezes out of your mouthpieces into your mouth without running over to your sink. Also, you are busy doing your other shower activities so you really don't even notice the mouthpieces in your mouth. When you are done with your shower, you can remove your mouthpieces and leave them in the shower or you can continue to wear them for a few more minutes outside the shower (all overflow gel will already be out of your mouth).

TIP - Upper Teeth vs. Lower Teeth - You don't need to whiten your upper teeth and lower teeth at the same time, although you can if your wish. It will be easier for your to manage the whitening process for one set of teeth at a time.  As well, this is an excellent way to show the efficacy of your dental bleaching system.  Try whitening your your upper teeth for 7-14 sessions and notice the color difference between your upper teeth and lower teeth. Upon reaching your desired level of whitening for your upper teeth, it will be time for your to do the same to your lower teeth.

TIP - Length of Time for Each Dental Whitening Session - The whitening gel will be effective for several hours.  We recommend using your dental bleaching system for 30-60 minutes per session. You may use it for as little as 10-15 minutes or as long as 3-4 hours per session if desired. Keep in mind that the whitening process is a cumulative effect. Your will need cumulative whitening time of approximately 20 - 40 hours to complete your whitening project.  You may whiten your teeth for as long or as short of a time as you like for each sessions.

TIP - Gum or Tooth Sensitivities - If your teeth or gums are exceptionally sensitive to dental whitening gel, do not be alarmed.  This is a normal reaction that means the dental bleaching formula is working. Any sensitivities will most likely diminish as you continue to use your whitening gel.  Our bleaching gel contains no desensitizing agents so that you can detect any sensitivity reactions if existent. If you do detect sensitivities to the whitening process, you can do a couple of things. First, simply reduce the amount of time of your dental whitening session (perhaps to 10-15 minutes).  Shorter duration of whitening sessions over a longer period of time will work just fine. Secondly, try using a smaller amount of whitening gel inside your mouthpiece.  The trick is to use enough gel to cover your teeth with a thin layer of gel without squeezing it out into your mouth.  This should help any sensitivity reactions to the whitening process.

TIP - Excessive Salivation (Watering of the Mouth) - Some people experience excessive salivation when using a dental whitening system. This is a normal reaction that will gradually disappear as your mouth becomes accustomed to the whitening process. The best thing to do for this reaction is to conduct your dental whitening in a place (like the shower) where you can discard the  saliva accumulating in your mouth.

TIP - Swallowing the Dental Whitening Gel - Every time you use your dental bleaching system you will inevitably swallow a small amount of whitening gel.  This is normal and except for the taste, there are no hazards for most people who swallow small amounts of gel.  If you (or especially a child) swallows more whitening gel than used for one dental whitening treatment (.5 - 3 grams), you may or may not experience any side-effects, but it would be wise to contact a medical professional or Center for Poison Control to be on the safe side.  Please keep the whitening gel out of reach of children.

TIP - Brushing Your Teeth - It is advantageous to brush your teeth in conjunction with using the dental bleaching system.  It is good to brush your teeth immediately before each application to remove any large food particles from your teeth so that the whitening gel can contact the hardened staining material on your teeth instead of the softer food particles that may adhere to your teeth on a daily basis.

TIP - Flossing Your Teeth - It helps the whitening process to floss your teeth regularly, but do not floss your teeth immediately before each application.  Flossing may sometimes irritate the area of gums between your teeth.  For sensitive individuals, it is usually not a good idea to apply the whitening gel to an area that has just been irritated by flossing. Do your flossing on a regular basis, but not immediately before using your dental bleaching system.