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Question:
Effect of 35% Carbamide peroxide on gums: I have just purchased some tooth whitening gel from the internet which is 35% Carbamide Peroxide.
I have tried it once but seconds after putting the gel on my teeth, my gums turned completely white and felt a burning sensation. I was too frightened to leave the gel on for the suggested 10 minutes.
After about 15 minutes after I removed the gel, the colour returned to my gums. Was the whitening damaging my gums? ...Visitor from Staffordshire, England UK
Answer:
Whitening gel correctly applied with custom fitted whitening trays, that are trimmed to the neck of each tooth usually cause no adverse problems to the gums.
The 35% Carbamide Peroxide is a common concentration of the main component of whitening gels. When you applied the gel to your teeth, did you put a small amount into bleaching trays which are similar to sports mouthgaurds, only much thinner?
These trays need to be custom fitted by a dentist for the best results as they know how to properly trim the trays so that the gel material stays off gum tissue.
From the sound of your E-mail it seems like you put the gel directly on your teeth instead of in whitening trays. The whitening gel was not damaging your gum, it simply was bleaching out the color and causing a slight(reversable) chemical burn to your gums.
You should also be aware that you can buy anything over the internet, and some sellers may not be honest about the concentration of the whitening gels they are selling. Also, whitening gels will not change the color of composite resin bonded fillings or crown restorations (caps).
ComfortableDental.com
Ron Briglia, DMD
Chester County Medical Building
600 East Marshall Street, Suite 201
West Chester PA 19380
(610) 692-4440
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