Whitening procedures for the teeth have most definitely stormed the market and are going very strong in terms of the sale of these over the counter teeth whitening products. The reason for the sudden increase in the demand of these products can be attributed to the overall rise in the standards of health care. People now-a-days are gravely concerned about every aspect of their looks. Be it plastic surgery or fairness products, there is an increased self awareness and rise in cosmetic procedures among the affluence of the society. Dental care is thus not far behind.
Owing to the increase in the number of these teeth whitening products people should be able to discriminate the good ones from the farce in terms of quality of the products. There is a benchmark set across by the different dental associations of various countries regarding the standards on which the quality of such products are measured. For example in America, the products sold over the counter as well in dental offices usually have the American Dental Association's Seal of approval. This seal guides a customer to accept that this product is safe and also effective and it does not encompass false promises. Similarly in India, Indian Dental Association is at work.
Currently, the accepted norm includes regarding the concentration of the bleaching agent more or less falls in a certain percentage bracket. The accepted concentration of carbamide peroxide is around 10% while that of hydrogen peroxide is around 35%. Having said that even the best teeth whitening kits, sold over the counter, are generally not endorsed. The reason cited for this involves the lack of professional guidance during the process of application of these products. This ensures the safest and the most effective use. Whitening treatments using lasers are strictly not recommended. Several teeth whitening toothpastes fall under the approved list of products.
It must be kept in mind that the matter of obtaining the approval and recommendation of such organizations is voluntary and totally up to the manufacturers. The whole process is cumbersome, cost incurring and also time consuming. So just because a product lacks the approval seal does not mean that it has failed to live up to the standards set by the organization. On the other hand teeth bleaching and teeth whitening products that do have such seal of standards meet the safety and effectiveness requirements when properly used.
When selecting a teeth whitening product over the counter make sure you choose the one that has a customizable mouth tray. It can be molded into the shape that fits you the best. Make a well opinionated and educated choice before trying on a product. If the products start to cause problem, abandon use and visit your dentist as soon as possible.