Frequently Asked Questions

Why Should I whiten My Teeth?

One of the first things you notice about people is their smile. When you meet someone with a bright, white smile, it catches your attention. A brighter, whiter smile dramatically changes your appearance and your approach to life. It can give you a greater sense of confidence to live life to the fullest.

Long before the arrival of seductive Hollywood smiles people have been whitening their teeth. The ancient Egyptians used a cream made from oxen hooves mixed with burned egg shells, pumice and water to whiten their teeth. Upper-class Romans added expensive imported urine to their teeth whitening mix (unaware that it was the ammonia molecules that were whitening their teeth). The Greeks had their own formulations and at the beginning of the Renaissance, Europeans were putting compounds on their teeth in a conscious effort to whiten them.

Fortunately with NuWhitePro, you and your customers have access to much safer and faster way to whiten teeth with wonderful results.

What Causes Tooth Stains?

Chromogenic foods: The term "chromogenic foods" simply refers to foods that when consumed over time have the ability to produce a staining effect on teeth. Coffee, tea, cola, and red wine are all well-known chromogenic agents.

Tobacco products: The cumulative effect of the use of cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and even smokeless tobacco can cause tooth staining.

How Does Teeth Whitening Work?

There are two types of tooth stains: "extrinsic", those stains that are on the surface of the tooth, and "intrinsic", those stains that are on the inside of the tooth. Both types of staining show through the enamel as discoloration. While whitening and chewing gums may be effective for removing extrinsic stains, they are not designed to work inside the tooth to remove the darker, more challenging intrinsic stains.

Most whitening kits use a form of Peroxide to bleach the teeth. The most popular formulations, including those used by most dentists, contain Carbamide peroxide. Other types of kits, including the Crest Whitestripes, use Hydrogen Peroxide. Both of these Peroxides do the same thing, because they have a chemical relationship!

So if all these systems contain essentially the same active ingredient, what is the difference between them?
The answer is simply the concentration (strength) of the peroxide solution. Whitening kits can contain anywhere from less than 10% strength all the way up to 22%. Some kits contain a combination of other ingredients which act as buffers to reduce sensitivity. But no matter what kit you choose, it all bubbles down to peroxide. In-office, some dentists initially treat patients with a 12% hydrogen peroxide or 35% carbamide peroxide solution, then send them home with custom trays and syringes of solution ranging anywhere from _ to _ strength of what they were initially treated with.

What's the difference between Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide?

The two most common peroxides used in teeth whiteners on the market today are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. While they are very closely related, they are different enough that it is worth spending time to discuss the similarities and the differences.
Hydrogen peroxide is just that, the chemical with the formula of H202. It is usually created as a water solution (H202 dissolved in water). During use, it breaks down into one or more radicals that are the actual chemical "bits" that chemically whiten the teeth. It is usually the "hydroxyl radical" that does the work, but there can be others.

Carbamide peroxide is hydrogen peroxide dissolved in urea crystals. For "palatability" issues, the name carbamide peroxide is used instead of the more proper name, urea peroxide.