BEST TEETH WHITENING PENS
Dr. Lara Coseo (DDS, FAGD) – Author –
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BEST TEETH WHITENING PEN FOR SENSITIVE TEETH
Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen
This clickable pen expresses gel onto an applicator brush to allow you to accurately spread the serum onto each tooth without contacting sensitive gum tissue. One Optic White pen contains 0.08 Fl Oz (2.5mL) and will provide 35 treatments in total. To achieve the best results, it is recommended that you complete 2 weeks of nightly treatments. The disadvantage of using whitening pens compared to other teeth whitening methods is that as soon as you close your mouth, your saliva will immediately start to try and neutralize and dilute the serum. However, when we sleep we naturally produce less saliva so by using the whitening pen last thing at night you are likely to get better results.
BEST VALUE TEETH WHITENING PEN
Fairywill Teeth Whitening Pen
You get about 60 treatments in total from the 3 pens and this could give you a whitening boost of between 4 and 8 shades. The whitening gel is applied to your teeth through a silicon tube and flexible brush to ensure an even and accurate coating is spread across the enamel surface. Although this product retails for less than many premium whitening toothpaste it will deliver far superior results in a relatively short period of time. As a little extra bonus, Fairywill includes a whitening tool that is designed to scrub away plaque and stains from the surface layer of the tooth to further increase the final results.
BEST VALUE TEETH WHITENING PEN
Smile Direct Club Teeth Whitening Pen
The manufacturer recommends a twice-daily application of the whitening gel for one week to obtain the best results. This buster pack of 8 x 1.5mL whitening pens will give you a full year of teeth whitening. Although The Smile Direct Club suggests that you could potentially achieve a 9 shade improvement in just one week, it is important to know that everybody’s teeth and lifestyle are different and the final results will vary.
What is a teeth whitening pen?
The purpose of whitening pens is the same as that of all other teeth whitening products: to produce noticeable lightening of the color of teeth and improve the appearance of the smile. As we age, teeth naturally become more yellow over time, so in contrast, whitening the teeth gives the smile a younger look.
What ingredients to look for.
At this time, commercially available whitening pens that actually work will contain one of these three active ingredients: hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, or sodium perborate. You will likely see a percentage noted next to these ingredients, which describes the concentration of the active ingredient in the pen. The higher this number, the stronger the whitening pen is. A higher percentage of peroxide should produce faster results that are more noticeable.
Oxidation of the dark, pigmented compounds underlying the enamel surface only occurs when peroxide takes action. If you do not see one of those ingredients listed, or the product claims to be “peroxide-free”, then it is unlikely to have any true whitening action. Most of these products claim to be safer than peroxide whitening compounds, but this claim is unfounded because peroxide is perfectly safe.
Why choose a whitening pen?
Convenient
Teeth whitening pens and swabs can be purchased over the counter in most grocery and drug stores. They are also available online. They do not require a visit to the dentist or any lengthy appointments. There are no complicated instructions, and they do not require any accessories in order to use them.
Easy to Apply
The method of application is very simple for paint-on whiteners. The technique is similar to painting your fingernails. You do not have to use any complicated applicators to place gel into a tray or attempt to place slippery strips onto the teeth.
Less Time-Consuming
After you paint or swab the gel onto the teeth, your work is done. The gel works by sticking to the teeth and comes off the next time you brush your teeth. Compared to other whitening options, which require the removal and immediate cleanup, whitening pens only require an application. Therefore, you only spend a few minutes to apply the whitener, and you can walk away.
How do whitening pens work?
Whitening pens work by expressing a teeth-whitening gel, which “dries” into a layer of film on the surfaces of the teeth onto which you have painted it.
The pen allows the user to place the whitening gel directly onto the tooth surface. Any whitening effect is due to the gel’s ability to adhere to the teeth without the aid of a barrier.
The active ingredient in paint-on whitening gels is typically a relative of hydrogen peroxide. Both carbamide peroxide and sodium percarbonate break down into hydrogen peroxide, which penetrates the tooth enamel and breaks down darkly colored, pigmented stains.
Do teeth whitening pens work?
If you are considering teeth whitening with any type of over-the-counter product, it is important to read the customer reviews. They will tell you of real-world experience with the product.
It is possible to find scientific research on both sides of the issue. A few studies show 3-4 shades of whitening with nightly use of a whitening pen over a two-week period. One project used a blue dye in the whitening gel to allow the researchers to study its ability to stay on the teeth overnight. The results of this particular study showed that 77% of the tooth surfaces intended for whitening maintained a covering of the blue gel after overnight wear. This implies that, for that particular brand, the gel does stay in contact with enamel long enough for the whitening ingredient to penetrate and improve color.
Studies of the effectiveness of paint-on whiteners as compared to other whitening methods consistently show that paint-on whitening products do not produce the same level of results as strips and gel applied in carrier trays.
Reasons for poor results?
It can be difficult to see where the gel is on the teeth, so it is possible for people to miss areas of the teeth when applying the gel. If the gel does not touch a tooth, you cannot have whitening results on it.
Lack of Barrier allows Gel to Wash Away
It is possible that the film formed by the whitening gel is washed away by saliva or anything you eat and drink. In one study of paint-on whitening products, the study participants experienced much greater results when they wore a mouthpiece to “cover” the whitening gel. The conclusion was that protecting the film from saliva kept it on the teeth, allowing it to work longer and produce a better result.
Hardening of Film Prevents Active Ingredient from Penetrating Enamel
Another possible cause of reduced effectiveness is a lack of penetration into the enamel. The very mechanism that allows this product to adhere to the teeth (which is necessary for any result at all) could prevent its penetration into the teeth.
Are teeth whitening pens safe?
Research studying the safety of paint-on, barrier-free whitening gels shows that they are safe for use when you follow the instructions. It is always a good idea to consult with your dentist before you use any type of teeth whitening product. The peroxide chemicals can lead to tooth sensitivity, which would be much greater in a tooth with a large cavity, tooth fracture, or gum recession. Your dentist can advise you of any dental problems that could lead to a bad or painful teeth-whitening experience.
Most manufacturers recommend that you only use the product for two weeks. It is not likely that you will cause any permanent damage to your teeth by using it longer than two weeks. The reason for the limitation is that you should see a difference by that time. If you do not, you should recruit the advice of a professional, so call your dentist.
Another reason you should call your dentist is experiencing severe tooth sensitivity or sharp pains in the teeth you have whitened. Your dentist should evaluate your teeth and gums to confirm that you do not have any active dental disease that requires treatment.
A whitening pen is safe for use by children, but only if a responsible, instruction-following adult supervises them. It is best to wait until the child is at least 12 years old. Whitening has not been shown to be safe for pregnant and breastfeeding women. There are no studies showing the levels of peroxide that cross the placental barrier or enters the mother’s milk. Most practitioners agree that without proven safety, we cannot recommend it. It is best to defer any teeth whitening until the baby is born and after you finish breastfeeding.
What are some alternative whitening options?
Other over-the-counter teeth whitening options include whitening toothpaste, strips, and gel in a carrier tray. Here are the important things you need to know about these options.
Whitening toothpaste
Whitening toothpastes are abrasive and function to polish away superficial stains from the outermost surface of the enamel. Even those containing peroxide in their ingredients do not achieve chemical whitening due to its extremely low concentration and short working time.
Whitening Strips
Whitening Strips consistently out-performed paint-on whitening gels in research studies, so you can expect a better result. Strips can be awkward to deal with and difficult to keep in place on the teeth.
Whitening Gel in a Carrier Tray
REFERENCES
→Delivery, substantivity, and clinical response of a direct application percarbonate tooth whitening film.
Yue J, Barlow AP, Bellamy PG, Prendergast MJ, Gerlach RW.
→Randomized clinical trial comparing whitening strips, paint-on gel and negative control.
Xu X1, Zhu L, Tang Y, Wang Y, Zhang K, Li S, Bohman LC, Gerlach RW.
→Over-the-counter whitening agents: a concise review
Flávio Fernando Demarco, Sônia Saeger Meireles, Alexandre Severo Masotti
→Use of a physical barrier to improving the efficacy of a paint-on whitening gel: a seven-day randomized clinical trial.
The Procter & Gamble Co., Mason, OH, USA. farrell.s.2@pg.com
