If you’re wondering how long teeth whitening gel will last in the fridge, the answer will depend on its active ingredient. Hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide gels should be refrigerated to preserve their efficacy. However, some types of whitening gel can be stored at room temperature for two years. However, you should bring your gel to room temperature before applying it.
When buying teeth whitening gel, check the expiration date on the package. Some whitening gels should be disposed of after a year, while others can last for two years if refrigerated properly. In case of doubt, check with the manufacturer.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening refers to techniques that make someone’s natural teeth appear brighter and whiter. Sanding away stains, bleaching, ultraviolet (UV) light therapy, and other techniques are used to whiten teeth.
Numerous teeth-whitening options are available, and you can experiment with many methods at home. Additionally, you can have your teeth whitened at the dentist’s office.
Tooth sensitivity and gum discomfort are two unfavorable side effects of some teeth whitening techniques.
How Long does Teeth Whitening Gel Last in the Fridge?
The average whitening gel has a shelf life of one year. The gel may remain usable for more than a year if it is refrigerated. The gel oxidizes and loses its effectiveness with time. If the gel is too old, it will start to seem white or cloudy. Although it probably won’t whiten your teeth, that doesn’t mean it is risky.
It will survive for roughly a year if you keep it at room temperature. It would be best if you stored it in the refrigerator rather than attempting to freeze it. If the instructions state otherwise, avoid putting it in the refrigerator.
What are the Different Varieties of Tooth Stains?
You must select a whitening procedure that targets the sort of stains you have if you want to whiten your teeth effectively. Choosing a whitening technique that safely tackles both intrinsic and extrinsic staining is likely necessary if you have both (extrinsic staining is described below).
Consult your dentist if you are unsure about your discoloration type. They can advise you on the types of stains on your teeth and the best treatment options.
Inherent Stains
Stains that are inside your tooth enamel are termed intrinsic stains. When you’re a child, intrinsic staining might occasionally be visible even before your teeth sprout from your gums.
These stains can be brought on by antibiotics, fluoride exposure, and thinning tooth enamel with age. In some cases, intrinsic staining may even be genetic, suggests a study from 2014.
Extrinsic Stains
Extrinsic stains are located on your teeth’s surface. These occur due to environmental exposure to substances that stain the enamel of your teeth. This discoloration can be brought on by smoking, coffee, and artificial food coloring.
According to the 2014 study mentioned above, extrinsic stains can also be connected to antibiotic use, just like intrinsic stains.
How Long do the Effects of Teeth Whitening Last?
The whitening of teeth is temporary. When people consume meals and drinks that stain their teeth, the whiteness of their teeth may start to deteriorate in as little as one month.
Depending on the state of the teeth, the amount of staining, and the kind of bleaching procedure utilized, the degree of whiteness will differ from person to person.
Here are some pointers for maintaining pearly whites:
Avoid stain-prone meals and beverages. Anything that contains tannins or acids might dull your teeth. Avoid too much soy, curry, tomato sauce, white and red wine, sports drinks, carbonated beverages (light and dark), black tea, and coffee if you want to keep your grin bright.
After consuming meals or beverages that can cause stains, quickly brush your teeth or rinse.
Maintain healthy oral hygiene habits. It would be best if you flossed at least once a day to remove plaque, brushed your teeth at least twice a day, and used an antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day to kill the germs that create plaque. To remove surface stains and stop yellowing, use whitening toothpaste only once or twice a week. Make use of ordinary toothpaste the rest of the time.
What are the Different Ways to Stabilize Teeth Whitening Gel?
It’s crucial to realize that there are only two methods for stabilizing whitening gels after they have been created:
Chemical Stabilizers: These include phosphoric acid and anhydrous bases, which are only partially effective and may slow down how rapidly the whitening gels eventually degrade in the mouth while also making people more sensitive.
When applied to the teeth, the highest whitening gel performance and significantly reduced patient sensitivity are achieved by doing away with the necessity for chemical stabilizers. Every stage of manufacture, transportation, storage, and delivery calls for constant refrigeration. As a result, chemical stabilizers are no longer needed because the natural chemical breakdown over extended periods is prevented.
Who Needs to Whiten their Teeth?
Pictures of flawless smiles in periodicals and on television have led many to believe that such a smile is the standard. But there’s no need to be ashamed of your smile, regardless of how your teeth appear. The health of your teeth should take precedence over aesthetics.
Yellowing of teeth can be brought on by:
- Aging
- Genetic propensity
- Certain medicines (such as tetracycline)
- Habitual behaviors (including drinking coffee or soda and smoking)
The affordability of tooth whitening procedures may also be a factor. Insurance does not pay for in-office or over-the-counter whitening remedies. Some people can opt for toothpaste and mouthwash, which have a lesser whitening impact but are less expensive.
You cannot whiten your teeth if you have dental implants or veneers. Only naturally white teeth can be whitened. In recent years, many younger individuals have sought out veneers to get a flawless white smile, but doing so can harm your teeth’s long-term health.
If you have natural teeth and are self-conscious about your smile because they are yellowing, you might want to try some teeth whitening techniques. However, this is ultimately a matter of personal taste more than a health issue.
Ask your dentist which teeth-whitening treatments might be the most suitable for you. Always read the instructions on home kits before using the items.
It’s crucial to remember that, depending on where the dental treatment is located, people with dental implants, veneers, crowns, or bridges may not be candidates for teeth whitening. Bleaching is still an option. It is not advised to whiten teeth if they are in the front of the mouth, even if it’s in the back of the mouth.
What are the Risks Associated with Using Teeth Whitening Gel?
Temporary tooth discomfort is the most frequent adverse effect of teeth whitening. Also typical are mouth and gum irritations. This reaction can be brought on, particularly by hydrogen peroxide.
To lessen this side effect, your gum tissue will be shielded during the teeth whitening procedure at the dentist’s office.
Additionally, after having your teeth whitened at home with a kit or in the dentist’s office, you can notice more sensitivity. Tooth sensitivity may develop when ingesting exceptionally hot or cold food and beverages. It can occasionally come on suddenly and feel like a sharp toothache. This sensitivity ought to pass quickly.
Repeated tooth whitening procedures or utilizing whitening kits for longer than advised can permanently harm your teeth.
Gum inflammation: Due to the bleach concentration or contact with the trays, more than half of people who use peroxide whiteners develop gum irritation to some extent. The irritation usually subsides after bleaching is stopped or the peroxide content is reduced and can linger for a few days.
Technicolor teeth: Because bleach does not affect restorations like bonding, dental crowns, or veneers, they retain their natural color as the teeth around them whiten. This leads to what is known as “technicolor teeth.”
If you do have sensitivity, you can minimize or eliminate it by:
I am wearing the tray for a shorter periods (for example, two 30-minute sessions vs. two 60-minute sessions) (for example, two 30-minute sessions vs. two 60-minute sessions).
Stop bleaching for two to three days to give your teeth time to acclimate.
To assist in remineralizing your teeth, ask your dentist or pharmacist for a product with high fluoride content. The fluoride product should be applied to the tray and worn for 4 minutes before and after the whitening agent.
Use toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth to brush your teeth. These toothpaste have potassium nitrate, which helps calm the nerve endings in the teeth.
Reference: Tooth whitening: From the established treatments to novel approaches to prevent side effects
One of the most popular dental procedures being sought by the public is tooth whitening. According to where they came from, tooth stains can be divided into intrinsic and extrinsic. The two categories of whitening methods are typically in-office and at-home devices. Most whitening methods employ hydrogen peroxide as the primary oxidizing agent to break down the organic substances responsible for stains.
Depending on the treatment, the concentration varies. It can be applied directly or made from more stable carbamide peroxide through a chemical reaction. Despite its widespread use, tooth sensitivity is the most frequent negative effect of tooth whitening. New treatments are continually going through renewal processes to reduce these negative effects.
Conclusion
Teeth whitening gels that are not refrigerated will break down over time, creating hydrogen ions. These ions are acidic and can cause pain and increased sensitivity. Refrigerating your whitening gels will prevent this breakdown and prolong their shelf-life.
Another factor that contributes to whitening gel degradation is high temperatures. This can occur during warehouse storage at chemical or whitening product manufacturers. In addition to this, extreme heat can occur during truck shipment. The higher the temperature, the worse the degradation of the whitening gel.
