01/04/24
Oral Care Products, LLC compensated
Dr. Wachs with an advertising sponsorship to write this article.
A guest blog post written by Dr. Barbara J. Wachs, Clinical Director of Smileactives®.
The teeth whitening industry is booming In the United States. When the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry asked people what they’d most like to improve about their smile, the most common response was whiter teeth. According to the Academy of American Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic procedure in the United State. Theglobal at home teeth whitening do it yourself industry is expected to be worth $7.4 billion by 2024 and the number of American consumers using teeth whiteners peaked at 40.24 million in 2018 while at 35.26 million in 2022.
With so many teeth whitening products on the market to choose from, trying to decide can feel a little tricky. Here’s what to know about teeth whitening pens.
What is a Whitening Pen?
Teeth whitening pens are one of the many whitening products available to brighten your smile. Teeth whitening pens dispense a teeth whitening formula or gel that is relatively easy to brush on your teeth. Per each product's instruction and if used properly, you could notice whiter teeth in as little as a week.
How do Teeth Whitening Pens Work?
Designed to be similar in size to a pen and applied via a bristled tip, the teeth whitening solution is conveniently stored within the pen tub and is pushed out of the top by twisting a dial, or similar mechanism, on the bottom. When the gel is dispensed from the top, it’s easy to brush the formula on all tooth surfaces and designed to easily get hard-to-reach areas. The whitening formula often turns into a film after it’s applied and sits on your teeth for an instructed amount of time for the benefit of removing teeth stains.
Do Teeth Whitening Pens Work for Whitening?
The two main products used for teeth whitening are hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. Unlike awhitening toothpastethat uses an abrasive ingredient to mechanically remove surface-level stains, whitening pens use hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (which quickly breaks down into hydrogen peroxide). The peroxide penetrates the enamel and oxidizes dark pigmented molecules within the tooth. By breaking down dark colored molecules it literally bleaches the underlying tooth color to a whiter shade.
Teeth whitening pens do work to whiten teeth. However, if you have had restorative work, like crowns, bondings or veneers, whitening pens will not lighten these teeth beyond their original color. They can only remove surface stains from these surfaces and bring them back towards the original shade that was placed by the dentist. Over time, dental work can accumulate stains and appear darker from all the dark foods and drinks we consume daily. By using the pens daily, you can whiten natural teeth as well as remove surface stains from dental work. Trauma that may have caused teeth discoloration may not respond as predictably with whitening pens. You will want to talk with your dentist in these cases. If teeth whitening pens are used per instructions on natural, permanent teeth, you will see results with proper use.
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Are Teeth Whitening Pen Results Permanent?
While teeth whitening pens remove staining, nothing is permanent. Just as those stains developed over time, they will slowly return due to normal life situations like eating and drinking. You can, however, lengthen the amount of time between whitening sessions by being mindful of:
- 1. The food and beverages you consume. Avoid coffee, tea, sports drinks, soda, and candy. Between dark pigmentation, stain-promoting acid, and sugar, these things will increase teeth staining.
- 2. Avoid tobacco use. Everything that can stain a white T-shirt can stain your teeth so eating and drinking dark foods daily will cause stains to accumulate on your teeth over time. Using the pen daily can help combat those stains so they don't accumulate as quickly.
- 3. Use proper oral care practices including whitening toothpaste and whitening gel daily.
- 4. Visit the dentist for routine care.
Teeth Whitening Pen Before and After
If used properly, whitening pens can lighten up to six shades in a week!
Teeth Whitening Pens vs. Strips
Teeth whitening pens and teeth whitening strips both have the ability to whiten teeth, however there are some differences to the method. With a teeth whitening pen, you can very conveniently take it with you on the go and apply throughout the day as needed. No mess, no fuss. Simply brush it on to the tooth surface, even the harder to reach areas, don’t eat or drink for a little while and you’re all set (though each manufacturer has different instructions so follow those). Whitening pens make for an easy, effective teeth whitening method and can easily be applied to all your teeth. You can also use the pens for targeted whitening. Not all teeth are the same shade / color and some may be darker than others. You can spend more times per day with the pen use on the darker teeth to try to get your overall smile color more even.
With teeth whitening strips, this is more an at-home, instead of an on-the-go, method. Though the whitening strips already have the whitening formula on them, applying them can be messier as you line them up on your teeth. With strips, it is a little harder to keep the whitening agent off your gums which can cause irritation and often only whiten the front 6 teeth, not the back teeth. It is also trickier to place the strips in the harder to reach areas, especially if your teeth are out of alignment. If applying the strips works for you, teeth whitening strips can be an effective method for teeth whitening.
Are Teeth Whitening Pens Safe to Use?
If used properly, yes, teeth whitening pens are safe to use. You will want to apply the product properly, leave on only for the recommended amount of time, use only for the recommended duration of days and it should be safe and effective. If you don’t follow the product's instructions, you can irritate or burn your gum tissue temporarily. If you do experience adverse effects to the product you try, even though you’ve safely followed the instructions, chat with your dentist about some other options.
Teeth Whitening Pen Side Effects
There are two main side effects you should watch out for with teeth whitening pens:
- 1.Tooth sensitivity: This is the most common side effect of teeth whitening. Some peroxides cause the tooth enamel to become temporarily porous allowing the nerves to be exposed. Within a few days this typically resolves itself as the tooth returns to its normal state.
- 2.Gum irritation: If the whitening formula gets on your gums, it can cause irritation for a few hours or days. When applying the whitening agent be careful that it only gets on your teeth. This is a bonus to using a whitening pen because it’s easy to apply properly. If any gets on your gums and you feel a burning sensation, remove the product. These side effects are only temporary, if seen at all.
How to Use Whitening Pen
A whitening penis convenient, portable, and easy to use. Using the power of hydrogen peroxide, this ultra-concentrated, mess-free formula and soft-bristle tip applicator makes it simple to use this whitening pen anywhere, ensuring convenience for any lifestyle. All you need to do is twist the dial on the bottom of the pen to dispense the whitening gel onto the tip of the soft bristles and apply a thin layer evenly across your teeth, getting in all the nooks and crannies. Do not rinse off and wait 20 minutes before eating or drinking. Viola, simple as that! And, if used two to four times daily, you may notice your teeth transforming up to six shades lighter in as little as a week. This tooth whitening pen may just be your new best friend.
Whiter teeth to show off a healthy smile is greatly desired by many. And, fortunately, with the plethora of whitening products and application methods available, achieving the look you desire may be attainable.
Start shopping now to find your best teeth whitening solution from our teeth whitening pen, to our whitening gel and pen duo, to our whitening gel.
Dr. Barbara J. Wachs is the Clinical Director of Smileactives® and has specialized in teeth whitening for over two decades. She worked in a New York City private dental practice for several years before founding her own professional teeth whitening spa dedicated purely to whitening and brightening smiles. She has performed over 25,000 in-office professional teeth whitening treatments to date.
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