Carbamide peroxide (also known as urea peroxide) is the most popular bleaching agent used for teeth whitening by dentists.The main and active ingredient in carbamide peroxide is hydrogen peroxide. This ingredient has the effect of oxidising stains, which leaves teeth looking whiter. There are many products and procedures which make use of carbamide peroxide. Dentists usually use a product with carbamide peroxide when undergoing in-office teeth whitening. It is also used in over the counter bleaching products, but in a much lower dosage.
Hydrogen peroxide deteriorates rapidly in the store/dentist shelves. Carbamide peroxide is more stable, and breaks down to about one third hydrogen peroxide, so an 18% carbamide peroxide solution has a similar effect to a 6% hydrogen peroxide solution.
Most tooth whiteners use one of two chemical agents: carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide (the same stuff that will bleach your hair). When used in the mouth, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with hydrogen peroxide being the active whitening ingredient.
Chemically, Carbamide Peroxide (also known as Urea Hydrogen Peroxide and Perhydrol-Urea) is CO(NH2)2.H2O2. It breaks down into Hydrogen Peroxide [H202] and Urea [CO(NH2)2] in an aqueous solution. A solution of 10% Carbamide Peroxide breaks down into approximately 3% Hydrogen Peroxide (therefore, a 22% Carbamide Peroxide solution breaks down to about 7.5% Hydrogen Peroxide).
Chlorine Dioxide
Chlorine Dioxide (ClO2) Gel will oxidize difficult tooth stains. This formula may be best used with a continuous whitening light. All precautions that are standard with hydrogen peroxide treatments are relevant to Chlorine Dioxide, although the gums are less affected by ClO2. Chlorine dioxide used for teeth whitening is the UK is gaining popularity, it is generally less harsh than the above mentioned treatments.
