Teeth Whitening Pens - A Buyer's Guide

Teeth whitening is probably the most common cosmetic service provided by dentists. There are also a growing number of over-the-counter “at-home” teeth whitening products to choose from.

Teeth whitening pen is a relatively new type of whitening system. We all know about teeth whitening strips, kits, trays and toothpastes, however teeth whitening pens are becoming more and more popular.

How do they work?

Just like other teeth whitening systems, teeth whitening pens contain carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. It depends on what brand you're using, but you usually rotate the bottom of the whitening pen, to push out a small amount of whitening gel onto the brush. Then, you apply a thin layer of whitener onto your teeth and allow a

couple of minutes to dry. That's all. This is why so many people want to bleach their teeth using whitening pens.

Effectiveness

Teeth whitening pens are not as strong as trays or strips. Concentration of whitening agents is generally weaker and the treatment cycle is too short to affect a drastic change. Many teeth whitening manufacturers promise up to eight shades of whiteness, but you can usually lighten your teeth up a few shades (about three, or so) by using pens.

Safety

Most studies confirm that teeth whitening at home is safe and does not cause any damage to the enamel of the tooth. Higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide, usually available at the dentists may weaken the enamel. If teeth sensitivity and gum irritation occur, use the whitening pen less frequently.

Teeth whitening products are not recommended for children as well as pregnant or lactating women.

Prices

The average price of teeth bleaching pens is about $12 - $80. One pen is for 30-day use. Despite the offers you see online - there are no free teeth whitening products. Remember that.

Advantages

- Ease of use - there are no strips, no trays, and no dentist appointments
- Teeth whiteners can be selectively applied to individual tooth
- Low concentration of active ingredients (Hydrogen peroxide)
- Quickly erases food and drink stains
- Relatively inexpensive

Disadvantages

- Not for serious bleaching
- Minor gum and soft tissue irritation

Avoid Scams

Beware of 'free trial' offers. Here how they work: you pay a small amount of money, $5 or so for 'shipping and handling' to receive your free trial. But... if you don't cancel your free trial in the next 14 to 30 days your credit card will be charged $50 or whatever the cost of the product is. 'Canceling free trial' for many such companies means that they want you to return the product two weeks from the day you've asked for free trial. Unfortunately, many people have been scammed this way (usually for $50 to $100). If you cannot resist the temptation of applying for a free trial, use a prepaid or gift card with only $5 on the account.

Take Action

Bottom line is, if you want to have an attention-grabbing Hollywood-celebrity smile, you have to pay for it. Pick a brand and buy a teeth whitening pen today. Forget free sample trials. If it doesn't work for you, choose another brand or another teeth whitening method.

These are the most popular teeth whitening pens.