Advantages of using paint-on teeth whitening products (Crest Night Effects ® and Colgate Simply White Night ®).

Despite their disadvantages there certainly can be instances when a paint-on teeth whitening product might be the best choice. Each and every type of teeth whitening system has its own unique characteristics. Each person must weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each type of whitening system and then choose which product seems the best fit for their needs.

What are some of the advantages offered by paint-on teeth whitening technique?

There are several advantages that paint-on teeth whiteners can offer that other whitening systems cannot. Here are some of them:

1) Paint-on teeth whiteners can be selectively applied to individual teeth.

There can be instances where a whitening effect is only needed for just one or a few teeth. As an example, possibly a single tooth has had root canal treatment and has subsequently darkened. The cosmetic need in this case is to selectively apply a teeth whitener to just this one tooth, a feature that paint-on whitening technique can offer. Even though paint-on whitening technique in general might not be considered to be as effective as other whitening techniques, with diligence possibly this method can achieve the results desired.

2) Paint-on teeth whitening is a "trayless" technique.

For some people a distinct advantage of paint-on teeth whiteners over other at-home techniques is that they do not require the use of any type of bleach delivery appliance such as a bleaching tray or plastic strip. Bleaching trays and whitening strips can be cumbersome, hard to keep in place, a cause of gum irritation, or a trigger for excessive salivation. If so, a paint-on teeth whitener might offer an opportunity for treatment where otherwise the person would not be inclined to do so.

3) Paint-on teeth whiteners are typically relatively inexpensive.

As compared to tray-based teeth whitening systems or whitening strip products, paint-on teeth whiteners are usually the least expensive way to get introduced to at-home teeth whitening. While you may not be able to achieve the same level of whitening results as with other methods, the results you do get may encourage you to investigate and pursue other teeth whitening techniques.

Are paint-on teeth whiteners harmful to teeth or dental work?

We found two studies that specifically evaluated the effect of paint-on teeth whiteners on teeth and dental restorations. One of these (Slezak, 2002) studied the use of Colgate Simply White ®. They evaluated the effects of this product on both tooth enamel and tooth nerve tissue. Their conclusions were that the product created no harmful effects and is safe to use when applied as directed.

Another study (White, 2003) evaluated the use of Crest Night Effects ®. Samples of tooth enamel, root dentin, and three types of dental filling materials were all exposed to simulated use of this product. The study did not detect changes in the tooth tissues or the filling materials, save a tendency of silicone polymers from the product to remain on these surfaces as a residual film. (These silicone polymers are the agents that cause the paint-on whitener to transform into an adherent film.)

(Some studies evaluating the effects of peroxide-based teeth whiteners on dental materials have suggested that some changes might occur during the bleaching process. However, there is no consensus in the dental community that these changes are clinically significant.)

More about the effects of paint-on whiteners on dental work.

Possibly the most important thing to know about paint-on teeth whiteners and their effect on dental work is that while a person's teeth can be expected to whiten, generally the dental restorations on these teeth will not. This effect is true for any type of peroxide-based teeth whitening. [The following link contains information about exceptions to this rule. One involves the use of teeth whiteners on teeth that have dental veneers. Another is related to possible effects on white dental fillings.]

This non-whitening effect means that after the bleaching process has been completed existing dental work will probably need to be replaced, so to match the new color of the person's teeth. Depending on the specifics of the situation, this might require a considerable amount of treatment time and expense.