Boutique Whitening by Day is a 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. Hydrogen peroxide is inherently unstable and will break down immediately once you place the whitening trays in your mouth The majority of the peroxide will be spent within the first 20 minutes of wear, but to experience the full effect of the gel, we recommend at least 1 to 1.5 hours of wear time.

Boutique by Night has several different protocols, all designed for a minimum of 4 hours’ wear time, but best results will manifest from keeping the trays in overnight, so you can whiten as you sleep. Wearing for 6 hours or more at night will typically yield better results.

We have a 10% carbamide peroxide gel, or a 16% carbamide peroxide gel – both designed to be worn overnight.  These are the equivalent of 3.5% hydrogen peroxide and 5.7% hydrogen peroxide, respectively. 

Both gels will give you a fantastic white smile, but the 16% will get you there a little faster.  If you suffer from sensitivity, the 10% is a better option for whitening your teeth.

Boutique also manufactures a 4.25% Hybrid Pro teeth whitening gel. This is a blend of 4.25% hydrogen peroxide and 4.25% carbamide peroxide. This gel is designed to be worn overnight and delivers a gentle nudge with the hydrogen to get things started, whilst the carbamide slowly ramps up overnight. This is a powerful formula, delivered gently to ensure excellent whitening, whilst minimising side effects.

Thanks to the wealth of research that exists around teeth whitening products, people no longer have to walk around with stained or yellow teeth.  A visit to the dentist, and you can be smiling like a movie star after a short course of teeth whitening, which can be done in the comfort of your own home. 

The dentist can help get your teeth beautiful and white, using prescription strength teeth whitening gels.  However, there are some habits that you can adopt to ensure your teeth stay whiter for longer. Here are three top tips to help you keep your beautiful white smile.

The main side-effect of teeth whitening is sensitivity. Up to 70% of people who have teeth whitening will experience some form of sensitivity, from mild discomfort to severe pain.  Some people may also feel some slight irritation of the gums or lips. Both of these effects are temporary and will resolve, given a little time, after stopping or finishing your treatment. 

The effects of sensitivity when whitening your teeth can be mitigated in most cases by following this protocol:

1  Full examination.

2  Photographs with time-stamp and shade tab visible.

3  Restore any exposed root dentine with composite or glass ionomer.

4  Use a chair-side desensitising agent on any areas of sensitivity, as directed in instructions. Gluma, Hurriseal or Vivasens all work well.

5  Use Sensodyne Toothpaste in the whitening trays, overnight, for 3 nights.

6  Use Boutique Biomin Toothpaste in place of your regular toothpaste for 2 weeks prior, and throughout, the whitening process.

7  Switch to using 10% Boutique by Night.

8  If sensitivity is severe, use the ramp technique. Start on 10% Carbamide Peroxide with only 1 or 2 hours of wear time, gradually increasing the wear time so that after 2 weeks you can manage to wear the trays overnight. 

9  If the sensitivity persists, you can whiten on alternate nights, and wear the Sensodyne Toothpaste in the trays overnight on the days in between.

Tooth whitening is a very safe procedure when performed correctly. However, there are some potential side effects that you must inform the patient about prior to the procedure.  It is also important to have the knowledge to circumvent these issues to help patients achieve a fantastic result.

Gingival Irritation:

Another potential side effect of the whitening process is gingival irritation. This occurs when the whitening gel has  prolonged contact with the gingival tissue. This can be avoided by educating the patient that they need only fill the dosing dots on the tray and no more.  This will avoid an excess of gel and the subsequent gingival irritation. If they do have any excess of gel, then this should be removed with a clean tissue or soft toothbrush.

The best way to limit most problems is to ensure that the trays are well made by a laboratory. The quality and precision required is impossible to recreate in surgery made trays.  Isolation of the bleaching product from the rest of the mouth will successfully limit most problems.

Likewise, patient education on how to properly fill the trays will also help.

Disappointing Results:

Teeth whitening is not an exact science, and 1 pack of whitening does not always equal the perfect result for your patient. It may take more. This should always be made clear from the outset.

We know from the Van Haywood studies that hydrogen peroxide will whiten the teeth in almost all cases. If the teeth do not whiten, the answer is to extend the treatment time. This approach will rarely fail.

Other factors that lead to poor results are lack of compliance, poorly fitting trays and bruxism.

Bruxists and Tooth Whitening:

If you are attempting whitening but you suffer from nocturnal bruxism (teeth grinding), the results will likely be poor.  As you clench and grind, the flexing of the trays will cause saliva ingress and washout of the whitening gel. In these cases, the best option is to use Boutique by Day gel.