Teeth bleaching gel is used to whiten teeth by applying a gel on the teeth and using a laser light to induce the bleaching effects onto the teeth. There are 2 main methods that use teeth bleaching gel in order to whiten teeth, either by applying for an appointment and having it done by a dentist, or you can buy a teeth bleaching kit and do it yourself at home. The teeth bleaching gel method uses a gel mainly composed of a peroxide solution. Hydrogen peroxide is well known to combat bad breath odor and help in teeth whitening attempts.

For an appointment, the teeth must be cleaned first before beginning procedure. Those with cavities or any other oral health problems should consult their dentist before beginning teeth whitening treatment; the teeth bleaching gel may not be as effective at whitening the teeth due to these issues. After the cleaning process has been completed, the hydrogen teeth bleaching gel solution is applied onto the teeth. Then a laser light is lit over the gel application, but the light does not have as big as a part in the teeth whitening session as it may seem. The light simply acts as a catalyst to being a reaction in the teeth bleaching gel and enables the process of whitening the teeth. Usually hydrogen peroxide is manufactured into opaque bottles that do not allow light to transfer through them, as this causes the solution to break down its effectiveness, but turns out to also create a great bleaching solution.

At home methods simply use trays - either self made or made through molds of your teeth by professionals, which is usually recommended – and the teeth bleaching gel. The only difference in the two methods is that for the do-it-yourself treatment, you apply the bleaching gel into the trays and use them at night before going to bed.

A tooth bleaching method at an appointment produces faster results than doing it at home, which may take up to two to three weeks. The whitened teeth appearance usually lasts six months to a year, which is why it is recommended to continue regular visits every half year for a simple check up and touch up.

There are also other methods under the do-it-yourself categories, the commonly known teeth whitening strips and teeth brush on whitener applications.

Using teeth bleaching gel will only whiten natural teeth, as the bleaching solution affects the dentin inside the enamel cover of a tooth. It is not recommended to use teeth bleaching gel during pregnancy and nursing, as there is no current research, therefore the information on dangers are unknown. Teeth bleaching is very safe, with no known detrimental effects on the teeth, but there is a side effect. A common side effect of using teeth bleaching gel is tooth sensitivity, but for those using the trays, this will wear off after discontinued use of two to four days. For everyone else, there are desensitization applications that may provide some comfort.