Calcium Whitening Gel Could Help To Reduce Sensitivity
Whitening is a very popular treatment, but it can result in temporary sensitivity. A new study could have found the solution to unwanted side-effects in the form of a calcium containing whitening gel.
A study published in the Journal of the American Dental Association claims that calcium-containing whitening agent used in professional in-chair whitening treatment could help to reduce tooth sensitivity.
Manufacturers have tried to tackle the problem of tooth sensitivity by adding desensitisers to whitening agents, including potassium nitrate and fluoride; however, the study authors claim that the effects are unclear.
The authors of the study claim that calcium compounds help to prevent mineral loss, which is a cause of tooth sensitivity; they added that no studies have focused on the role of calcium compounds in whitening agent before and this is why they decided to analyse the effects of adding 2% calcium gluconate to 35% hydrogen peroxide gel.
The research team carried out investigations on 40 adults from the State University of Ponta Grossa Dental School in Brazil; all the participants had good oral health.
The group of 40 was divided into two and the study took place between March 2009 and April 2010; half of the group received whitening gel with calcium compound added, while the others were treated with calcium-free gel.
Researchers investigated tooth sensitivity, as well as colour enhancement; the colour enhancement was found to be similar in both groups, but tooth sensitivity was much lower in the group that was treated with calcium gel. Eighty per cent of people in the calcium-free group reported sensitivity, while 40 per cent of the other group said that they suffered from sensitivity. Researchers used a scale of 0-4 to determine the severity of sensitivity and people in the calcium-free group suffered from more severe sensitivity.
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