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What is Tooth Gel?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

There are many types of tooth gels a person may use. Among them are toothpastes, whitening gels, and even those made to reduce toothache pain. Some tooth gel is made of all-natural ingredients while others contain chemicals. Gels also vary in terms of the types of sweeteners they contain. Some include sugar substitutes, for example, while others contain natural sweeteners.

Some tooth gels are used for brushing teeth, helping to keep the mouth smelling fresh and loosening bits of food that get stuck on or between the teeth. This type of gel works like toothpaste to prevent the development of cavities. In fact, toothpastes are strikingly similar to tooth gel, except that gels are often translucent and more gooey than toothpastes. Many dentists consider both toothpastes and tooth gels acceptable as long as they contain fluoride, a mineral that helps to prevent tooth decay.

A toothbrush with tooth gel on it.
A toothbrush with tooth gel on it.

Some tooth gels are used to whiten the teeth. They contain whitening agents, such as peroxide, for bleaching the teeth, getting rid of stains and discoloration. An individual interested in such a treatment may go to his dentist for in-office treatment or make use of over-the–counter whitening kits that he can use on his own. In-office whitening treatments usually contain more potent levels of whiteners, bleaching teeth faster and more effectively. Over-the-counter kits, on the other hand, are usually less expensive and do not require trips to the dentist.

A cross section of a tooth.
A cross section of a tooth.

Some tooth gels are designed to help relieve the pain caused by toothaches. They can be used instead of or in addition to internal medications that relieve tooth pain, such as acetaminophen, aspirin, or ibuprofen. This type of tooth gel is applied to the gum in the area that is painful and provides only temporary relief from mouth pain. It may work best on minor pain or soreness, as it is often ineffective when used to treat severe toothache pain. In fact, it may be more effective for relieving the discomfort felt by teething babies or those with painful mouth sores.

Tooth gel.
Tooth gel.

An individual interested in tooth gel will find a wide variety of products from which to choose. He may select from among many well-known tooth-care products produced by a wide variety of major manufacturers. These products are often proven effective but may contain chemicals and artificial ingredients that some people would rather avoid. For these individuals, there are many all-natural products from which to choose. Individuals interested in all-natural products may have to do some research to find out whether or not they work as advertised.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a BeautyAnswered writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a BeautyAnswered writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

LisaLou

My teeth have always been sensitive to extreme hot and cold temperatures. My dentist recommended I try a tooth desensitizing gel. I use this the same way I would use a toothpaste, but it is supposed to help with the sensitivity in my teeth.

I also have never been able to use any whitening strips because they bothered my teeth so much. I am hoping that after using this tooth gel for awhile my teeth won't be so sensitive.

I would love to be able to drink something that is cold without my teeth hurting. If this works, I would also like to try whitening my teeth so they don't look so yellow.

honeybees

I feel uneasy about using some of the popular tooth gels for teeth pain. If possible I like to find natural remedies, and have found that clove essential oil is a great alternative.

This is a natural oil that has a numbing effect when applied to the teeth or gums. The taste of the clove is also not bad which makes this easier to use. Anytime I have any kind of tooth pain, I put a few drops of clove oil on it and I get some relief.

The clove also has some antibacterial properties which are beneficial for my mouth as well. I feel a lot better about applying something natural like this than using chemicals I am not familiar with.

I was excited the first time I tried this and found out that it actually works. I don't know why I was so surprised because people have been using it for many years. It was just reassuring to know that there are natural ways to take care of this type of problem.

julies

When my kids were teething I found that using numbing teeth gel helped them feel better. Kids can really be miserable when they are teething and sometimes this was the only thing that would help ease their discomfort.

Even though it is a temporary fix, if it helps them feel better for a short time, I feel like it is worth it.

I always like to keep some of this on hand and I have found myself using it when I get a toothache. When I realized how much better I felt after applying some of the numbing gel, I understood why I noticed a change in my kids too.

They have different gels available for different ages, so the gel I would use on a 10 year old would be different than the gel I would use for an infant.

myharley

I like to use tooth whitener gel when brushing my teeth. Since I have to brush my teeth anyway, I figure I might as well be doing something that is going to whiten them at the same time.

It took me a while to get used to the different texture. The gel is thicker and sticky, but now that I am used to it I don't even think about it.

I really don't know if it makes that much difference in whitening my teeth or not. I don't seem to notice a big improvement, but since my teeth and gums are still healthy I will continue to use it.

My dentist doesn't have a problem with the tooth gel I am using, so I keep using it hoping it is whitening as well as cleaning my teeth.

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    • A toothbrush with tooth gel on it.
      By: manipulateur
      A toothbrush with tooth gel on it.
    • A cross section of a tooth.
      By: Andrea Danti
      A cross section of a tooth.
    • Tooth gel.
      By: Coprid
      Tooth gel.
    • Tooth gel may be used to relieve pain caused by the teething process.
      By: Barbara Helgason
      Tooth gel may be used to relieve pain caused by the teething process.
    • Tooth gel can provide temporary pain relief from a toothache.
      By: detailblick
      Tooth gel can provide temporary pain relief from a toothache.