If you are considering whitening your teeth and checking out all your options, you may have come across PAP teeth whitening. Hydrogen peroxide is widely used as the main ingredient in teeth whitening treatments, but PAP is becoming steadily more popular.
However, as it is relatively new, not many dentists use it and some people haven’t even heard of it yet. So if you are wondering what PAP is, and whether it's safe, you are not alone.
This article will discuss all you need to know about PAP teeth whitening and answer the following questions, so you can decide if it's the method you want to use.
What is PAP teeth whitening?
How does it work?
What is the difference between PAP and PAP+?
Does it whiten teeth as well as hydrogen peroxide-based products?
What are the best PAP teeth whitening products?
Or if you just want some quick PAP teeth whitening product recommendations, check out the following options. We have more information on each of these later on.
Best PAP Teeth Whitening Products
Smile Avenue Whitening Kit
Treatment time: 16 minutes
Main whitening ingredient: phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP)
There are a lot of benefits to using PAP teeth whitening products, especially if you’re not too sure about using ones with peroxide as the main ingredient. So let's start with finding out exactly what PAP is and how it works to whiten your teeth.
PAP, the abbreviation for phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid, is the main whitening ingredient in some whitening products. Brands such as Hismile and Smile Avenue use PAP or PAP+ as the main ingredient in all their whitening products, including whitening kits, strips and mouthwash.
PAP isn’t as widely used as peroxides due to the fact that it is a relatively new concept. More recently though, some companies have created a safe and effective formula to use in their whitening products that are gaining in popularity.
How does PAP teeth whitening work?
Although PAP is an alternative ingredient to hydrogen peroxide for whitening teeth, it does work much the same with some key differences. Let's start with how teeth whitening works before diving into how PAP whitens teeth.
There are two types of whitening: physical and chemical. Physical whitening is the removal of stains on the surface of your teeth through abrasion, and chemical whitening bleaches your teeth on both the surface and removes stains embedded slightly deeper.
There are three main ingredients that can be used in chemical teeth whitening:
Hydrogen peroxide
Carbamide peroxide
Phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP)
Each of these ingredients whitens teeth by oxidising stains and lightening the overall tooth colour. They work by entering through the enamel layer and altering and breaking down the molecules that hold colour, the smaller the molecule the lighter the colour.
The difference between these whitening ingredients is that when peroxides get to work they release free radicals that can damage your teeth and gum tissue. PAP does not release free radicals when it oxidises stains, making it much safer for you to use to whiten your teeth.
In the following video, Professor Laurie Walsh explains the science behind PAP teeth whitening:
What is the difference between PAP and PAP+?
Smile Avenue and Hismile both use phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP) whitening, but you may have noticed that Hismile refers to their whitening formula as PAP+. This may sound like they use different active whitening ingredients, but the difference between the two formulae is the other added ingredients.
The + in Hismile's PAP+ formula actually refers to the ingredient nano-hydroxyapatite (Nano-HAp). Both Hismile and Smile Avenue include the ingredient hydroxyapatite (HAp), a naturally occurring form of calcium apatite found in bones, saliva and teeth. HAp helps to remineralise teeth by replacing minerals and strengthening weakened enamel.
Hismile uses a nano-synthetic version which works slightly better because the particles are smaller, and can therefore fill in more damaged areas of enamel. Nano-HAp has been proven to remineralise enamel, specifically initial lesions, at a higher rate than fluoride.
Hismile’s PAP+ formula also includes Potassium citrate to help with any pre-existing sensitivity you may have prior to whitening your teeth.
So, in short, a PAP+ formula is no more effective at whitening teeth, but it should do a better job of remineralising enamel.
What are the best PAP teeth whitening products?
Smile Avenue and Hismile are both brands that have PAP teeth whitening products available. Our top picks are their whitening kits, but Hismile has a whole range of PAP+ whitening products including whitening strips, powder, and mouthwash.
Smile Avenue Teeth Whitening Kit
The Smile Avenue Whitening Kit is a popular whitening kit in the UK. It is made in the US but conforms to all EU and UK legislation. The whitening formula in this whitening kit is gentle and peroxide-free and uses PAP as the main active ingredient.
Smile Avenue uses PAP in its teeth whitening gel formula
The kit contains everything you need for a professional whitening experience at home, and you should see results within days. To get results of up to 3 shades or more you just need to use this kit for 16 minutes per day for 10-14 days.
Smile Avenue's Whitening kit contains:
4 syringes of whitening gel (24-30 applications)
A fixed-shape mouth tray with LED lights
Adaptors to fit USB, USB Type-C and lightning (iPhone) sockets
A shade guide
Instruction manual
To use this whitening kit you paint the PAP whitening gel directly onto your teeth and then connect the mouthpiece to your phone and wait for 16 minutes. Then just wash off the gel and try not to swallow any!
Even though PAP is not known to damage your gum tissue, painting it directly onto your teeth ensures you don't get any on your gums. The built-in LED lights mean that you get greater coverage than other kits that use exterior lights.
Hismile is becoming more and more popular for its range of effective PAP+ whitening products. They are based in Australia and have a strong focus on research and development to deliver safe but effective teeth whitening.
Their whitening kit includes Hismiles PAP+ formula which includes other ingredients to help remineralise and desensitise teeth while you whiten, including nano-hydroxyapatite and potassium citrate.
Hismile's Whitening Kit contains:
A fixed-shape mouth tray
Attachable LED light with 10-minute timer
6 x teeth whitening pods
Instructions
Colour chart
To use this whitening kit you simply squeeze one of the gel pods into the upper and lower parts of the mouthpiece and then pop it in your mouth and wait for 10 minutes. You should see results almost immediately.
These whitening strips work just like other types of whitening strips except they use Hismile’s PAP+ formula. This means that you get the same remineralising and desensitising benefits as you do when you use the whitening kit.
While you won’t get quite the same results as you do when using the whitening kit, they are a quick and convenient way to whiten your teeth on the go.
Unlike other types of strips, you won’t have to suffer through sensitive teeth after you have used them, and your teeth may even feel less sensitive after whitening!
Hismile’s Whitening Powder is one of their newer whitening products to become available. It includes all of the benefits of their PAP+ whitening formula in powder form. All you have to do is apply your regular toothpaste to your toothbrush, and dip it in the whitening powder.
Then just brush your teeth, as you normally would. The whitening powder turns your regular toothpaste into a whitening toothpaste without you having to change from your favourite brand of toothpaste. You can read more about teeth-whitening powder in our guide here.
PAP teeth whitening is a safe and effective way to whiten your teeth without causing the damage that you sometimes get with peroxide products.
Smile Avenue and Hismile both have whitening kits that use phthalimidoperoxycaproic acid (PAP) as the main ingredient. They also include other ingredients to help remineralise, desensitise and strengthen your teeth. Hismile has a full range of PAP+ whitening products including whitening kits, strips, powder, and mouthwash!
The PAP+ formula is slightly different from PAP because it includes the ingredient nano-hydroxyapatite. This is a nano-synthetic version that has smaller particles to help remineralise your teeth enamel more effectively.
Our top recommendations for PAP teeth whitening are Smile Avenue's Whitening Kit and Hismile's Whitening Kit. Another brand you might want to check out is the SmileTime teeth whitening kit. But for general whitening maintenance or for fast and convenient whitening, check out Hismile's full range of PAP+ whitening products.
PAP Teeth Whitening: How Does It Work, Is It Safe and What Are the Best Products?
