Patent ID: 8277783

Claim:
A method of whitening a tooth comprising: applying to the tooth an oxidizing agent comprising between about 0.005 to about 3.0 percent by weight of a compound of the formula R 1 (MnO 4 ) n , or mixtures thereof, wherein R 1 is H, an alkali-metal, or an alkaline earth metal, and n is 1 when R 1 is H or an alkali-metal and 2 when R 1 is an alkaline earth metal; and a reducing agent comprising between about 1 to about 3 percent by weight of a peroxygen compound, or mixtures thereof, wherein the peroxygen compound is hydrogen peroxide, urea peroxide, an alkali-metal peroxide, or an alkaline earth metal peroxide, wherein the oxidizing agent and the reducing agent are simultaneously applied to the tooth, the oxidizing agent reacts with the reducing agent on the tooth's surface to generate the tooth whitening effect, and the tooth whitens by at least one shade according to the Vita Shade Guide.