Patent ID: 7264471

Claim:
A method of bleaching at least one of a person's teeth, comprising: prior to applying a moisture-resistant barrier layer, applying a dental bleaching composition onto at least one tooth surface, wherein said bleaching composition comprises at least one bleaching agent and a carrier for said bleaching agent; applying a protective composition on or adjacent to gingival tissue in order to form a barrier between the gingival tissue and said bleaching composition, and wherein the protective composition includes at least one tissue adhesion agent that includes at least one hydrophilic polymer, and a dental bleaching agent in a lower concentration than the dental bleaching agent contained in said dental bleaching composition; placing a moisture-resistant barrier layer over the tooth surface in order to protect said bleaching composition from saliva and/or mechanical forces; and bleaching the tooth surface by means of said bleaching composition while protecting the gingival tissue near the tooth surface by means of said protective composition.