What are teeth whitening trays? What types of products exist, their pros and cons, indications and contraindications. Rules for the selection, use and care of them.
Teeth whitening trays are specially shaped plastic containers that are worn on the jaws, where a special substance is added that affects the tooth enamel, whitening it. Dentists consider this procedure to be as gentle and safe as possible. All actions are strictly controlled by the attending physician.
What is a teeth whitening tray?
Teeth have the ability to darken and turn yellow over the years. There are many reasons for this: diseases of the oral cavity, poor hygiene, frequent use of colored drinks, smoking. One of the safest and most gentle ways to whiten teeth is to use a special mouth guard. This method is convenient in that it saves the patient from frequent visits to the dentist, which are inevitable in professional enamel whitening by other techniques.
The trays used for whitening are made of soft special plastic or silicone. They differ from the more common jaw protectors used in various sports. The products are thinner, they are comfortable to wear, they do not cause any inconvenience.
Mouthguards are adjusted individually for the jaws of each client. They maintain tightness, and therefore allow you to whiten enamel quickly and comfortably at home.
It is impossible to say exactly about the level of effectiveness of whitening trays. This is an individual parameter that depends on many factors. As a rule, these products allow teeth to be whitened by four to ten points according to the VITA dentist scale. And this is subject to compliance with all the requirements of the dentist.
The bleach gel that is placed inside the mouth guard has a high percentage of hydrogen peroxide. The mouthguard should be as tight as possible to prevent leakage of the substance, as it can damage the gums.
Whitening with trays effectively helps in the following cases:
- With age-related darkening of the enamel (the acquisition of yellow or brown teeth);
- When using drugs that stain the enamel (tetracycline);
- With the abuse of drinks and food that paint the enamel.
Note that the patient may have specific features that affect the shade of the teeth. In some cases, the use of mouth guards is impractical. The dentist will then recommend veneers.
Home whitening with trays may have contraindications:
- The patient's young age (up to eighteen years old);
- Individual intolerance to the components of the whitening gel;
- Pregnancy, lactation;
- Piercing of the tongue, cheeks, lips;
- The presence of various diseases of the oral cavity of an inflammatory nature;
- Recent (less than one month ago) tooth extraction.
Pros and cons of teeth whitening with mouth guards
Mouthguards are sold in any pharmacy, and you do not need a doctor's prescription to purchase them. But it is highly recommended to consult a dentist so as not to harm the oral cavity by improper wearing of the product. Let's consider the main advantages of using mouth guards for enamel whitening:
- The ability to use at home. There is no need for frequent visits to the dentist's office, this provides additional comfort.
- Individual selection of the product depending on the general condition of the enamel, its natural shade, the desired level of whiteness.
- Low visibility of transparent mouth guards, which allows them to be worn in public, at work without aesthetic discomfort.
- Relatively low price. Professional methods for whitening tooth enamel tend to be much more expensive.
- The ability to temporarily stop the whitening course if any unpleasant sensations appear.
There are also disadvantages to this whitening method, and they should be taken into account. As a rule, they are reported by the dentist at the initial consultation.
Consider the disadvantages of using caps:
- The need for everyday use of products.
- The duration of the wearing course to achieve the effect.
- Certain physical discomfort when wearing, difficulty speaking.
- The possibility of bleach getting into the digestive organs or on the oral mucosa. This can provoke irritation. This disadvantage is only present in standard mouth guards.
- The sensitivity of the tooth enamel may increase, and soreness may appear.
- The jaw joints may not function properly due to the use of a mouth guard at night.
- Not all teeth stains can be removed with whitening trays.
All of the above disadvantages are relative and with the right choice of an individual whitening tray, as a rule, they are reduced to zero.
The main types of teeth whitening trays
Products can be of different types. Some of them can be bought at a pharmacy without a prescription and a doctor's prescription, while others are made individually in a special laboratory. In any case, the choice should be agreed with the attending dentist.
Let's consider the main types of teeth whitening trays:
- Standard … The most common and budget option. You can buy them at almost any pharmacy. They have standard shapes and sizes. These silicone whitening trays have two layers. The whitening agent is already applied on the inside. The main disadvantage of the product is the discomfort when worn, since each person has a different shape of the jaw, teeth, bite. The standard set contains ten pairs of mouth guards for two jaws. They are used for an hour or two every day, then they need to be removed for a while.
- Thermoplastic … This type of whitening tray is more personalized. It is made of a special material that changes its shape under the influence of hot water and then, when put on, freezes on the jaws in accordance with the shape of the teeth, the peculiarities of the bite. There is no discomfort during use. The disadvantage of such a product is some inconvenience in operation at the initial stage. For example, you will have to apply the bleaching agent every time with a special syringe. Such trays should be worn at night, during rest (8 hours), as well as during the day for 4-5 hours. They cost about twice as much as standard ones.
- Individual … These are the most comfortable mouthguards to use. They are inconspicuous, as they are performed according to the patient's personal "template", under his jaw and bite. An impression of an individual whitening tray is made in the dental office, after which it is sent to the laboratory for the manufacture of the product. The advantages of this variety are ease of wear, high efficiency, since the gel adheres tightly to the tooth enamel. Cons - the high price and the need to visit the dentist's office several times.
It is also worth noting that when buying a standard or thermoplastic mouthguard, the patient receives a whitening gel based on hydrogen peroxide. In addition, the composition includes fluorine, potassium nitrate, which reduce the sensitivity of the enamel. In individual mouth guards, the gel is prepared by the dentist, taking into account the characteristics of the patient's enamel. The correct dosage of hydrogen peroxide is used, and special assets are added. If there is a strong yellowness of the enamel, then carbamide peroxide and substances that remineralize the enamel are added to the bleaching mixture.
How to choose teeth whitening trays?
Standard products can be purchased at any pharmacy without a doctor's prescription. Presumably, they are all safe and not harmful to health. However, it should be remembered that the composition of the whitening gel contains rather aggressive substances, which, when flowing out of the mouthguard, can harm the oral mucosa and digestive organs.
Therefore, when choosing a method of whitening with trays at home, follow these recommendations:
- Be sure to consult your dentist before starting whitening therapy. After examining the oral cavity, a specialist will be able to tell how the gel will work on your tooth enamel.
- With a high sensitivity of the enamel of the teeth and the presence of chips, cracks, you should choose trays with a special gel in the composition (for sensitive enamel), which will not cause more harm to the teeth.
- The optimal material for standard mouth guards is silicone. It provides a snug fit to the tooth, unlike plastic.
How to use teeth whitening trays?
Regardless of what type of mouthguards you use, recommendations for their use are general and boil down to the following points:
- Before using the mouthguard, thoroughly clean your teeth with a paste.
- Apply whitening tray gel to the desired area of the product. Do not exceed its dosage so that it does not leave the device.
- When putting on the mouthguard, make sure that the substance is evenly distributed inside the teeth. If the gel has gone outside the product, remove it with a brush or finger.
- After the product is firmly seated on your teeth, rinse your mouth with clean water.
- Wear a mouthguard for a strictly set number of hours, without exceeding the time of use.
- After removing the mouthguard, rinse your mouth with water as well.
Important! To achieve maximum effect, it is recommended to use the mouthguard for no more than five hours in a row. For a while, food and liquids that can stain tooth enamel should be excluded from the diet. Also, quit smoking.
As a rule, already after one to three weeks after the start of the course, the result will be noticeable. It can be achieved only if the recommendations of a specialist are followed.
Guidelines for the care of mouth guards
For high-quality teeth whitening, mouthguards should be properly looked after. It is enough to adhere to simple rules:
- After each use, the product must be rinsed and dried so that the cap retains its integrity.
- The outer surface of the fixture should be cleaned with a toothbrush.
- It is necessary to store the mouthguard in a special case with ventilation so that it does not suffer from temperature changes and environmental influences.
- Show it to your dentist on a regular basis so that he can assess the degree of deterioration and suitability for further use. If the dentist has determined that the mouthguard is not suitable for use, it should not be worn anymore.
How to whiten teeth with mouth guards - watch the video:
Teeth whitening guards are a simple, convenient and relatively inexpensive way to brighten enamel. Such products can be worn in public places without drawing attention to the oral cavity. Before using it, it is recommended to consult a specialist.
