Monday 5 October 2009

Teeth Whitening Trays

By Cody Scholberg

Teeth whitening trays are now available as a teeth whitening option either over-the-counter or in the dentist office. The trays are first molded to the teeth, after which they are filled with a gel, which contains hydrogen peroxide. They are then placed on the teeth, where they hold the hydrogen peroxide containing gel on the teeth for a period of time.

Aquafresh White Trays are the most well-known over-the-counter whitening trays. The gel contains ten percent hydrogen peroxide.

Gels that users get at the dentist often contain more than ten percent hydrogen peroxide, making them more effective. The trays and gel are usually given to a patient after a laser teeth whitening treatment or other teeth whitening treatment in order to complete the finishing touches of the treatment.

Whitening trays have advantages over other teeth whitening products.

Whitening toothpastes fail in comparison to whitening trays, because the toothpastes contain abrasive materials instead of the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide; the abrasive materials are far less effective.

Whitening mouthwashes cannot compare with whitening trays either, because they only hold the hydrogen peroxide to the teeth for a minute or less, while the trays hold the peroxide for a long period, generally twenty minutes.

Whitening strips also have their weaknesses when compared to whitening trays. The strips cannot get in between the teeth into the grooves, since they lay on top of the teeth. However, the whitening trays do.

Sadly, whitening trays are not perfect. Because they use gel, the user has less control over where the hydrogen peroxide goes. Sometimes, the gel can spill into the mouth or come into contact with the gum, cheek, or tongue.

Gel spilling into the mouth will leave an unpleasant taste, but that is the least of your worries. It will cause burning, which will lead to tooth and gum sensitivity. This sensitivity, however, is not permanent, and it will usually subside within twenty four to forty eight hours.

Whitening trays do definitely whiten the teeth well. They do not have the "zebra" effect that the strips do, because they get into the grooves in between the teeth. Whitening trays are the most thorough in this sense, second only to laser teeth whitening. Unfortunately, we cannot recommend them due to the difficulty in controlling where the hydrogen peroxide goes. Even though the product works well, it does not justify causing damage to the mouth.

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