Surprise is when we have gone so far ahead in some particular field only to discover later that we have gone back to where we actually began. This is what seems to be happening in the field of teeth whitening. You will be surprised to discover that majority of dentists today are opting to forego modern in-laser or LED light activated whitening procedures in favor of some take home teeth whitening kits that feature custom fitted mouth trays.

These tray whitening kits are used at home and they simply consist of mouth trays and doses of peroxide in syringe form. All you do is simply inject the peroxide into the mouth trays and wear them over your teeth for a given amount of time daily for a period of about two or so weeks. Even though the effects come gradually the results are usually pleasing and very striking. The good thing about it is that it allows you and the dentist to monitor the development and specify the shade of whiteness that you require together with the fact that it minimizes sensitivity.  Developed in the early 1900′s, tray whitening kits were once the only options for those with stained or discolored teeth. Yet, as teeth whitening moved into retail stores with toothpaste formulations, and conventional dentists purchased expensive in-office light-activated systems, the tray procedure was largely overshadowed.

Woman whitening teeth using tray whitening kits

The reason this style was abandoned was the long periods of time it took to wear teeth whitening trays and the discomfort that was associated with it. This was enhanced by the concept that caught up with us of the fast lunch hour that was promoted as the fastest teeth whitening procedure of that time. However, recent research seems to indicate that tray teeth whitening may still be the best such procedure we have created in many years that have passed. These kits are usually affordable and because you and your dentist agree on the strength of the peroxide to be used, it is much easier to control the results and there is also a diminished chance of side effects.

The Tray’s the Thing

Many dentists will prescribe tray whitening kits or they can actually be purchased over the counter or the internet. If it is your dentist who prescribes the kit for you there are high chances that it may involve the developing of a custom made mouth tray. These custom trays can actually help reduce the amount of time you will be wearing one because they ensure maximum contact between the teeth and bleach and can also be used for touch ups or spot whitening.

The dentist can very easily create a custom fit mouth tray by taking an impression of your teeth and then get molds that are exact being made for your tooth arches. At home, you’ll fill these trays with the specified peroxide solution in the manner your dentist directs – usually minutes or hours every day for up to two weeks.

There some over the counter kits that that may also feature custom made trays only that you will be taking the fitting yourself making it difficult to get the exact impression. You are likely to get what is referred to as boil and bite mouth trays, stock or one-size mouth trays.    “Boil & Bite” trays offer some customization to enhance bleach-to-tooth contact. They’re made of a malleable substance that, when gently heated and applied directly to teeth, conforms to the shape of your own mouth. Stock or One-Size Mouth Trays are exactly as they sound – inexpensive plastic shells that fit the general shape of average upper and lower arches. In addition to their lack of exact fit, stock mouth trays are often also made with a thicker type of plastic than their custom or boil & bite counterparts. Thicker walls in turn may add to discomfort, increase salivation) and interfere with bite patterns.

The Ideal Solution

The tray whitening kits can easily be differentiated by their distinct mouth trays as well as the intensity of the peroxide solution they deliver. And because whitening takes place over some time with the whitening tray the concentration of the peroxide is usually lower than what is used in the in-office procedures which is a good thing at the end of the day. The side effects that could arise are usually minimized because of the lower concentration of peroxide. This also allows the dentist to stop the process when you reach the shade of white that is desired.

For bleaching teeth we use hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is extremely strong and it needs to be fresh in order to deliver results and must be supervised by a medical practitioner. Carbamide peroxide is a more user-friendly, shelf-stable version of hydrogen peroxide – meaning that it isn’t quite as strong and can be kept fresh for a longer time than hydrogen peroxide – an important consideration, especially for do-it-yourselfers purchasing pre-packaged kits.

Even so, it should be remembered that carbamide peroxide is still a bleaching agent and should also be sued with caution when making a decision to whiten your teeth without dental supervision. Your expectations also need to be reasonable so that you don’t end up abusing whitening trays so that at the end of the day you end up harming your teeth and gums.

So what is the best way to acquire you teeth whitening tray? You have the option of buying it online, buying at the local store or visit with your dentist. You may need to consider the following factors as you make up your mind.

The whole process is a bleach-based chemical process that can have its own serious side effects. You will need to realize that if your teeth and gums are not at all healthy you will obviously feel some pain and even have some considerable damage. If you only have a thorough dental examination can grant you a clean bill of oral health. When was your last check-up?

If you plan to have your own impressions for the custom fit mouth trays remember you have to be meticulous to do a perfect match and that way you will have the perfect whitening results you desire due to maximum bleach to tooth contact. Do your teeth or gums react intensely to heat or cold? You might be the sensitive type, so if you’re planning on do-it-yourself whitening, then do your homework and pick kits with lower peroxide concentrations or peroxides formulated especially for sensitive teeth.