Tray Teeth Whitening

Have you developing yellowed or stained teeth that leave you feeling embarrassed? You may have seen toothpastes on drugstore shelves that promise to whiten your teeth. However, you may not be aware about custom trays as a bleaching solution. Custom whitening trays are, in fact, an easy solution for tooth bleaching. They can restore a brilliant smile with treatments you can do at home. You can also get custom teeth whitening trays at a dentist's office.

Please keep reading to learn more about teeth whitening trays. Find out how whitening gel can give you a pearly white smile, how trays compare to other products, and whether you need an office treatment for whiter teeth. Learn how you can quickly and easily get a brighter, whiter smile and a boost in self-confidence with custom whitening trays.

What causes tooth discoloration?

Tooth discoloration is a change in the color of the teeth that makes them look less bright or white. Your teeth can become darker, yellow, or shades of other colors. They can also develop spots and stains. This occurs due to extrinsic factors (food, drinks, tobacco smoke, excessive fluoride) coming in contact with your teeth. It can also be due to intrinsic reasons, meaning something from within, such as poor dental hygiene, certain medical conditions, or as a side effect of some medications. The natural color of your teeth can also change with age or due to trauma.

What is teeth whitening and bleaching?

Teeth whitening or tooth bleaching is a method of restoring your teeth to a whiter, brighter smile. This can be accomplished at home using tooth bleaching trays. Also known as teeth whitening trays, these products do not actually contain a bleaching agent. They are available at your local drugstore or supermarket and can whiten your teeth in just a few days. If you decide to apply whitening trays at home, you should follow the instructions carefully for proper application of the whitening gel.

You can also get customized tooth whitening treatment from your dentist. This can give you excellent results in only one visit. If your dentist decides that you are a good candidate for a tooth whitening procedure, specifically with trays, they may design a custom whitening tray that fits your individual dental structure. These custom teeth whitening trays have a higher concentration of bleaching solution to speed up the whitening process. They are also formulated to prevent gum irritation or discomfort in people with tooth sensitivity.

Does tray teeth whitening work?

Teeth whitening or bleaching trays that are available over-the-counter at drugstores are usually made of a flexible material that takes the shape of your teeth. The trays gently fit around your teeth and whiten the surface of the teeth. Most of these products include a set of disposable trays. You use two trays every day - one for the bottom teeth and one for the top teeth.

Dental professionals can design custom trays that are created to fit into your mouth perfectly. This is done using impression material. Some teeth whitening trays come pre-filled with a peroxide-based whitening agent. Others can be filled with whitening gel using syringes, based on how much is needed.

How long does it take to whiten teeth using trays?

Some tooth whitening trays need to be worn for a few hours, others require overnight application. Results can vary from person to person. In general, teeth whitening trays need to be worn for a longer time every day compared to some other tooth whitening options. It is often required that you don't eat or drink anything while the teeth bleaching is taking place. Some other technologies like whitening strips allow you to talk, eat, drink water, and do other normal daily activities while teeth bleaching occurs.

How much do dental whitening trays cost?

As noted, you can buy tray-based tooth whitening systems from a drugstore or have custom teeth whitening trays made by your dentist. The cost of teeth whitening trays ranges from $150 to $600.

Other Home Treatments for Whiter Teeth

Trays are not your only option for whiter teeth. There are other treatments that require a shorter application time and offer flexibility to continue your regular routine. Some popular alternatives to teeth whitening trays include:

Whitening Strips

These are easy to use and require application for just a few minutes every day. They can accomplish dramatic whitening with a few days of use. They consist of flexible strips that stick to your teeth. The teeth bleaching is achieved with a peroxide-based whitening product. You can go about your daily routine and even drink water while the strips work to whiten your teeth. The results from whitening strips can last for up to 12 months.

Whitening Toothpaste and Mouth Rinse

Whitening toothpastes provide more subtle whitening but they help prevent stain build up over time. You can combine this with a whitening mouthwash that helps to remove surface stains and prevent new surface stains from forming, leaving you with a bright smile.

Dental Hygiene

Keep in mind that no whitening product can help if you don't follow good oral hygiene regimen that includes daily brushing and flossing. You should also visit a dental professional for professional cleaning twice a year. Avoiding products that stain, such as coffee, tea, wine, sodas, and tobacco will also protect your teeth from discoloration and leave you with a beautiful smile.

Laser Teeth Whitening vs Teeth Whitening Trays – Which is Better?

Laser treatment for whiter teeth is one of the newest procedures in cosmetic dentistry. It is a specialized technique that involves applying a concentrated bleaching gel to the teeth. The gel is then heated using a laser to provide intense teeth bleaching. The bleaching gel is usually peroxide based. The heat from the laser accelerates the breakdown of the particles on the tooth surface that cause discoloration.

Dentists use a carbon dioxide or argon laser to provide fast teeth whitening. Laser teeth whitening may be able to give you stain-free teeth with a series of office treatments (each treatment is a 30-minute session).

Some people prefer laser whitening because they don't want the hassle of sleeping with custom teeth whitening trays in their mouth.

Benefits of Laser Whitening

• Treatment consists of 2-4 sessions (more if teeth are extremely discolored).
• Each teeth whitening session lasts 15-30 minutes (maximum 60 minutes).
• Results are instant and truly dramatic.
• While home treatments are not dangerous, treatments performed under the medical supervision of a dentist can reduce any potential risks or discomfort. This is especially important for people with sensitive teeth and gums.
• Professional tooth whitening accomplishes faster results (1 hour) compared to home treatment products like bleaching trays that produce results in about 4 weeks.
• If the desired results are more intense, this is often possible only with custom teeth whitening. Bleaching agents used by a dentist are stronger.

Benefits of Teeth Whitening Trays

• Treatments are affordable. Cost is up to 90% lower than laser teeth whitening.
• The treatment is painless and non invasive.
• Trays can be custom fitted to your teeth.
• You can wear the trays while sleeping.
• Results can be maintained with annual treatment.
• Trays can last for up to 5 years.

Finding a dentist for teeth whitening

Teeth whitening trays are safe, effective, and popular, but there are other options available that can give you your best teeth. The MeTime app makes it easy to find a dentist for teeth whitening. You can chat with experts, share photos, do a video consultation, and get quotes. And when you're ready to go in for your teeth whitening procedure, you can even pay securely using MeTime. Download the MeTime app today and say hello to a whiter, brighter, more beautiful smile.