Health & Fitness Blog

With the myriad of teeth whitening products available, it is difficult to choose one. Let us take a look at teeth whitening trays. They are available either in the dentist office or over-the-counter. They are molded to the teeth, and then they are filled with a hydrogen peroxide containing gel. Finally, they are placed on the teeth where they will hold the peroxide to the teeth for a long 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 trays are better than whitening toothpastes, because the toothpastes do not contain the bleaching agent hydrogen peroxide, but instead contain only abrasive materials which are 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.

They are superior to the whitening strips products in that they coat the entire tooth. Whitening strips cannot get into the cracks and grooves between the teeth, since the strips lay on top of the set of teeth. Whitening trays, however, can do this.

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.

When the gel spills into other areas of the mouth, it will taste bad. More importantly, however, it will burn the tissue, which can lead to gum and tooth sensitivity. Although this sensitivity usually subsides within twenty four to forty eight hours, it is best avoided.

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.

Cody Scholberg, a recognized expert on whitening teeth, writes about the different ways to whiten your teeth, such as laser whitening.