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Tray whitening is usually performed at home. Kits come with mouth trays that are like sports mouth guards, along with peroxide. The peroxide is lined inside the tray and worn for about two weeks. Results are gradual and will continue to appear over the duration of treatment.
by JamesMatthews


Tray whitening is usually performed at home. Kits come with mouth trays that are like sports mouth guards, along with peroxide. The peroxide is lined inside the tray and worn for about two weeks. Results are gradual and will continue to appear over the duration of treatment.

Teeth whitening trays have been around for around 100 years. Before orthodontists started getting high-tech equipment like the light emitting diode, tray products were consumers only option. Since then, their market share started to shrink.

Some consumers complain about the time involved with tray whitening along with the comfort level experienced during treatment. Many of the one-size-fits-all products tend to be very uncomfortable. Orthodontists can provide the same results in less than an hour.

Tray whitening has some upsides as well. One perk is that they allow the user to control the shade of whitening they desire. Dentists can either go too dark or too light for some patients. Tray kits are also relatively expensive, especially with the increased competition on the market. Many users report that the tray kits have lesser side effects, compared to more expensive treatments with stronger solutions.

Tray kits may be purchased online or obtained from your orthodontist. The prescription ones usually require custom fit mouth trays. Custom fit trays will cut down the time they need to be worn due to the more even contact of solution with the user's teeth. You doctor will take a impression of your teeth, and then make a mold to match. Some over-the-counter brands will have a boil and bite feature like sports mouth guards do, but this will still be less effective compared to what your doctor can provide. I would personally prefer the boil and bite over the stock one-size-fits-all brands if you don't want to make an office visit.

Home trays allow the lightening process to be very gradual. The user may stop whenever they reach their desired lightness. Reduced side effects are also a common feature for those with sensitive teeth.

Carbamide Peroxide is considered to be more user-friendly. It is a more shelf stable version of the two, so it has the ability to last longer.

Hydrogen peroxide is the stronger of the two. Supervision is advised to apply it properly. It needs to be fresh for full effectiveness.

Quick Summary:

-Your own molds or trays will never be as good as you get from your doctor.

-If you have sensitive teeth, you react to hot or cold substances, you may want to choose a product with a low peroxide concentration to start out. There are kits on the market for this exact purpose, so read the description carefully.

-Always make sure you purchase from reputable manufacturers. You may need to do some homework to find out what is good and what isn't. There are many reviews online for various store brands, so check them out. This industry isn't heavily regulated, so be careful which product you purchase, especially online.

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