What Are Teeth Bleaching Trays?

Teeth bleaching trays are commonly used for teeth whitening procedures. They are used as containers to hold the whitening gel in contact with the teeth. Teeth bleaching trays keep saliva from washing away the gel.

When placing bleaching gel to a mouthpiece tray, it is best to put a very thin deposit of whitening gel on the inside part of the tray, which is the part that contacts the teeth. When the tray is placed inside the mouth, the whitening gel will be distributed evenly to the teeth. It could take several applications to know the right quantity of gel needed for the bleaching tray. Just make sure that the whitening gel only touches the teeth and not the gums.

There are two types of teeth bleaching trays - customized and standard. Customized teeth bleaching trays are a lot comfortable because they are made to perfectly fit a dental patient's mouth. This type of tray is much similar to a teeth guard. Customized bleaching trays are made from very soft materials that firmly cover the entire teeth when whitening gel is applied. It is effective in preventing the chemical from reaching the gums. Whitening gels contain hydrogen peroxide that can cause damage to the gums such as gum ulcers.

On the other hand, standard teeth bleaching trays are not as comfortable as the customized ones. They are often included in over-the-counter teeth whitening kits along with a tube of bleaching gel. The process of application is very much similar. Whitening gel is applied to the mouthpiece tray and then placed inside the mouth for at least thirty minutes. The disadvantage of using a standard bleaching tray is that it does not perfectly fit the mouth of the individual, thus, it does not cover the entire teeth that need to be bleached. Instead, the whitening gel partially touches the gums causing harm to it.

Overall, customized teeth bleaching trays are more advisable to use for teeth whitening. They are made by a licensed dentist and are used for laser teeth whitening. Professional laser teeth whitening is more recommended because a licensed dentist performs the procedure. Dental patients can be sure that this process is more effective and safer than using an over-the-counter bleaching kit.

Dentists do not usually recommend over-the-counter bleaching kits and the public is advised to ensure that these products have the approval of the American Dental Association (ADA) before purchasing or using them.