Teeth bleaching trays are often utilized for teeth whitening procedures. They’re used as containers to hold the whitening gel so it can come in contact with the teeth. Teeth whitening gel trays are used to keep saliva from washing away the gel.
When placing the bleaching gel in a mouthpiece tray, it is best to put a very thin layer instead of a big goop of a mess of whitening gel on the inside part of the tray. You don’t want the gel touching your gums at all. When you put the tray in your mouth, the whitening gel will distribute evenly around your teeth. It might take you a couple tries to know the exact amount of gel you need for the bleaching tray.
Custom Trays
There are two types of teeth bleaching trays; customized and standard. Customized teeth bleaching trays are more comfortable since they’re molded to the inside of a person’s mouth. This type of tray is very similar to a teeth guard. Since customized bleaching trays are made from an extremely soft material they are good at preventing the chemicals from touching the gums. Whitening gels contain an ingredient called hydrogen peroxide which could cause damage to your gums.
OTC Trays
On the flip side, standard teeth bleaching trays are not nearly as comfortable as the previously mentioned customized trays. They’re usually included in teeth whitening kits you can purchase over-the-counter in conjunction with a tube of whitening gel. A tooth whitening gel is applied to the included mouthpiece tray and then placed inside the mouth, usually for 30 minutes or so. The biggest disadvantage of using a standard tray is that it will not perfectly an individual’s mouth exactly. This means it will not cover the entire surface area of the teeth that you wish to bleach. In addition to spotty whitening, the gel touches the gums only partially. As stated earlier, this is not something you want to happen.
In a nutshell, one can clearly see that if you choose to use a bleaching tray to whiten your teeth that customized teeth bleaching trays are the best choice. Before you make a decision on what to do, you should consult your dentist. The opinion of a respected dentist should always be sought when considering a procedure related to your hygiene, health, or well-being.