Trays for teeth whitening at home. Advantages and contraindications

The use of whitening gel and trays has greatly simplified and protected the enamel lightening procedure. Neither the patient nor the doctor needs to independently prepare the composition and come up with ways to fix it. Ready-made kits for in-office and home whitening are offered by a number of manufacturers - White Light, Opalescence, Mira White, Pearl Smile, Global White.

To whiten teeth, you need to choose the most suitable system from the offered range (in terms of effectiveness, price, duration of the procedure) and apply it correctly.

Mouthguards for a snow-white smile – safety and effectiveness of the technique

One of the options for giving your smile a flawless whiteness is to whiten your teeth at home using special trays. You do not need to visit a dentist's office to take the course. It is enough to purchase a kit at the pharmacy, and you can carry out whitening sessions yourself. The main thing is to strictly follow the instructions, and also first obtain approval from your doctor. First, a specialist must assess the current condition of the enamel and determine whether this method will be safe specifically in your case. Only after this can you safely start using trays for teeth whitening. Today we’ll talk in detail about this method of brightening a smile, and also give some important recommendations regarding its use.

About personal experience

The result of my stalkerish search on the forums was the acquisition of an Australian set called White Glo. Inside a beautiful translucent box (marketing for a five, because everything looks beautiful) there is a paste, a gel and a mouth guard on which this gel is applied.

Teeth whitening gels

About the pros:

• There is no abrasive effect on the enamel. Apparently, only chemistry works;
• helps against stains that appear when drinking coffee or black tea;
• in general, it is inexpensive;
• the procedure takes a minimum of time;
• reusable aps.

How long to keep teeth whitening product with trays? Apparently, this thing is concentrated, because the instructions require using it for no more than five minutes daily.

Teeth whitening with White Glo trays

There is only one minus - the gel, of which there are 100 ml in a bottle, sooner or later runs out. And you can hardly buy it separately from the set anywhere. Buying another set of the same, it seems to me, is somewhat expensive. However, this does not need to be done so often that it hits the budget.

Sequence of actions for teeth whitening with a mouth guard

What are enamel lightening trays?

The mouth guard itself is not a whitening agent - it is a kind of plastic elastic reservoir, an overlay designed to be fixed to the dentition. How to whiten teeth with a mouth guard? To do this, you need to add a special brightening gel to it, which usually contains hydrogen peroxide 6-9% or carbamide peroxide at a concentration of 10-15%1.

Method of teeth whitening with aligners

“I, too, from time to time undergo a course of whitening with trays - I put a weak solution immediately at night. The visible effect can be detected as early as 3-4 days. There is no need to go to the dentist and pay crazy amounts of money. After the course, sensitivity of the enamel appears, but it is insignificant and does not interfere with life. Then everything is restored, but the smile is truly snow-white.”

Elvira R., Nizhny Novgorod, from correspondence on the woman.ru forum

Hydrogen peroxide is considered more intense, with its help you can achieve the desired effect faster, but here you need to understand that the substance has a fairly aggressive effect on the enamel, so you can’t go through the procedures too often - you can seriously damage the protective layer of the teeth. Carbamide peroxide provides a more gentle lightening, but also helps achieve noticeable results.

The procedure for making mouth guards

1. The patient is first sent for a consultation with a dentist, who determines whether teeth whitening with a mouth guard is possible in a particular case.
2. If necessary, the doctor can perform professional cleaning of the molars.
3. Afterwards, impressions are taken, from which teeth whitening trays will be made. The impression must be of very high quality, which will allow all the anatomical features of the patient’s dentition to be taken into account during production.
4. In a specialized laboratory, the elements themselves are made from impressions; usually they use soft plastic plates, the thickness of which is from one millimeter, this is transparent plastic. The design also includes a reservoir with a depth of at least three millimeters, and the edges of the aligners are cut to the level of the gums, thus preventing the gel from getting on the gums.
5. Afterwards, the design is transferred to the dentist. If necessary, the dentist can custom fit the mouth guards.

Types of whitening trays

There are currently three main types of dental whitening trays on the market. Let's take a closer look at them.

Mouth guards can be different

Standard models

This is the most budget option, which, however, is associated with certain risks. Firstly, this method is not suitable for everyone - the risk of developing an allergic reaction is too high. Secondly, there is a high probability of contact of the lightening gel with the mucous membrane, which can lead to injury. Sets with mouth guards may come with different gels, so you need to choose the option that suits you and strictly follow the instructions, especially regarding dosages and the duration of one session.

Thermoplastic for immersion in hot water

Such products are designed to be lowered into hot water - only after that they are put on a row. The onlay is tightly suctioned to the teeth, due to which it is practically not felt in the mouth and minimizes the degree of discomfort during whitening. This method is considered safer and more effective, however it is somewhat more expensive.

Individual – perfect fit to the enamel

Such products are created in a dental laboratory. The advantages here are on the surface - the aligners contact the enamel as closely as possible, adapt to all the characteristics of the dental system of a particular patient, provide a high level of comfort and guarantee the achievement of the best effect. Even the gel is prepared taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient.

Individual models fit snugly to the teeth

Composition of the gel inside the aligners

Thermoplastic and standard models usually come complete with a universal gel, the main active ingredient of which is hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide - we already talked about this a little higher. Additionally, components are added to the product that help reduce hyperesthesia after the procedure - we are talking about sodium and fluoride.

But when choosing individual overlays, the composition of the lightening gel will be selected individually, depending on the degree of darkening of the enamel and its current condition. In this case, the concentration of the active substance may be slightly higher. So, for example, in professional products its indicator can reach 45%, while for home whitening methods gels with a concentration of no higher than 15% are used.

About the whitening process

How does cap teeth whitening happen? Let's consider all aspects of this process and the sequence of its implementation. The effect is produced by the medications included in the kit, which include hydrogen peroxide or carbamide. The result is directly determined by the concentration of the active reagent. The stronger it is, the better and more noticeable the result. Tooth color correction procedures, even when using standard aligners, are best started by visiting a doctor for the following reasons:

• As a result of the examination, the dentist will determine the actual state of oral health, examine the possibility of using lightening products, recommend a drug of a specific level of impact, and also talk about the expected results and possible negative consequences.
• Before putting on the plate, it is recommended that your teeth be removed from plaque and tartar by a doctor so that the whitening composition is as effective as possible.
• The whitening gel is loaded into the device for the procedure. The design has a mark on the maximum permissible filling level. It is necessary that the amount of gel does not exceed the risk. A separate mouth guard is provided for each jaw.
• The plate is not removed for some time. The procedure lasts 4 or 5 hours. The duration depends on the concentration of bleaching agents. This can be for daytime use, or perhaps night guards can be used to lighten teeth. To avoid gum reaction, you can lubricate them with Vaseline.
• While the trays are in the mouth, it is not recommended to eat or drink. At the end of the procedure, there should be no components with a coloring effect in the dishes.
• After removing the tray, you need to wash off the remaining gel from the enamel. The mouthguard itself is washed with warm water and dried, stored in an individual container until the next use.

The duration of whitening varies from two to three weeks. As a result, your teeth should become lighter.

Properties inherent in this method

A mouthguard is just a kind of case, a tool that allows you to evenly distribute the lightening composition and keep it on the enamel throughout the entire session. This method is characterized by the following properties:

• usually the course lasts 2-3 weeks, but the first results can be seen after 3-4 sessions,
• in formulations for self-use, the concentration of the active substance is minimal, so if the teeth are healthy, there is no need to worry about their condition and sensitivity,
• hyperesthesia - in this case it is a natural phenomenon that goes away on its own within a week from the start of the course (if sensitivity and discomfort increase, you should urgently see a dentist),
• The maximum duration of one procedure is half an hour. It all depends on the concentration of the gel, look for exact instructions on this in the instructions,
• One of the undoubted advantages of the method is its ease of use - while the gel is on the enamel, you can safely go about your daily activities.

This bleaching method is very convenient and easy to use.
It is worth noting that the cost of such bleaching will be several times lower than in-office bleaching. On the other hand, there is a higher risk of doing something wrong and causing undesirable consequences. In any case, before starting the course, you should definitely consult with your dentist.

Why shouldn't you expect a wow effect?

Professional dentists confirm the fact that when using aligners, the patient should not expect a radical transformation and the acquisition of a snow-white Hollywood smile. The maximum you can lighten the enamel in this way is 2-4 shades, and then only if you have prepared for the procedures and have undergone professional oral hygiene.

If you really pursue the goal of making your smile 4-12 shades lighter, then there is no alternative to professional whitening methods. But mouth guards after in-office procedures are quite suitable for maintaining the results at a high level for many years of life.

“Along with certain advantages, home whitening trays also have disadvantages. Many of those who used the devices without consulting a doctor remain disappointed, because... They note that the stains on the enamel are still preserved, the shade remains the same. It’s better to use trays to maintain the results of in-office whitening – it will be much more effective and safer.”

What are the advantages?

Individual dental trays for teeth whitening have a lot of undeniable advantages. Among the advantages of the method, dental experts and patients highlight the following points:

• simplicity and ease of use at home or even at work,
• efficiency,
• almost completely invisible on the teeth,
• bleaching occurs both on the outside and on the inside of the row,
• the possibility of individual selection of products, based on the original color of the enamel and the current state of the dental tissues.

The photo shows teeth before and after whitening.
It is important to understand that any home whitening method can only be used after consultation with a specialist, strictly following the instructions. Otherwise, you can cause serious damage to the health of your teeth and oral cavity in general.

Disadvantages of the method in question

Along with numerous advantages, mouth guards for cleaning teeth also have some disadvantages. So, for example, they affect diction and interfere with normal conversation. If you walk with gel on your teeth for too long, it can begin to corrode the enamel layer and lead to increased sensitivity. According to some reviews, to achieve a visible effect, you need to use such mouth guards systematically, for quite a long time. Before starting the course, you must carefully study the instructions. Dental experts recommend a professional cleaning to start with, and mouthguards used as a maintenance measure.

Teeth may become sensitive with frequent use

How to consolidate the result?

To consolidate the effect after lightening tooth enamel, it is advisable to exclude from the diet for several days:

• carbonated drinks with dyes, tea, coffee;
• beets, carrots, blueberries, currants, etc.;
• cocoa, chocolate;
• tomato, soy sauces;
• fruit drink, red wine.

Important: smoking is contraindicated for 14 days after the end of the procedures, otherwise the result will be short-lived and the efforts will be wasted.

Indications for the use of whitening trays

Experts in the field of aesthetic dentistry say that there is a separate category of patients for whom the use of such home lightening methods is especially recommended. These include elderly people whose enamel has changed its color as a result of natural age-related processes, as well as smokers, coffee drinkers, people taking potent medications, including tetracycline antibiotics - quite often these drugs lead to pronounced yellowing of the enamel layer.

What are the contraindications

The use of whitening trays, like any other option for lightening the enamel, is associated with the risk of damage to the protective layer of the teeth, the development of hyperesthesia, that is, increased sensitivity, and even complete destruction of dental tissue. Therefore, before you start using such mouth guards, it is so important to make sure that you have no contraindications:

• tendency to allergic manifestations, especially to the components included in the gel,
• individual intolerance to the composition,
• pregnancy, breastfeeding,
• children's age (up to 16-18 years),
• pathologies of hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity,
• dental injuries,
• piercings on lips and mouth,
• recent tooth extraction,
• injured, thinned enamel,
• taking powerful sedatives,
• some systemic pathologies, for example, diabetes or rheumatism.

During pregnancy, the use of the procedure is contraindicated
. Obviously, making an independent decision about using trays for home whitening is fraught with serious consequences for the health of your smile. Therefore, first you need to visit the dentist’s office to assess the condition of the oral cavity and enamel.

Experience of friends

Knowing that among my friends and colleagues there are a lot of “health enthusiasts” and other lovers of all sorts of useful things, I began to actively poll people about the use of such gels with mouth guards. After talking with people, I found out that many of them tried to whiten their teeth this way. Some looked for it themselves, others were recommended by doctors.

In fact, all the systems that come across are divided into two types - with peroxide and without it. The rest comes down to marketing, etc.

Self-installation of a whitening tray

One of these compositions was made based on sodium perborate NaBO3. Nothing new. It was previously added to tooth powders. Now - into bleaches and detergents.

There were, of course, those who swore, claiming that all these funds were pure fraud. Indeed, it is somewhat presumptuous to hope that, having smoked since the age of twelve and drinking five cups of coffee a day, you can quickly whiten your teeth with gel. Although I don’t rule out that they got a fake.

Trays for home teeth whitening should be stored in a special case and washed after each use.

How to use correctly - instructions for use

To do everything correctly, achieve the desired result at home and not harm your teeth, it is important to follow all the instructions in the instructions. Experts also suggest taking note of the following recommendations:

1. before installing the product, you need to thoroughly brush your teeth, rinse your mouth and blot the enamel with a dry paper towel,
2. then we take out the pad and fill its inner surface with gel - the dosage is indicated in the instructions,
3. We fix the mouthguard on the jaw so that it fits tightly to the row on both sides. It is important that it does not come into contact with the mucous membrane. If you bought a thermoplastic set, you need to wet the product with hot water before use,
4. if you squeeze out more gel than you should, just gently remove the excess with a paper towel,
5. At the end of the session, you need to rinse your mouth thoroughly with water.

The photo shows filling the mouthguard with whitening gel.
You can leave the mouthguard overnight only if this is permitted and specified in the instructions. If during bleaching you experience unpleasant or even painful sensations, the procedure should be stopped immediately. It is worth taking a break and be sure to consult a doctor.

Features of product care

To ensure that the product does not lose its direct functions, you need to ensure proper care for it. There is nothing complicated here. Here are some basic recommendations that experts give in this regard:

• systematic washing and thorough drying will preserve the shape and integrity of the devices (disposable products cannot be washed or reused),
• It is better to store them in a special ventilated case - this way you will protect the product from the effects of temperature changes and mechanical damage,
• The activator gel should be applied carefully and in a minimal amount so that it does not come into contact with the oral mucosa. Excess product can be removed with a napkin.

You need to store the mouth guards in a special case, after washing and drying them.
Following these simple recommendations will maximize the service life of the product. To make sure that everything is fine with him, you can take him with you to your next dentist appointment and show him to a specialist.

Is it possible to make dental trays yourself?

Many people are interested in the question of whether it is possible to make such an overlay yourself. So, for example, some athletes, including boxers, make protective mouth guards on their own, but in the case of dental devices it is not possible to do everything properly - to create a high-quality product, the use of specialized equipment is required. The success of home whitening largely depends on how tightly the overlay adheres to the teeth, and it will not be possible to achieve maximum contact with the enamel surface using amateur methods.

Where to make a custom whitening tray

Despite the variety of ready-made whitening trays presented on pharmacy shelves, the maximum effect from home enamel lightening can be achieved only with the help of individual kits created from casts of the patient’s jaws. Such products are suitable for repeated use; they adhere tightly to the enamel and ensure uniform distribution of the activator gel over the entire surface of each individual tooth.

You can order the production of an individual mouth guard, just like a personal lightening gel, in a modern dental clinic. Today, many medical centers offer this type of service. It is enough to read numerous reviews about various institutions, perhaps go to several consultations, and then choose the option that is optimal in terms of quality and cost.

First, the doctor will take impressions of the patient’s jaws, after which he will send them to the laboratory, where a plaster model will be created from these impressions. It is on its basis that the mouth guard is further formed. The manufacturing process usually takes no more than a few days.

Before manufacturing the product, it is necessary to take impressions of the jaw

Principle of operation

During the procedure, active components help remove plaque and lighten tooth enamel

The special anatomical design of the mouthguard ensures a tight, comfortable fit to the teeth, resulting in an even distribution of the whitening gel over the entire surface.

The procedure can last from 30 minutes to several hours - during this time, the active components help remove plaque and lighten tooth enamel.

Typically, a whitening composition includes elements such as:

• professional (basic) gel;
• bleaching agents: hydrogen peroxide, urea, etc.;
• UV – activators that increase the effectiveness of exposure;
• fragrances, flavorings that give the product a menthol or other taste.

Important: during the whitening process using trays, do not allow the active composition to come into contact with the surface of the gums in order to avoid allergies and burns to the mucous membrane.

Cost of teeth whitening at home

It is impossible to immediately give an exact answer to the question of how much whitening trays cost - it all depends on the brand, type of product and intensity of the lightening gel. If we talk about average prices, then such a standard set can cost 2-3 thousand rubles. Thermoplastic models are created from more expensive material, so they will cost an order of magnitude more - about 4,500 - 6,000 rubles. Individual sets are considered the most expensive - the production of mouth guards for them involves the use of individual casts of the patient’s jaws. Their cost can vary between 7-15 thousand rubles.

The considered home whitening method allows you to lighten the enamel by several tones, but if it is not suitable for your particular case, you should think about what you can use to replace the aligner. An excellent alternative can be special teeth whitening strips or a professional whitening procedure at the dentist's office. The main thing is to make sure that you have no contraindications, otherwise you may end up with serious dental problems.

1. Ilyin F.Yu., Baburov A.V. Various Indicators of Teeth Whitening Procedure, 2003.

Advantages and disadvantages

Treatment with aligners has many benefits. A dental mouthguard does not cause discomfort and helps to quickly achieve a positive orthodontic result.

The main disadvantage is the high cost of treatment and the long treatment time, which passes without the development of complexes (as often happens when wearing braces).

If you need to install a mouth guard, you can contact our dental center - our price for making mouth guards for teeth is not inflated, and we guarantee the quality of dental materials and the services of our doctors.