by Cody Scholberg

Teeth whitening trays are now available as a teeth whitening option either over-the-counter or in the dentist office. The trays are first molded to the teeth, after which they are filled with a gel, which contains hydrogen peroxide. They are then placed on the teeth, where they hold the hydrogen peroxide containing gel on the teeth for a period of time.

Over-the-counter teeth whitening trays are mostly limited to Aquafresh White Trays. The gel that comes in this product 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.

The trays have both pros and cons 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 fail in comparison to whitening trays as well, because they only expose the teeth to the hydrogen peroxide for a minute or less, while the trays hold it for a longer period, usually twenty minutes.

Whitening strips are not as effective as whitening trays in the sense that they do not get into the cracks and grooves in between the teeth, because they lay on of them. Whitening trays, because they use a gel, do get into these cracks.

Whitening trays, however, are not perfect. They use gel, which translates into less control for the user. The hydrogen peroxide gel can spill into unwanted areas of the mouth, coming into contact with the cheeks, tongue, or gums.

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.

While the whitening trays definitely work well (they do not give the “zebra” effect that a user experiences when using whitening strips, and whitening trays are the most thorough after laser teeth whitening), they cannot be recommended due to the inability to control where the gel goes and the resulting damage to tissue. Regardless how well a whitener works, it should not cause damage to the mouth.

About the Author:
Cody Scholberg, an expert on whitening methods, writes about the different ways to whiten your teeth, such as laser whitening.