How to Clean and Care for Teeth Whitening Trays
Most cosmetic dentists offer supervised teeth whitening treatments that you can use from the comfort of your home. A dentist will create custom teeth trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. They will give you the trays, along with teeth whitening gel and detailed instructions that cover the entire teeth whitening process. The dentist will also advise their patient on how to take care of their teeth trays.
How at-home teeth whitening works
There are off the shelf teeth whitening solutions in most drug stores, but they can only do so much to create evenly colored teeth. Dentists address this shortcoming by combining the accuracy of in-office teeth whitening with the convenience of take-home teeth trays.
A dentist starts the teeth whitening process by performing a visual exam of their patient’s teeth and mouth. If they find any dental problems, the dentist treats those problems first. Next, the dentist takes an impression of the patient’s teeth. They use this mold to create custom teeth trays that fit like a glove.
Once the dental trays are ready, the dentist hands them over to the patient right after they clean the patient’s teeth. The dentist then gives a practical lesson on how to use the teeth whitening trays. The lesson demonstrates how to apply the bleaching agent and how to clean the teeth before wearing the trays.
The dentist also tells their patient how long and how often to wear the trays; as well as how to clean the mouth after the trays come off. Lastly, the dentist gives pointers on how to care for teeth whitening trays.
Cleaning and caring for teeth whitening trays
Teeth bleaching trays are made of sturdy plastic that can withstand the mildly corrosive bleaching agent in teeth whitening gels. That does not mean that the trays can take anything a patient throws at them. Dental trays perform poorly when exposed to toothpaste, which is counterintuitive.
To care for teeth whitening trays, a dentist will recommend:
- Cleaning the trays with a soft-bristled brush or a clean washcloth
- Using soap instead of toothpaste to clean the teeth whitening trays
- Cleaning the trays with room-temperature water (never hot)
- Drying the teeth trays thoroughly, making sure to dry every nook
- Q-tips to help dry the hard to reach areas of the trays
- Storing the dry teeth trays in their case
- Protecting the teeth trays from heat to prevent warping
The dentist will also remind the patient to clean both the outside and inside of each tray. They will tell the patient to store the cleaning gel in the fridge and away from direct sunlight. Lastly, the dentist will show the patient how to deal with tooth sensitivity, just in case it happens.
Get the perfect smile with professional guidance, from the comfort of your home
There is no need to roll the dice when it comes to the results of teeth whitening treatments. If you want your smile to have even coloration, call us to schedule an appointment with our dentist. You will love our tailor-made teeth whitening treatments.
Request an appointment here: https://www.thanasasdds.com or call Thanasas Family Dental Care at (248) 260-2878 for an appointment in our Troy office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Teeth Whitening in Troy, MI.
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