Teeth Whitening Kits

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In the last decade, teeth whitening has become very popular. There are a variety ways to whiten your teeth, whether it be through your dentist or from a kit at the store or online. Basically, there are 2 different types of teeth whitening kits available.

The first type of teeth whitening kit includes professional dental trays with whitening gel. Professional dental trays can be obtained from your dentist or online from a whitening lab. At the dentist office, an impression is taken of your teeth and then a stone model is created from the impression. A soft plastic material is then shaped around the model to create a perfectly fitting tray. If professional trays are ordered online, an impression kit is mailed to you. You then take an impression of your teeth and mail the impressions back to the lab. The process is exactly the same as the dentist, but usually significantly cheaper.

Professional trays are ideal because they are made specifically for your mouth and provide a tight fit which helps keep the gel against the teeth. Also, custom trays are cut just below the gum line to prevent the gel from irritating the gums. When whitening, a small line of gel is placed in the whitening tray and worn against the teeth for a certain amount of time. Stronger gel is worn for less periods of time but may cause tooth sensitivity. On the flip side, a lower percentage of gel is worn for longer periods of time but may not cause any problems.

Boil 'n' bite teeth whitening kits are a popular alternative to professional whitening kits.

Boil 'n' bite trays can be purchased over-the-counter or online for a fraction of the cost of professional trays. In a boil 'n' bite kit are soft plastic trays. These are dipped into boiling water and then place over the teeth to create a custom fit. A thin line of whitening gel is placed into the trays and the trays are worn for a specific amount of time. Unfortunately, these trays cover a good portion of the gums which allows the gel to come in contact with this soft tissue and cause irritation or burning. Also, boil 'n' bite trays typically do not fit as tightly as professional trays. This is a problem because a loose fitting tray allows gel to escape, thus causing uneven and unproductive whitening. Do not use strong whitening gel with boil 'n' bite trays as it can cause irritation to the gums.

Teeth whitening kits - impression materials