Tooth Whitening Kits

Tooth whitening kits that incorporate the 'tray' system of teeth whitening really do work. And they work because the entire tooth is exposed to the whitening agent, so all the gaps and cracks get treated the same as the face of the tooth, thus ensuring consistency. You simply squirt the whitening gel into the tray, put the tray into your mouth and leave it in there for the recommended period which is usually between 30mins and overnight (the length of time will depend on the strength of the gel that is being used).

A tooth whitening kit typically consists of a tray (mouthpiece/mouthguard), syringes pre-loaded with hydrogen peroxide teeth whitening gel, and a protective tray case for storing your tray. Now although there aren't too many components that make up a teeth whitening kit, there is a massive difference between a basic over-the-counter (OTC) kit and a professional one.

The first difference is that the cheap OTC teeth whitening kits use a boil-and-bite bleaching tray that is virtually ready to use. You boil the tray to get it hot and moldable, place it in your mouth and bite into it. The end-result is a 'partially' molded tray that is ready for use. The disadvantage of this type of tray is that it will not fit snugly which results in inconsistent results and leakage of gel into your mouth and gums. Leakage of the bleach into the mouth is undesirable for obvious reasons, and smears on/around the gums can result in temporary (and even long terms) bleaching of the gums.

Professional systems are just like what you would expect if you chose to visit a dentist. A professional home tooth whitening kit will include a custom-fitting tray which is essential to assure proper bleaching and consistent results. Using a custom tray will almost definitely result in less leakage into you mouth and gums. A great example of a [professional home tooth whitening system is DIRECT WHITE. With this system you actually get shipped all the necessary items to make an impression of your teeth so your own custom-fitting stray can be made. You basically make your impression place it in the preaddressed packing envelope and mail. They will make your customized bleaching trays in a certified laboratory and send them back to you within 2-7 business days. Once you get your custom-fitting tray back, you can start to use the 22% hydrogen peroxide gel that is included as part of your teeth whitening kit.