Nature has not endowed everyone with beautiful snow-white teeth, but every person would like to have a beautiful smile. In the modern world, it is very fashionable to monitor the he alth of the oral cavity. Specialists have developed many techniques that will help make a Hollywood smile. One of the most requested dental procedures is teeth whitening with a mouthguard. This is a very affordable method for many people to make a snow-white smile.
What is a mouthguard and what is it for?
In recent years, mouthguards for teeth whitening have become widespread. They are a transparent removable pad made of flexible plastic or various polymers. The main function of the cap is to whiten tooth enamel using specialized preparations, as well as protect the oral cavity from their aggressive effects. The main active ingredient in bleach is carbamide peroxide orhydrogen. As a rule, the drug is sold in the form of a gel.
If you have certain financial constraints and you cannot afford the procedure of professional teeth whitening in a dental office, then this method is for you. The advantage is that it can be done at home. Teeth whitening with a tray allows you to lighten the color of the enamel by two tones. The average course is from 7 to 21 days.
Types of whitening caps
There are several types of such removable pads:
- Standard. These are ready-made mouthguards for teeth whitening, which are sold in pharmacies. Differ in low cost and availability to everyone. However, they can also cause discomfort during use, due to the individual characteristics of the bite of each patient. This may cause the drug to get on the surface of the gums and irritate them.
- Thermoplastic. They can also be attributed to the standard caps. Under the influence of warm water, they are able to become elastic and take the shape of the patient's teeth. Such removable pads are safer and more comfortable to use, unlike conventional, standard caps. However, it should be noted that they are also the most expensive representatives of this type.
- Customized. They are made by a dentist for each patient separately, taking into account all his anatomical features. Using this kind of cap can not cause any discomfort. Removable pad fits snugly to the surface of the teeth, whitening occurs as much as possibleeffectively. The disadvantages of this type of cap include the highest price, as well as the time spent on its manufacture.
Indications for use
Experts recommend home teeth whitening with caps for the following categories of citizens:
- elderly people whose enamel color has become darker due to age-related changes;
- smokers, as a bad habit quite often leads to yellowing of the enamel, which classical whitening methods cannot cope with;
- people who take tetracycline medications that cause he althy teeth to turn orange over time;
- people diagnosed with fluorosis (mild form), which occurs due to an excess of fluoride;
- coffee and black tea drinkers who are unable to clean their mouth after drinking, which leads to a discoloration of the enamel.
Whitening treatment
Home teeth whitening with trays is as follows:
- thorough cleaning of teeth;
- a small drop of special gel is applied to the inside of the mouthguard;
- before installing a removable lining, it is recommended to lubricate the gums with petroleum jelly, this will prevent irritation;
- put on a mouth guard;
- blot excess with gauze;
- after the procedure, rinse the mouth at least 2 times.
It is recommended to start a whitening course with caps only after professional cleaningteeth from a specialist!
What not to do?
In order for the result of using a mouthguard for teeth whitening to last as long as possible, certain rules should be followed. Not recommended during the course:
- use foods that can stain enamel (tea, coffee, juices, etc.);
- wear a mouth guard for more than 5 hours;
- smoking cigarettes.
If you still eat or drink something that can lead to a darkening of the color of the enamel, you should brush your teeth and rinse your mouth as soon as possible. If a person cannot stop smoking, teeth whitening trays will be ineffective, because after a short period of time the enamel will darken again. In this case, it is better to resort to other methods.
It is also very important to maintain hygiene. Teeth should be cleaned regularly with a toothbrush and specialized floss.
Contraindications to the use of whitening caps
There are a number of contraindications to the use of teeth whitening trays:
- Sensitivity to whitening products or mouthguard materials.
- It is forbidden to use mouthguards during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Lots of fillings and damage to teeth.
- Diseases of the body of a systemic nature (diabetes, rheumatism, etc.).
- Temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
- Teeth stained with chemicals.
- Conduct incompatibilityprocedures with certain types of drugs.
- It is forbidden to use a mouthguard for people under the age of 18.
- Inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane.
- Presence of periodontal disease and caries.
- Using orthodontic braces.
- Piercing on the lip and in the oral cavity.
Below in the photo of the teeth whitening tray, all the elements of the kit are shown.
The use of caps is allowed only after 4 months from the date of tooth extraction. Heavy smokers are not recommended to use this whitening method, since it is almost impossible to achieve the expected effect without completely quitting smoking.
Prescribing treatment on your own is not acceptable. You should visit your dentist before using mouth guards.
Mouthguard care
Whitening caps are absolutely not picky in care. It is sometimes necessary to clean them from the remnant of the drug by washing under running water and brushing a little with a toothbrush. You need to store mouthguards in a specialized case that will protect them from negative external influences. Be careful not to deform or damage the removable dental veneers.
Positive Features
Teeth whitening in this way has both positive and negative characteristics. To decide whether to undergo such a procedure or not, you need to know all its sides, including the pros and cons, as well as taking into account the contraindications to its implementation. Let's look at the positives firstcharacteristics of this teeth whitening:
- You can wear mouthguards at any time of the day that is convenient for you.
- It is almost impossible to notice the presence of mouthguards on the teeth, so you can use them even during working hours.
- The cost of whitening caps is significantly lower than a professional procedure in the dental office.
- Teeth whitening gels with capa are selected for each patient individually, taking into account his tolerability of drugs and the condition of the teeth.
- Mouthguards for home use are made to last for a long time.
- When wearing a mouthguard, you do not need to use a rubber dam (a latex plate that isolates teeth during whitening), which brings additional inconvenience and may cause an allergic reaction.
Negative aspects of using caps
Before using this method, you should find out the opinion of other people who have tested the effect of teeth whitening caps on themselves. Reviews in most cases are positive. However, it is important to consider the disadvantages of using cap.
- Whitening with mouthguards involves wearing them systematically and for a long time, otherwise you will not get the desired result.
- Wearing aligners beyond the recommended time per day can cause tooth sensitivity.
- Using removable dental veneers at night can cause temporomandibular joint dysfunction.
- Whitening with caps takes more time,than a professional procedure in the dental office.
- If the drug enters the esophagus, it may disrupt the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Whitening trays do not remove some types of stains on tooth enamel.
- Removable pad gives some inconvenience when talking.
- Poorly fitted mouthguards can cause discomfort.
Home teeth whitening with Zoom caps
The manufacturer of Zoom caps is the world-famous company Philips. In addition to removable tooth whitening pads, it manufactures systems used for clinical procedures. Mouthguards produced by this company are available for day (Day White ACP) and night (Night White ACP) use. The first ones are used twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, the duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. The second (night) - put before going to bed and removed in the morning.
Double-ended syringes and Amorphous Potassium Phosphate are provided with mouthguards to keep teeth safe.
Only a dentist can make recommendations for clinical or home teeth whitening with Zoom caps. Feedback from people who have tried this procedure on themselves suggests that this method is very effective. Although home whitening is slightly inferior in quality to professional clinical teeth whitening.
Standard mouthguards offered by manufacturers are cheaper than individual ones. However, they do not guarantee security.procedures: the gel can go beyond the edges of the tray and cause burns to the mucous membranes. To prevent this from happening, dentists recommend giving preference to individual removable linings.
Teeth whitening system Opalescence
This at-home teeth whitening system is a great alternative to professional procedures. Those who have already experienced it for themselves share admiring reviews on various forums and social networks. Home teeth whitening with Opalescence trays provides excellent results. What is the secret of this technique?
This whitening system includes a whole set of caps that are already filled with a special gel. The composition of the drug includes hydrogen peroxide. The concentration of this substance is 10-15%. This dosage is quite high for procedures carried out at home, but there is a significant result from this. When using these caps, tooth enamel is lightened by 4-5 tones, which is comparable to a professional clinical procedure.
The gel also contains sodium fluoride and potassium nitrate. Fluoride helps strengthen enamel and prevent cavities. Potassium nitrate acts as a pain reliever, reducing the chance of toothache.
The structure of the gel is viscous, so it is ideal for use. The product is applied to the inside of the tray, and when put on, it is evenly distributed over the surface of the teeth, minimizing contact with the mucous membranes of the gums. Gels come in a variety of flavors. The most concentrated smells of mint.
The percentage of hydrogen peroxide affects how long you can wear a mouthguard. The more concentrated the gel, the less it can be kept on the teeth. The duration of the procedures is determined by the dentist on an individual basis.
The Opalescence set includes 10 caps: 5 for the upper and 5 for the lower jaw.
You should first prepare your teeth for the procedure by brushing them with toothpaste, which includes calcium. This will ensure more complete contact of the gel with the surface to be lightened, while not increasing the sensitivity of the teeth.
Instructions for use:
- Remove the capu from the protective coating and put on the teeth.
- The removable cap should be firmly pressed against the surface of the teeth so that the gel is evenly distributed.
- You need to wear a mouth guard for 30-60 minutes. The procedure is carried out daily or every other day - depending on how the dentist recommended.
Reviews
If you are in doubt whether it is worth going through a similar procedure, before coming to a decision, study the reviews. Home teeth whitening with mouthguards is not suitable for everyone, so you should first of all visit a dentist for a consultation and find out his recommendations. In no case should you use this method of whitening yourself. Most of the negative reviews are related to the incorrect use of mouthguards for whitening teeth. Some complained that after the procedure the tooth enamel lightened slightly, others had problems with increasedtooth sensitivity. Many people forget that the body of each person is individual, and the reaction to the same remedy will be different.
But still there are much more positive reviews than negative ones. Efficiency, convenience and relatively inexpensive cost are called special advantages. To get the expected result, it is important to listen to the opinion of a specialist.
Product price
The cost of the teeth whitening tray depends on the type of removable lining product:
- Standard mouthguards are the most budget option. The average cost is 2000-3000 rubles.
- Thermoplastic are significantly more expensive than standard ones. The price varies between 4500-6000 rubles.
- Customized. Such caps are more expensive than others, as they are made directly for each client. The price starts from 6000 rubles.
