How to Choose the Right Whitening Trays for Your Teeth

We all want those Insta-perfect, Hollywood screen dazzling teeth — without filters, of course. It’s one of the classic standards of beauty, especially in America, which is why so many people spend money to straighten their teeth.

But what you might not realize is that most of those pearly whites have a lot of help to get to those brilliant hues, too. 

Spoiler: Yellow Teeth Are … Normal!

The reality is that most of our teeth change color over time. It’s the effect of eating and drinking food with certain pigments. It comes from grinding your teeth without treatment or poor dental habits. And it’s simply another side effect of aging. 

Luckily, there are various teeth whitening options that stars and Insta-influencers use to brighten their enamel. Toothpaste and strips work but are gradual changes. If you want whiter teeth fast, whitening trays are a great choice, and we’ll help you decide which kind of trays to use next.

1. Professional Whitening Trays

Maybe you have a wedding coming up within the next week, or there’s an interview or date you scheduled at the last minute. Whatever the reason, you want whiter teeth now.

For those situations, professional whitening treatments are the best option. If you can get into your dentist’s office before the big day, the results of their in-office treatments are often immediate and dramatic. They also come with a hefty price tag for the rush visit.

During your appointment, which takes about one hour, your dentist and hygienist supervise the application, ensuring your treatment is safe and comfortable. Typically, whitening treatments use hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide to change your teeth color. Since the products are professional-grade, you’ll have optimal results. 

However, if you’re not happy with the color of your smile after one treatment, or you have more time on your hands and don’t need instant changes, at-home whitening trays could be a better option.

2. At-Home Professional Whitening Trays

There are multiple kinds of at-home whitening trays, and they are not all created the same. For instance, if you get an over-the-counter bleaching kit, it comes with a pre-shaped tray that slides over your teeth. 

Because it is a one-size-fits-most, it doesn’t hit all the nooks and crannies in your uniquely shaped teeth and can leave you with splotches. Worse, if it’s too loose or goes over your gums, the sensitive tissue gets painfully irritated.

That’s why it’s better to use a professional whitening tray custom-made for your teeth. Your dentist can make these by taking a mold of your teeth while you’re in the office using a dental putty-type material. The impression is sent to a lab, and the trays are constructed specifically for your teeth (including those gaps and crooked parts).

The specifications are ideal for applying gel to your teeth using the tray. It keeps the bleaching agent on your teeth, where it’s supposed to be, and away from the sensitive soft tissue.

The overall process from impression to results can take weeks, but it’s safer and more effective than an over-the-counter tray. 

The downside of professional whitening trays is the cost. You have to go to the office multiple times for impressions and fittings, and you’re paying for the dentist’s material and time and the lab’s.

3. Custom Kits Through the Mail

For those who don’t want to pay the hefty cost of a professional whitening treatment or at-home tray but want impressive results, there’s an in-between whitening tray method.

Custom whitening trays from JS Dental Lab are just as well-designed as a dentist’s but without the pricey office visit added to your tab. You don’t even have to leave your home except to go to the mailbox!

These kits use the same high-quality, professional-grade ingredients as many dental offices. Once you place your order, you receive an impression kit in the mail. Follow the simple instructions, return your mold, and within days, you’ll get your custom-made whitening tray, complete with professional-strength gel.

The overall process takes about the same time or less as it does to design and receive a professional whitening tray. But since you’re not dealing with outside labs and office visits, you can have yours at a fraction of the cost.

Conclusion

White teeth aren’t usually the product of natural growth. Life happens, and when it does, your teeth show the effects. You don’t have to deal with discoloration and staining, though. Grab a whitening tray designed just for your mouth, and get started on the path to those dazzling Insta-smiles today!