Whitening strips vs whitening trays

Everybody wants attractive white teeth. What should you do if they start to discolour though?

Teeth discolouration can be caused by the acidic foods and drinks that stain enamel over time. This is why teeth whitening solutions are a popular method of restoring enamel and, by extension, your natural smile.

If you find yourself in this situation, you may be wondering what options are available, and how safe and effective they are. In this guide to whitening strips and whitening trays, we consider the advantages and disadvantages of each dental treatment for people after a new look.

Whitening strips

Whitening strips are a dental product used to clean up and bleach teeth stains. They are not normally as fast, effective or intensive as professional dental treatments, but they are popular because they are usually cheaper, simpler to administer and easily available over the counter.

For those who do decide to use whitening strips, it is important to check the ingredients and be aware that they might cause side effects such as gum irritation or short-term sensitivity.

Whitening trays

You might, alternatively, opt for custom whitening trays. This procedure tends to be straightforward. Custom whitening trays are applied with a whitening gel to your teeth to manage staining.

Before the process is undertaken, a dentist will take impressions of your teeth in order to create moulds. These might be composed of either or both tooth arches. This will depend on which teeth you want to have whitened. The resultant trays will fit comfortably over the teeth. The dentist will then provide a bleaching gel to go with the teeth whitening trays.

This typically consists of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide, two agents that have been proven to provide safe and effective teeth whitening. When it is time to wear your trays, the gel is affixed prior to application. The dentist will offer advice on when to wear the trays and for how long. Ordinarily, this might be for up to four hours a day over a week or two.

How do whitening strips and whitening trays compare?

There are key differences to note between whitening strips and whitening trays before deciding which path to go down.

Whitening strips are often chosen by budget conscious people with mild teeth stains who are looking for convenience. They are accessible and easy to apply, but the downside is that they might only whiten front-facing teeth, with the added risk of unevenness, a lower concentration of whitener and the possibility of gum irritation. This is why they are generally not recommended.

Whitening trays are more suited to people needing deeper, professional polishes designed to last. They deliver superior results by covering all tooth surfaces and nooks with strong gels. There is usually less risk of sensitivity because they are customised and bring far greater reach than basic, minor maintenance. It is important to remember, though, that they are generally more expensive and less convenient as a whitening solution.

Overall, trays are a much better cosmetic option as they provider a whiter and more consistent smile.

How safe is teeth whitening?

Dentists will check for gum irritation or teeth sensitivity during bleaching. In some instances, patients with fillings might need to have them removed before treatment. Overly aggressive or abrasive bleaching could result in tooth erosion, while you should also watch out for whiteners that chemically react to ceramic crowns, sealants or other restorative work.

Generally, the risks are low, given that products such as LUMIWHITE have been widely tested and carefully formulated over many years.

At Art of Dental Care, we offer custom trays to ensure even results and reputable, dentist-led treatment that has improved the smiles of hundreds of patients. If you are currently looking for places that offer teeth whitening in Chester, get in touch with our team to find out about our deals.