Your Guide to Take-Home Teeth Whitening Trays
Take-home whitening trays at Willow Creek Smiles are a convenient and effective way to achieve a brighter, more confident smile from the comfort of your own home. Provided by our dental office, these trays are custom-made to fit your teeth precisely, ensuring even coverage and optimal results. Unlike over-the-counter whitening products, take-home trays are designed specifically for your smile, making them both safer and more effective.
The process is simple. During your visit, we will take impressions or digital scans of your teeth to create trays that fit snugly and comfortably. You’ll also receive a professional-grade whitening gel and instructions for use. Typically, patients wear the trays for a specified amount of time each day (often for a couple of weeks) until they reach their desired level of whiteness.
One of the biggest benefits of take-home whitening trays is customization. Because the trays are made just for you, the whitening gel is distributed evenly across your teeth, reducing the risk of patchy results. This also helps minimize gum irritation, a common issue with ill-fitting, store-bought trays. Another advantage is flexibility. You can whiten your teeth on your own schedule, whether that’s during your evening routine or while relaxing at home. Plus, since you control the pace of treatment, you can achieve gradual, natural-looking results.
Take-home trays are also a great long-term solution. Once you have your custom trays, you can reuse them for touch-ups whenever needed, helping you maintain your bright smile over time.
Instructions for Take-Home Whitening Trays
- Brush and floss teeth (bleaching is most effective on clean teeth).
- Make sure trays are clean and dry before applying.
- Remove the syringe from the case and snap the tip cover from the end.
- To load the tray, depress the plunger and fill each front tooth in the tray with a pearl of gel. Note: Each tray will typically use ½ to 1/3 of a syringe.
- Position the tray over your teeth and gently press the tray to move the gel into place. Wipe excess gel that seeps over the tray’s brim off your gums with a tissue or your finger.
- Wear tray(s) for 60 minutes, once a day or twice a day. If sensitivity occurs, switch to once per day only.
- After whitening, remove the tray and rinse your teeth. Brush away any remaining gel.
- Clean your bleaching trays with a toothbrush and cold water. Store trays in the tray holder and gel in a cool, dry place away from heat and direct sunlight.
- Avoid coffee, tea, red wine, raspberries, strawberries, or cranberries for several hours after bleaching.
If irritation of the gums or mouth occurs, discontinue use. Do not use for more than 14 days in a row. Avoid swallowing gel. Avoid contact of the gel with the eye. Avoid direct contact between the gel and the gums and/or salivary flow. Discontinue use if allergic to any ingredient.
Following Your Teeth Whitening
It is normal for some people to experience minor tooth sensitivity for one to three days after the procedure. To minimize this, avoid excessively hot or cold foods or beverages. While rare, if intense sensitivity occurs, you may want to take a mild analgesic such as Ibuprofen or Tylenol, assuming you have no allergies.
For the first 48 hours, your teeth will be especially vulnerable to staining. For this reason, you should avoid tobacco and any food or beverage that would stain a white shirt, including:
- Red wine
- Red meat
- Soy sauce
- Coffee, tea, sodas
- Berries or other dark fruits and fruit sauces
- Tomatoes and tomato sauces/juices
- Dark vegetables
- Foods containing dyes or artificial colorings
All whitening procedures eventually wear off, and teeth gradually return to a darker shade. You should touch up your teeth with at-home whitening products from time to time. We can help you determine what, if any, maintenance program you should follow. Electric toothbrushes such as Sonicare can make a big difference, too. It’s also important to keep up on your regular dental care. Regularly scheduled professional cleanings and good oral hygiene will help preserve your smile. Now that you’ve invested in a nicer smile, you may want to address any dental problems you’ve been putting off.
If you have any additional questions about take-home teeth whitening or want to learn more, contact our team today!
