Not everyone endowed everyone with beautiful snow-white teeth, and everyone would like to have a beautiful smile. In the modern world, it is very fashionable to monitor the health of the oral cavity. Experts have developed many techniques that will help make Hollywood smile. One of the most popular dental procedures is teeth whitening with a mouth guard. This is a very affordable method for many people to make the smile snow-white.
What is a mouth guard 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 mouthpiece is to whiten tooth enamel using specialized preparations, as well as protect the oral cavity from their aggressive effects. The main active component of the bleaching agent is carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. As a rule, the drug is sold in the form of a gel.
If you have certain financial restrictions and the procedure for professional teeth whitening in a dental office you can not afford, then this method is for you. The advantage is that it can be carried out at home. Teeth whitening with a tray allows you to lighten the color of enamel in two shades. On average, the course is from 7 to 21 days.
Types of bleaching cap
There are several types of such removable pads:
- Standard. These are ready-made mouthguards for teeth whitening, which are sold in a pharmacy. 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 can lead to the drug getting onto the gum surface and irritating it.
- Thermoplastic. They can also be attributed to standard caps. Under the influence of warm water, they are able to become elastic and take the form of the patient’s teeth. Such removable linings 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 the dentist for each patient separately, taking into account all its anatomical features. Using this kind of cap cannot cause any discomfort. The removable pad fits tightly on the surface of the teeth, whitening is most effective. The disadvantages of this type of cap can be attributed to the highest price, as well as the time spent on its manufacture.
Indications for use
Specialists recommend conducting home whitening of teeth with mouthguards to such categories of citizens:
- elderly people whose enamel color has become darker due to age-related changes;
- smokers, as a bad habit often leads to yellowing of enamel, which classical methods of whitening can not cope with;
- people who take drugs from the tetracycline group, which is why a healthy tooth color acquires an orange tint over time;
- people with a diagnosis of fluorosis (mild), which occurs due to an excess of fluoride;
- coffee and black tea lovers who do not have the opportunity to clean their mouth after drinking, which leads to a change in the color of the enamel.
Whitening procedure
Home teeth whitening with mouthguards is as follows:
- thorough toothbrushing;
- a small drop of a special gel is applied to the inside of the mouthpiece;
- Before installing the removable lining, it is recommended to lubricate the gums with Vaseline, this will prevent their irritation;
- put a mouth guard on your teeth;
- get wet excess drug with gauze;
- rinse the oral cavity at least 2 times after the procedure.
It is recommended to start the course of bleaching with mouthguards only after professional brushing of teeth by a specialist!
What can not be done?
In order to keep the result from the use of a mouthpiece for teeth whitening as long as possible, certain rules should be followed. During the course it is not recommended:
- consume foods that can stain enamel (tea, coffee, juices, etc.);
- wear a cap for more than 5 hours;
- smoke cigarettes.
If you nevertheless ate or drank something that could lead to a darkening of the color of the enamel, you should clean your teeth and rinse your mouth as soon as possible. If a person cannot stop smoking, mouthguards for teeth whitening will be ineffective, since after a short period of time the enamel will darken again. In this case, it is better to resort to other methods.
Hygiene is also very important. You need to regularly clean your teeth with a toothbrush and a specialized floss.
Contraindications to the use of whitening cap
There are a number of contraindications to the use of cap for teeth whitening:
- Sensitivity to bleaching preparations or mouthguard materials.
- It is forbidden to use mouthguards during pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- A large number of fillings and tooth damage.
- Diseases of the body of a systemic nature (diabetes, rheumatism, etc.).
- Dysfunction of the temporomandibular joint.
- Teeth stained with chemicals.
- Incompatibility of the procedure with some types of drugs.
- It is forbidden to use mouthguards for people under the age of 18 years.
- Inflammatory processes of the mucous membrane.
- The presence of periodontal disease and caries.
- Use of orthodontic braces.
- Lip and oral piercings.
Below on a photo of a mouthguard for teeth whitening, all the elements of the kit are shown.
The use of cap is allowed only after 4 months from the date of tooth extraction. It is not recommended to use this method of whitening for heavy smokers, since the expected effect is almost impossible to achieve without completely giving up smoking.
Prescribing treatment alone is not permissible. Before using the cap, you should visit your dentist.
Mouth Care
Whitening mouthguards are absolutely not picky in care. It is sometimes necessary to clean them of the remainder of the drug by washing under running water and treating them slightly with a toothbrush. You need to store the mouthguards in a specialized case, which will protect them from negative external influences. Make sure that removable tooth pads are not deformed or damaged.
Positive characteristics
Teeth whitening in this way has both positive and negative characteristics. To decide whether to undergo a similar procedure or not, you need to know all its sides, including the pros and cons, and also taking into account contraindications to its implementation. Let's first look at the positive characteristics of such teeth whitening:
- You can wear caps at any time convenient for you.
- It is almost impossible to notice the presence of drops on the teeth, so you can use them even during working hours.
- The cost of the bleaching cap is much lower than the professional procedure in the dental office.
- Gels for whitening teeth with a mouthguard are selected for each patient individually, taking into account its tolerance to the preparations and the condition of the teeth.
- Manufacturers of capes for home use make sure that they last a long time.
- When wearing a cap, you do not need to use a rubber dam (a latex plate that isolates teeth when bleaching), which brings additional inconvenience and can cause an allergic reaction.
The negative side of using cap
Before using this method, it is worthwhile to find out the opinion of other people who have tested the effect of a tooth whitening cap on themselves. Reviews in most cases are positive. However, it is important to consider the disadvantages of using cap.
- Mouth bleaching involves systematic and prolonged wearing, otherwise you will not get the desired result.
- Wearing a cap in excess of the set time per day can cause tooth sensitivity.
- The use of removable tooth pads at night can lead to disruption of the temporomandibular joints.
- Mouth whitening takes more time than a professional procedure in the dental office.
- If the drug enters the esophagus, a violation of the gastrointestinal tract is possible.
- Whitening mouthguards do not clean some types of stains on tooth enamel.
- The removable pad delivers certain inconvenience when talking.
- Poorly selected mouth guards can cause discomfort.
Home Teeth Whitening with Mouthguards Zoom
Manufacturer cap Zoom is a world famous company Philips. In addition to removable teeth whitening pads, she also manufactures systems used for clinical procedures. Mouthguards manufactured by this company are available for day (Day White ACP) and night (Night White ACP) use. The first is used twice a day - in the morning and in the evening, the duration of the procedure is 30 minutes. The second (night) - set before bedtime and removed in the morning.
In a set with mouthguards, double-sided syringes and a substance - amorphous potassium phosphate are provided, which allows to ensure the safety of the teeth.
Only a dentist can give advice on clinical or home whitening with Zoom mouthguards. Reviews of people who have tried this procedure on themselves indicate that this method is very effective. Although home enamel whitening is a little bit inferior in quality to professional clinical teeth whitening.
Standard mouthguards offered by manufacturers are cheaper than individual ones. However, they do not guarantee the safety of the procedure: the gel can go beyond the edges of the mouthpiece and cause burns to the mucous membranes. To prevent this, dentists recommend giving preference to individual removable pads.
Teeth Whitening with Opalescence
Such a teeth whitening system at home is an excellent alternative to professional procedures. Those who have already experienced it on themselves, share admiring reviews on various forums and in social networks. Home-made teeth whitening with Opalescence mouthguards provides an excellent result. What is the secret of this technique?
Such a whitening system includes a whole set of drops 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 high enough for procedures carried out at home, but there is a significant result from this. When using these drops, 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 eliminate tooth decay. Potassium nitrate acts as an anesthetic, reducing the likelihood of tooth soreness.
The gel structure is viscous, so it is ideal for use. The product is applied to the inside of the mouthpiece, and when put on, it is evenly distributed over the surface of the teeth, minimizing contact with the gums. Gels come in many flavors. The most concentrated has the smell of mint.
The percentage of hydrogen peroxide affects how long you can wear a mouth guard. The more concentrated the gel, the less it can be kept on the teeth. The duration of the procedures is set by the dentist individually.
The Opalescence kit includes 10 cap: 5 for the upper and 5 for the lower jaw.
First, you should prepare your teeth for the procedure by brushing them with toothpaste, which includes calcium. This will provide a more complete contact of the gel with the surface to be clarified, while not increasing the sensitivity of the teeth.
Instructions for use:
- Release the cap from the protective coating and put it on the teeth.
- The removable nozzle should be carefully pressed to 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 in doubt whether it is worth going through a similar procedure, before you come to a decision, study the reviews. Home whitening teeth with mouthguards is not suitable for everyone, so first of all you should visit a dentist's consultation and find out his recommendations. In no case should you use this whitening method yourself. Most of the negative reviews are related to the improper use of teeth whitening cap. Some complained that after the procedure, the tooth enamel lightened slightly, while others had problems with increased sensitivity of the teeth. Many people forget that the body of each person is individual, and the reaction to the same remedy will be different.
Nevertheless, there are much more positive reviews than negative ones. Particular advantages are called efficiency, convenience and relatively inexpensive cost. To get the expected result, it is important to listen to the opinion of a specialist.
Product Price
The cost of cap for teeth whitening depends on the type of product removable lining:
- Standard mouthguards are the most budget option. The average cost is 2000-3000 rubles.
- Thermoplastic are significantly more expensive than standard. The price varies between 4500-6000 rubles.
- Customized. Such mouthguards are more expensive than others, as they are made directly for each client. The price starts from 6000 rubles.