How to Whiten your Teeth with Thermoforming Whitening Trays?

What does it take to use thermoforming whitening trays?

Thermoforming trays are very much like custom made trays, except you don’t have to mail-in your impressions. No waiting. You are ready to bleach your teeth immediately.

But thermoforming trays are also less comfortable and leak more bleaching gel. That is why your preparations are even more important.

Logically this page should begin with how to take impressions. However I decided to bring the preparation steps to the top. I did this because I think it is even more important to properly prepare your gums and teeth for bleaching with thermoforming trays.

Prepare your gums and teeth for your treatment – How to prepare your teeth and gums for whitening? If you have thermoforming whitening trays this step is easy to forget. You received your kit and are eager to begin your treatments right now. Read this section. Preparations are even more important for these products.

Steps to follow before each treatment – Yes, you should wash your teeth before whitening. But there is more to do.

We are ready for the impressions part now.

Taking the best possible impressions

Taking your impressions with thermoforming whitening trays is very easy.

Your whitening kit comes with detailed instructions. The general steps are:

1. Soak the trays in warm water.
2. Press the tray onto your teeth and wait to harden.
3. Remove, wash in cold water. You are ready for bleaching.

Don’t worry if you make a mistake. Most thermoforming trays can be reheated and remolded. You can try a couple of times. You are going to have to keep these trays in your mouth for a long time. Make sure they are fit snuggly. They must stay in place without support.

1. Take good impressions of your back teeth too. Thermoforming whitening trays can fall off easier. Your back teeth provide extra support to keep the trays on during treatments.

2. Make sure the trays cover your teeth and even go over your gum line. Too low and your teeth are not covered, too high and more gel will get in contact with your gums.

3. Hold the tray in place until the impression material hardens. Movements, grinding reduce the quality of your impressions.

4. Remove the hardened impressions carefully. Crowns can come off if you apply too much pressure.

Bleaching with thermoforming whitening trays

Just as with custom fitted trays each whitening treatment could take as much as 3-4 hours each day. It is a long time.

Thermoforming trays are not as comfortable. Some are little bulky. I would not plan on bleaching in front of other people. Sleeping with these trays on is also harder. You must fit the treatments to your schedule. Chose a time when you don’t expect interruptions.

Bleaching your upper and lower teeth at the same time may also be difficult with thermoforming trays.

So you are ready:

1. Fill your tray with whitening gel. You will have to experiment with how much gel you need. The best if your teeth are covered but your gums don’t touch the gel. It is difficult to find the right amount of gel.

2. Wipe off the extra gel from your gums. Gel left in contact with your gums can cause sensitivity and irritation. This is much easier with custom made trays. You should try to do the best you can here. The stronger gel you use the more important to wipe off the excess gel.

3. Do not drink or eat during the treatment. I don’t think I need to tell you why. You would not try to wash your clothes in strawberry juice would you? So don’t do that to your teeth either.

4. Most gels are active for about 4 hours. You can however cut your treatment times somewhat shorter if you need to. You can always add a few more days to your treatment.

Caring for your teeth after treatments – It is just as important to clean and protect your teeth after your daily bleaching treatments.

Cleaning your thermoforming whitening trays:

Thermoforming whitening trays don’t like heat. They loose their shapes. Wash and clean your trays in cold water only.

I also like to soak my trays in antibacterial solution after each application.

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