How To Use Teeth Whitening Trays | Custom Tray Whitening Instructions

Teeth whitening is a popular procedure and it can be extremely safe and effective. Unfortunately, most teeth whitening techniques are ineffective and unsafe with misleading claims. For instance, the science proves that the application of light does not enhance the results and it is a gimmick! In this video, I will explain the best method for safely bleaching your teeth with the custom-designed teeth whitening trays (also known as bleaching trays).

THIS VIDEO INCLUDES:
The best whitening gel for safe results
The best teeth whitening method
The design features of the best custom teeth whitening trays
How to properly use at-home custom whitening trays
How long to wear custom whitening trays
How to clean and care for custom whitening trays

WHAT IS THE BEST TEETH WHITENING GEL?
The best and safest whitening gel on the market is 10% carbamide peroxide. Higher concentrations do not translate to better results, but they do guarantee higher sensitivity for most patients. 10% carbamide peroxide has been extensively studied by Dr. Van Haywood and shown to have safe and effective. The lower concentration is made more effective by increasing the application time.

THE BEST TEETH WHITENING METHOD
The best and safest teeth whitening is achieved with properly designed and fitted custom whitening trays. This method of whitening is also known as Nightguard vital bleaching among dental professionals, but most people refer to this as custom tray whitening. The use of light does not enhance or activate the gel and it is a gimmick. Always avoid any methods that involve abrasive ingredients or acid as they will damage your enamel and they are completely unnecessary.

DESIGN FEATURES FOR BEST RESULTS WITH CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS
A lot of custom whitening trays have poor designs that are ineffective and waste expensive gel material. The goal of the whitening tray is to form an extremely precise and tight gingival seal or gumline seal to prevent leakage of whitening material out of the tray and to prevent saliva from entering between the tray. The best tray material is slightly thicker and rubbery to make this tight seal. Most trays are scalloped to follow the gumline but this is a poor design for seal and make the trays flimsy. Your dental models need to be customized prior to making the trays so that they slightly fit under the gumline to form this super tight seal. Lastly, no reservoir is recommended to hold the whitening gel because studies show that it only wastes gel without improving results.

HOW TO PROPERLY USE CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS
When custom whitening trays are designed as described above, they are easy to use and maintain. When placing the gel, only place a small amount on the front (facial) surface of each tooth. When placing your tray, use your finger to adapt the tray around each tooth and then wipe any excess gel that comes out of the tray.

HOW LONG TO WEAR CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS
You can safely whiten teeth with 10% carbamide peroxide for 10+ hours. The gel is active this entire time, but there are certain conditions that may not allow for this extended wear. This includes gum recession, cavities, defective fillings, periodontal or gum disease, or areas of dentin exposure. Your dentist must advise you of any limitations. These limitations can be addressed prior to whitening to allow for a more comfortable experience. When none of these conditions are present, most patients are able to wear their trays overnight. I recommend 2 nights on, one night off for the best results.

HOW TO CLEAN AND CARE FOR CUSTOM WHITENING TRAYS
- After removing your trays, a cotton swab (Q-tips) is the best for removing most of the gel residue.
- Do not use hot water as it may cause your tray to lose its shape.
- Before using the tray again, use one more cotton swab. The dried gel is easier to use.

#teethwhitening #teethwhiteningathome #whitening
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About Dr. Matt Nejad
Practice:
Helm | Nejad | Stanley Dentistry
P: [phone]
IG: @Dr_MattNejad

Education & Lecturing:
Nejad Institute
IG: @Nejad_Institute

Hi Dr. Nejad,

Should you brush with toothpaste before putting in trays? I've read that it's better to brush/floss with just water before whitening (and brush with toothpaste after whitening). I was wondering if that has any real impact on whitening effectiveness. Thanks for putting these resources online and answering questions!

[Celluh]

Dr. Nejad, where do I get the trays? Am I able to go to my local dentist and get one? Im so confused, also where do I get the gel??

[caninebearyt]

Hope it will work for me without any problems 🙃

[ikram]

Hi Doctor, can we drink coffee immediately after taking them off in the morning?

[IndieVR]

I made a mess of my first day, not enough gel as I didn't watch a video like this, the gel is just sitting in the indentations.

Gel is not spread at all, I took one off and topped it up, but it was moist and now watered down. Lesson learned: Day 2 will be better.

I just hope I don't wake up with white dots on my teeth 😅

Thanks for the tutorial. Gave you a sub good sir.

[CGp-ednl]

Thank you so much for this video, I was wondering is 35% carbamide peroxide safe for teeth, or can it cause permanent damage? And how many hours would you recommend as safe use, and for how many days?

[atingleee]

Thank you for the informative video! The upper tray i received doesnt quite reach the gumline of a lot of the teeth. Will this affect anything apart from having less of a seal? Am I correct in saying that the solution doesnt need to touch the entire tooth but instead gets absorbed into the tooth? I dont have any issue with the gel not staying in the tray, just curious if this will affect results

[gary]

Thank you for the information! I have my teeth mould, just waiting for the gel to arrive. I have 10ml of 35% CP, what times would you recommend please?

[CJ-ucge]

Realised that I’ve been putting the gel at the bottom of the tray rather than the top - will change this 😅

[cmck]

Hi,
Great video! I ibought the white dental care novon teeth whitening product. The active ingredient is 10% carbamide peroxide.
I was wondering if this product is safe to use after the expiration date? It expired at the start of this year?
If I use it it won't damage the surface of my teeth would it? It is more likely that it will not be effective in whitening my teeth?
The product in the syringes is still clear and has been stored properly since purchase.

[RPetruccione]

I appreciate you are still checking and answering questions even after 2years. As you know h2o2is very reactive, I have been told by other dentists the h2o2 is done reacting, has done all the stain removal / whitening that it will ever do after about 15/20 min. Another way of saying it is, 90% of the work is done in 15/20min. Empirically I have put a drop of various %'s of h2oh2 on various hard surfaces and it does stop bubbling after 15/20min. Your thoughts? This might explain why the in-office procedure is to replace the gel atthe 15min mark on 30 min whitenings and at 20min intervals on the 60min whitenings. ?? I don' tthink the "gel" medium plays a roll in any efficacy, just easier to apply, liquid h2o2 is easier to spill and larger liability at 45% per se.

[pea]

Hi Dr. Matt,
Thanks for making the video. It's very informative. I got 16% carbamide peroxide, how many hour would you recommend for safe use?

[JWw-xdzo]

Hi Dr. Matt, thank you for this informative video. I got 35% carbamide peroxide, is it safe to use and can it damage teeth enamel, and for how long would you recommend using it if it’s safe. And the whitening trays do not cover all of my teeth, there’s a bit at the top that’s not covered by it, can that cause a problem or can i use it still?

[TaN-wton]

Thank u so much and I like how active u r by answering people's questions
May I ask u if it is necessary to get a day off? Cuz my dentist told me to use it daily until I see the results
And how long does it last?

[TheRealMcFlames]

Ive just started on custom trays with the 10% gel, and have been told to wear for 1 hour per day for 14 days.
I havent experienced any sensitivity.
Would you recommend upping the wear time?
Is 1 hour enough?

[lausiuchi]

Hi Dr Matt Nejad,
Thanks for the video, may I ask does the gel works for whitening if I have bonded teeth? Many thanks!

[azka]

Do you keep the tray in place by lightly biting down? Or are you supposed to keep your upper and lower jaw separated at all times

[ranaahmed]

Do i have to dry my teeth befor i place custom tryes?

[ZACY]

I love your videos. Very explanatory 👌👌 thanks

[BackgroundTrait]

Hi Matt very informative thank you. I’ve got custom trays using 6% peroxide hour at a time. I’ve read elsewhere that once I remove the trays I can clean them with a toothbrush and water (no toothpaste)? I notice that’s different to your advice in this video though