Teeth whitening is a great way to improve the colour of teeth. It is done using bleaching chemicals, like hydrogen peroxide, to whiten both the outer and inner layers of teeth. You might find yourself wondering how long you should wear your teeth whitening trays if you plan to use an at-home whitening kit safely and effectively.
How long a patient should wear their teeth whitening trays depends on a variety of factors, such as:
- The whitening product being used
- How long it has been since the patient’s last whitening treatment
- How sensitive the patient’s teeth are
- The concentration percentage of the whitening gel (bleach/peroxide) you are using
- The original shade of the patient’s teeth
So how long should you leave whitening gel on your teeth?
As a general rule, it is recommended to leave whitening gel on your teeth for 30 minutes to 1 hour for first-time users and increase the wearing time if there is little or no tooth sensitivity. If your teeth are stained or very yellow, it will take longer to bleach them. Plus, if you are not experiencing any sensitivity you may wear the trays for up to 2 hours.
It is also very important to remove all of the excess whitening gel materials around the gums after you are done, so that the leftover product doesn’t damage your teeth and gums or continue bleaching your teeth.
Whitening teeth with Toothfairy’s custom mouth trays
Toothfairy’s teeth whitening treatment involves using custom mouth trays that are designed using an impression of the patient’s teeth. The patient bites down on a mold and the impression is sent to a lab that makes mouth trays. This process takes about two weeks on average.
Toothfairy™ uses the most effective concentration of whitening gel allowed to be used in Europe, attained only by a dentist’s prescription. It is an exclusive formula developed by Toothfairy™ and is recommended to be worn for one hour (60 minutes) per session in order to achieve the best results.
How to make the most of your whitening
Patients can speed up the process of whitening their teeth by:
- Using a whitening product with a higher concentration of hydrogen carbamide and hydrogen peroxide
- Using the maximum length of time recommended.
- Using products recommended by dentists
- Brushing their teeth before performing whitening treatments
While using a higher concentration of bleaching agents can lead to faster results, it also increases the odds of the person experiencing side effects, like teeth sensitivity. Although products with lower concentrations do not whiten teeth as fast as more concentrated ones do, they will eventually make the patient’s teeth just as white. Lower concentrations of bleaching agents are gentler on teeth, making them a better option for people with sensitive teeth.
Patients should also adjust the frequency of their treatment based on their comfort levels. It is an effective way to control the side effects of the procedure. People with sensitive teeth should wear their mouth trays using the lesser end of the guidelines the dentist provides. They should also do less frequent treatments.
Last updated on May 6, 2024
Dr. Deepak Aulak
Dr. Deepak Aulak is a London-based dental practitioner with a special interest in cosmetic dentistry. Having graduated from King's College London in Dentistry, Dr. Aulak was decorated with over a dozen awards and scholarships along the way, which notably include the Jelf Medal, Malleson Prize for research and GKT Hospital's Full Shields.
Dr. Deepak Aulak
Dr. Deepak Aulak is a London-based dental practitioner with a special interest in cosmetic dentistry. Having graduated from King's College London in Dentistry, Dr. Aulak was decorated with over a dozen awards and scholarships along the way, which notably include the Jelf Medal, Malleson Prize for research and GKT Hospital's Full Shields.
