Tuesday, 1 November 2016

Whitening Trays - You Said What? | A Guide to choosing Teeth Whitening Trays


Whitening Trays - You Said What?

A Guide to choosing Teeth Whitening Trays 

Image result for confused whitening

 Let’s face it, almost every man and his dog is offering some type of teeth whitening product or service these days! Whether this be from dentists, beauty therapists, online retailers or those just attempting to take a share in the market, it’s a teeth whitening mine field.

With this comes a myriad of whitening options including choices of bleaching gels, concentrations, formulations and whitening trays. Although each have their pros and cons this guide will focus on the latter providing you with the most common Teeth Whitening Tray options available to those wishing to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their own home.


There are three types of tray options available – Thermoforming, Pre-Filled and Custom Fit Whitening Trays. We will discuss each of these below.




Thermoforming Whitening Trays

Image result for thermoform bleach trays
Thermoforming Trays
Are mouldable plastic trays which are adapted to your teeth by warming the tray in hot water and then shaped by pushing/sucking the warmed plastic over your teeth. Thermoforming Bleach Trays are the most common trays used by online or non-registered dental whitening retailers i.e. dentists tend to steer clear of this option. Teeth Whitening Gel is then applied to the trays and placed in your mouth to complete the whitening process.

They are a cost-effective alternative to visiting the dentist and are usually supplied in packets of two or three – one for your top and bottom teeth and one spare. The effectiveness of these trays is highly dependent on how well you ‘mould’ the tray to your teeth and the quality of the tray purchased – usually the price is a good indicator in reflecting the quality of the Thermoforming Tray.

Price: Under $25
Fit: Poor – Average
Tips:
  • Be cautious for overly cheap options – this usually reflects the quality of the material used.
  • If you are a first-time user it may be worthwhile purchasing as spare set of trays as it can take a few attempts to get a tight, suitable fitting tray.
Advantages
Disadvantages
·         Cheap
·         Very technique sensitive – poor fit will result in a poor whitening result
·         No dentist needed, buy online
·         Poor fit can result in gum irritation or burning
·         Can be used multiple times
·         Quality of trays cannot always be guaranteed
·         Readily available
·         Not recommended by Dental Professionals


Pre-filled Whitening Trays

Image result for opalescence tray
Opalescence GO! - Pre-filled Trays
Is essentially the middle road when it comes to Teeth Whitening Tray options. The prefilled tray combines the ‘mouldable’ idea behind thermoforming trays but also contains whitening gel that is ‘in built’ into the tray. This options is great for those who are looking for utmost convenience and are short on time. The pre-filled trays (upper and lower) are placed into your mouth for the recommended wear time. Like Thermoforming Trays these are readily available and not usually endorsed by those professionally trained in teeth whitening due to the risk of poor fitting or adaptability. 

Saying this, due to increasing popularity Opalescence, developed Opalescence GO! – a very effective option combining Opalescence Whitening Gel with Prefilled UltraFit Trays which seamlessly adapt to your teeth in response to your mouth’s ‘warm environment’. This product is popular, has a strong following, is backed by Opalescence’s Worldwide reputation among Dentists and takes the ‘risk’ out of purchasing one of the many online whitening products.

Price: $20 - $150
Fit: Average – Good
Tips:
  • Check to see whether the trays mould to your teeth or are one-size fits all – steer clear of the latter. 
  •  Stick with a reputable well known whitening gel or brand.  
  • Although convenient, crunch the numbers, in the long run you may find yourself paying more for each individual whitening treatment.

Advantages
Disadvantages
·         No need to purchase both trays and whitening gel
·         Each pre-filled tray is single use
·         Saves time with pre-measured and filled trays
·         Long term - may be more expensive
·         Options endorsed by dentists
·         Poor fit can result in gum irritation or burning

Custom Fit Whitening Trays

Custom Fit Trays - Customised to your mouth
This option is what your local dental practice offers, usually as a Take Home Whitening Kit. Custom Fit Trays are fabricated from an imprint or exact replica of your teeth providing the most accurate fit. This tray option tends to be the most expensive as each of your trays are customised for your mouth, constructed using specialist dental laboratory equipment, therefore, ensuring a safer, more effective whitening result and experience. Whitening gel is then applied to each of your trays and placed into your mouth for the recommended wear time. Custom Fit Trays can not only be used for teeth whitening treatments but also with other professional products such as GC Toothmousse, Pola Soothe, UltraEz and Colgate Sensitive Pro Relief Toothpaste to assist in cavity and sensitivity prevention.

Unfortunately, due to the specialist and professional nature associated with Custom Fit Trays fabrication they are usually only available from your dentist for quite a hefty price tag of usually $400 (or more). Fortunately, The House of Mouth has developed an intelligent DIY Custom Fit Tray product which allows customers to take the imprints of their teeth within the comfort of their own home. The imprints are then posted back to them; your trays are fabricated and sent back to you with your choice of whitening kit (if so desired). It’s quite simple with Complete and Tray Only Packages starting from $220.

Price: $220 - $400 (or more)
Fit: Good – Excellent
Tips:
  • If visiting the dentist specifically for this option, ensure to confirm whether you must meet certain criteria e.g. they may require you to see a dentist for a check-up and clean appointment first.
  • For DIY options - be mindful of the lead time between placing your order and receiving your Custom Fit Trays. If possible, expedite your order with express shipping to reduce such issues.

Advantages
Disadvantages
·         Customised – provides the best fit
·         Cost may be a deterrent for some
·         Less whitening gel leakage onto gums
·         Not as readily available as other tray options
·         Better teeth whitening results
·         Some dentists may not permit whitening until you have had a check-up/clean
·         Safest and most reliable

·         Now available as a DIY Option


The Verdict

There are many Teeth Whitening Tray options which differ greatly in price, availability and reliability. Always do your research and be aware that not all options are the same despite many online retailers making farfetched claims. So, our two take home tips are:
  1. A tighter fitting and more customised (to your mouth) whitening tray will usually result in better and safer teeth whitening treatments.
  2. Reputation is Key - Always choose a professional whitening brand, bleaching gel and tray product. It pays to do some research before simply jumping on in.

Wednesday, 14 September 2016

Dental Erosion: A Silent Killer


Dental Erosion: A Silent Killer
by D. Buckley (BOral H, MHServMgt)



More than ever people are trying to preserve and look out for their general and wider health - after all we are living longer! With this comes various diet, lifestyle and health trends intertwined with the need for convenience, time saving and efficient options. 

Despite the majority of us wanting to actively improve our health outcomes many are unaware of the serious side effects of an acidic diet on the dentition. Unfortunately, many items that have been linked to significant general health benefits tend to be extremely detrimental to our teeth. This has lead to a condition known as "Dental Erosion" and surprisingly enough most people are completely unaware of the catastrophic and long term impacts on their oral health, not to mention the costs associated with fixing such issues. 

Despite this - it can be easily prevented!



What is Erosion?
Basically, it's a type of tooth wear resulting in the irreversible loss of tooth structure due to chemical dissolution by acids. Overtime, chemical dissolution 'melts away' the tooth structure resulting in 'concavities' or 'volcano' like formations beginning to appear on effected teeth. Some become large enough to even place your fingernail into!


Courtesy: Australian Dental (2016)


What leads to erosion?
The most common causes are consistent exposure to acid foodstuffs and substances. The pH scale determines the acidity of substances based on a scale from 1 (Very Acidic) to 14 (very Alkaline). The lower the pH the more acidic the item is. Moreover, increased frequency or repeat consumption of highly acidic items significantly increases the risk of dental erosion on the teeth.

Courtesy: UT203 (2016)

Although great for the body many food choices can lead to erosion of the teeth. See the top erosion contributors below - some may surprise you and we are sure almost all of us could confirm we consume at least one or two of these regularly.

  • Lemon Juice - pH 2
  • Vitamin C Tablets - pH 2.4
  • Coke - pH 2.5
  • Balsamic Vinegar - pH 2.6
  • Red Bull / V Drinks - pH 3.3
  • Oranges - pH 3.3
  • Wine - pH 3.5
  • Beer - pH 4.0
  • Strawberry Jam - pH 4.0
  • Yoghurt - pH 4.5
  • Coffee - pH 5.0


What are the side effects?
Short term individuals will notice aesthetic changes such as the yellowing of the teeth (as the enamel dissipates and exposes the underlying dentine), small concavities or indentations forming on particularly the front and biting surfaces of the teeth and most commonly tooth sensitivity directly related to the exposure of the dentine.

Long term dental erosion leads to severe structural loss resulting in the teeth 'shrinking' in size, the reduction in facial profile (nose becomes closer to the chin) as the upper teeth now begin to sink over the lower teeth, severe sensitivity and eventually nerve exposure. At this point, the solution can very costly resulting in extensive restorative or cosmetic dental work.


Courtesy: Arizona Dental (2016)


How do I prevent erosion?
Some basic tips to prevent, manage and control acid erosion and hopefully any unnecessary and expensive trips to the dentist:

Limit Intake
Where possible, completely eliminate or at least reduce the frequency of highly acidic substances. Although, many may carry obvious health benefits is the frequent and dangerous exposure worth the risk and cost to your teeth?

Ingredients
Many long life products have been acidulated to assist in 'shelf life preservation'. Read the ingredients of all long life products prior to purchasing and avoid those with 'Acidity Regulators' and 'Ascorbic Acids'.

Rinse
It takes the mouth 20-30mins (even longer if the item was very acidic) to reach a stable environment after a meal or snack. Avoid brushing for at least 30 minutes after any meal or snack and rinse (and spit) until the 30 minute mark is reached. Alternatively, the chewing sugar free gum is a great alternative.

Tooth Desensitisers
If you still consume acidic foodstuffs the use of a tooth desensitiser e.g GC Toothmousse Plus with a built in remineralisation ingredient will greatly assist in managing erosion levels. Remember, erosion results in irreversible loss - you cannot 'regrow' your lossed enamel.

Saturday, 6 February 2016

5 Tips - Sensitivity & Teeth Whitening


5 Tips - Sensitivity & Teeth Whitening

At some point, many of us can relate to experiencing tooth sensitivity throughout our lives. For some it’s an ongoing concern, whilst others may describe it as an inconsistent, sporadic or spontaneous event. Unfortunately, due to various dietary, lifestyle, poor oral hygiene habits and other personal choices tooth sensitivity is rapidly becoming a key issue in the dental world.

 

 What is Tooth Sensitivity?

"Usually a short or sharp sensation when your teeth are exposed to a hot or cold stimulus such as hot or cold food and drinks"

Why are my Teeth Sensitive during Teeth Whitening?

Whether it be take home whitening or a professional in chair teeth whitening treatment your teeth porosities become opened or exposed. This is not only a direct result of the active ingredients within the whitening product, but also a chemical reaction, known as oxidation, which occurs during the whitening process itself. Sound odd? Well, don’t be overly concerned as this process is required for your enamel to successfully ‘absorb’ the whitening product and provide you with a longer lasting, brighter and whiter smile.


The upside, is sensitivity related to teeth whitening generally is temporary and usually lasts no longer than 24-48hrs after the last whitening treatment. This is due to the fact that the oxidative process has ceased and your tooth porosities have now closed.

 5 Tips – Controlling  Teeth Whitening Sensitivity?


TIP ONE: Use a Sensitive Toothpaste

For best results, commence using a Sensitive Toothpaste at least 7-14 days prior to commencing or undergoing teeth whitening treatment(s). Colgate Sensitive ProRelief or Sensodyne are the most popular products currently on the market.


TIP TWO: Use a Tooth Desensitiser

Sensitive toothpaste not cutting it? Utilise a professional and specially formulated Tooth Desensitising Product. These products can be smeared onto your teeth and gums (or placed in your whitening trays) before and after whitening treatments. Many contain a variety of active ingredients which assist in cavity prevention, tooth remineralisation and desensitisation all within the same product. The two most popular products sold by Dentists are GC Toothmousse andPola Soothe.


TIP THREE: Have a rest day

Listen to your teeth! As weird as it sounds, if your teeth are overly sensitive after whitening them, take a break! Allow a ‘rest day’ where you DO NOT whiten your teeth. This simply gives your teeth a ‘break’. For example, if you were to commence whitening on a Monday, DO NOT whiten Tuesday but recommence on Wednesday.


TIP FOUR: Avoid Cold Stimulus

For at least the first 48hrs after any teeth whitening treatment and refrain from consuming cold stimuli which will exacerbate sensitivity issues i.e. ice cream, cold drinks and biting into ice etc.


TIP FIVE: Try a lower concentration whitening product

If you are still noticing your teeth are tender after attempting Tips 1-4 try a lower strength bleaching product. It may take a little longer to achieve your desired tooth colour but will minimise any sensitivity issues. Also, attempt using a Carbamide Peroxide based whitening gel as Opposed to Hydrogen Peroxide – many of these are specifically designed for those concerned about sensitivity during teeth whitening. One of the most popular and trusted products worldwide is Polanight.




Have a question? – Comment Below



Happy Teeth Whitening!