Teeth Whitening Trays vs. Strips

I can’t help but remember all those times I’ve asked “would you like to catch a movie?” only to be laughed at while I watch them walk away, giggling with their friends. Has this happened to you? I thought maybe I had something in my teeth. Or even worse, maybe I had something on all my teeth. The color yellow.

That’s the price you pay for the casual enjoyment of coffee and other stain-related beverages. Well, there’s two ways to combat those social-success killing drinks. Teeth whitening trays and strips. Comparing the two options can be tricky. Here are a few facts to know about your average teeth whitening products (we’re talking about those prescribed by dentists and not the home whitening systems).

Professional teeth whitening systems will give you the best results in the shortest amount of time. The trays are filled with a peroxide paste which you place on your teeth while you sleep. The peroxide substance is usually about 16 to 20 per cent of the total gel that does it’s magic. The strips however, have less peroxide, at about 14 per cent, and are worn twice a day for around 30 minutes a session. The amount of time the trays are in contact with your teeth is far greater than that of the strips, which would lead one to believe that the strips would be less effective.

But this is not the case. The strips have actually shown to be more effective in recent studies, and the strips have been proven to result in fewer side-effects. The trays are becoming synonymous with sensitive gums, while the strips have few problems associated with their use. Keeping something on your teeth all night long means you’ll be keeping chemicals in your mouth all night long as well, which is seemingly dangerous. The amount of whitening that actually occurs with the trays is not any better than the strips, although the trays only have to be used for two weeks, while the strips are used for three or more.

One concern some people may have is that the strips don’t cover as many teeth as the trays. This is a valid concern in deciding between the two options. If you have a wider mouth and the strips aren’t reaching all of your shown teeth, then you may want to consider using the trays which cover almost all your teeth.

The final, and most important concern when deciding the method of teeth whitening, is comfort. The option that is more comfortable for you may weigh heavier in the decision on which product to use.