Tooth whitening: how to use your trays

Home tooth whitening, with custom-made trays and syringes of gel, gives excellent results provided you follow a few rules. Here is everything you need for effective, comfortable treatment.

Before and during the treatment

• Avoid smoking during the treatment and for 15 days afterwards.
• Avoid staining food and drink (coffee, tea, red berries, tobacco, red wine, spices, etc.) during the treatment and for 15 days afterwards.
• If you experience sensitivity: take the trays out immediately, rinse, and wait 2 to 3 days before carrying on.
• Keep the syringes in the fridge and let them come back to room temperature before use.

How to use the trays and the gel

1. Brush your teeth thoroughly.
2. Put the gel into the tray: one small drop per tooth is enough.
3. Fit the tray (custom-made for the upper and lower arch).
4. Remove any excess gel that has squeezed out onto the gums with your toothbrush.
5. On the first day: leave the tray in for 1 or 2 hours. If no sensitivity appears, wear it overnight on the following days.
6. In the morning, take the tray out, rinse it in cold water and rinse your mouth.
7. Apply a sensitivity toothpaste (Elmex Sensitive Professional) with your finger, massaging it into the enamel. Leave it for 3 minutes, then spit out (without rinsing).
8. Do not brush your teeth straight after removing the tray: wait 30 minutes.
9. Repeat for 3 weeks.

Small white spots may appear during the treatment: they will fade a few days after the whitening ends.

If you experience strong sensitivity

If you feel strong sensitivity, do not wear the tray for 1 to 2 days, then start again with a shorter wear time. Always keep the syringes refrigerated.

If you have the slightest doubt about how to use the product or about the results, contact your dentist.

Worth knowing before you start

• A full examination and a professional clean are required before any treatment.
• Whitening does not work on veneers, crowns or fillings: these may need to be redone afterwards.
• Yellow teeth respond better than greyish ones. Staining caused by tetracycline or fluorosis lightens less well.
• The final shade loses a little brightness over the following 2 to 3 weeks: an annual top-up can be helpful.
• The results last 2 to 3 years, longer with good hygiene (avoiding tobacco, coffee and staining food).
• Not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding.