Home / Blog / How to Clean Teeth Whitening Trays
As we get older, we might get wiser! But the signs of ageing sadly start to show, and the inevitable teeth discolouration can age you by 10 or more years. All those glasses of red wine, coffee and other naughty treats take their toll on your enamel and leave those once pearly whites looking more yellow or discoloured. Thankfully, a range of teeth whitening techniques can bring back youthful white teeth and give you a smile you want to show off.
One popular technique is teeth bleaching using teeth whitening trays. These small plastic trays need to be worn anywhere from a couple of hours a day to throughout the night. However, your whitening trays can start to get dirty with daily use. Pretty disgusting, right? Think of a kettle full of limescale. You wouldn’t want that water in your tea. That is why the regular cleaning of teeth whitening trays is essential.
In this post, our expert cosmetic dentists in Brighton at Smile Stories show you how to clean your teeth whitening trays with our step-by-step guide. Alternatively, you can check out our helpful video below.
Follow Our Simple How to Clean Teeth Whitening Trays Tips
Knowing how to clean your teeth whitening trays after every use is important. This will remove any leftover gel and ensure they are ready for the next time you want to use them. It also clears any debris left in the trays and stops stains from building up.
Once you’ve removed them from your mouth, the best way to clean them is carefully, with an electric toothbrush, non-perfumed soap and warm water. Never use hot water, as this can damage your whitening trays. And don’t use toothpaste as it is abrasive. Make sure you clean both the outside and inside of your trays.
Once clean, lightly dry them with tissue or a soft, clean, dry flannel or towel and place them back into your storage case. This will protect them from the elements, but you should also ensure they’re kept out of direct sunlight or hot rooms. And after using your teeth whitening trays, always brush your teeth to get rid of any remaining teeth whitening gel.
Finally, here are our top eight top tips to keep your teeth looking white:
- If you are craving sugary (including fruit juice) or dark-coloured drinks, like red wine, drink them through a straw.
- Avoid black coffee, and don’t drink more than two cups of coffee a day.
- Avoid black or dark-coloured herbal tea.
- Don’t drink sugary, fizzy drinks and limit yourself to a maximum of two cans of sugar-free sugary drinks a day, or drink fizzy water.
- Avoid dark-coloured fruits, such as blueberries and blackberries.
- If you eat curry, always brush your teeth afterwards.
- Try to brush your teeth after eating or chew sugar-free gum.
- No smoking! Or if you can’t give up, brush your teeth or chew sugar-free gum after every cigarette or after using any products containing nicotine, including vapes!
How to Clean Teeth Whitening Trays and Deal With Stubborn Stains
It doesn’t matter if you know how to clean teeth whitening trays; they may still become discoloured or collect grime. To remove residue inside the trays, I recommend Retainer Brite. These effective cleaning tablets remove plaque and tartar and kill 99% of odour-causing bacteria. Want to know how to use Retainer Brite on your bleaching trays?
Follow these four easy steps:
- Place one tablet into warm (not hot) water.
- Place your whitening trays into the bubbling water
- Remove after 20 minutes.
- Enjoy teeth whitening trays that look and feel like new.
So there you have it! Pretty simple, right? Getting clean teeth whitening trays couldn’t be easier when you follow our step-by-step guide.
PS. Remember, when you’re not using the bleaching gel, it lives in the fridge. This will prolong its shelf life and stop the gel from activating.
Other Teeth Whitening Options
If you have been using teeth whitening trays and you haven’t seen the results you are looking for, or if you prefer an alternative form of teeth whitening treatment, check out our Smile Stories professional teeth whitening service. Our team of cosmetic dentists know exactly what they are doing when it comes to producing the “perfect smile” and the whitest teeth.
Our teeth whitening procedure starts with removing all that stubborn staining from your teeth that a toothbrush can’t tackle. After that, we turn the lights up and get whitening. Your professional teeth whitening results will speak for themselves. Take a look at our previous client’s Smile Stories if you want to see the life-changing impact we have had.
Composite Bonding, Porcelain Veneers and Teeth Implants for the Perfect Smile
Sometimes teeth whitening is not enough to give you the smile of your dreams. Our cosmetic dentists in Brighton are highly trained and specialists in all types of cosmetic dentistry. If you have crooked teeth, you should consider Invisalign, and if you have composite bonding or porcelain veneers can give you a perfect smile. Missing teeth? Why not consider teeth implants, the ultimate solution for lost teeth.
Do you want professional teeth whitening or cosmetic dentistry? Book your free video consultation with our friendly team of expert cosmetic dentists in Brighton, and look forward to a brighter smile that you want to show the world.
AUTHOR
Dr Gareth EdwardsBDS (Hons) MFDS RCPS (Glasg) qualified from dental school with honours. Working in the Bournemouth & Poole area, he has a particular interest in orthodontics and is a certified Invisalignprovider.
