Will I find tooth whitening trays comfortable?

[FritzyMousey]

I want to get my teeth professionally whitened, my dentist recommended a nightly treatment where they make moulds of your teeth for the trays and you keep in overnight. It’s £250 which I’m fine with if it works but I’m sceptical as to whether I will even be able to put up with having the trays in my mouth all night! Never tried anything like this but I can foresee me finding them too uncomfortable which would be a complete waste of money! Has anyone used them and can comment on how good custom moulded trays are in the comfort stakes?

I have moulded trays that were made from impressions at the dentist, but I only need to wear then (with the whitening treatment) for a 2 hour period. They are fine, take bit of getting used to (the whitening gel can sting a bit at first), but I wouldn't want to try and sleep in them. Maybe ask about the treatment times and see if there is one you can do for a few hours?

Yes and no! I have to sleep with a custom mouth guard, weird at first but now it feels odd not to have it in

elfofftheshelf I think there might be a shorter daytime option but he recommended the night one, I can check why but my teeth are mottled so def want to go with the option he recommends. I assume you can’t drink while you have them in?

Ollivander84 how long would you say it took you to get used to them?

A few nights

I wore them overnight for my whitening. Although it wasn’t necessary (I could have worn them for a shorter time during the day), I preferred to wear them at night and get it out of the way so I didn’t have to faff with it during the day. Also there was a certain level of discomfort with the sensitivity which obviously I was not aware of whilst asleep so that was a benefit too. They certainly didn’t stop me sleeping - but I don’t generally have problems in that department anyway! Was delighted with results btw. But def use sensitive toothpaste.

BumboBaggins thanks that’s really helpful, yes I think if I can get to sleep with them in then I’d rather use them at night so I can forget about them!

It was the taste I found worse than the trays so I don’t do it very often any more although it was effective at first.

I have used them overnight and found it fine. I put them in last minute before I fall asleep and they don’t bother me at all. The results were fabulous. The first time I wore them 8 nights in a row. Now I do a top up every 18 months for 3 nights. No problems. I really think the toothpastes/strips etc do nothing, but the trays work well. Go for it.

By the way I tried using them during the day but was sat there dribbling and sucking! Much better for me to be asleep when they are in and know nothing about it!

That’s really helpful thank you, you’ve all convinced me to get the trays made when I go to the dentist next week!

You’ve made up your mind but personally I wish I’d never got trays and gone with zoom whitening to have it over and done with. I don’t like wearing the trays at all. They make me want to gag slightly. I used them each evening for 2 hours over 2 weeks and it did make some difference but not particularly dramatic.