I received a teeth whitening kit from my new dentist when I moved to town. I didn’t really need my teeth whitened at the time as I’d had it done a couple of years ago in my old town. I popped it in my dresser and forgot about it. I was changing out clothes for the season and saw it there. Is it still good? I’ve taken up coffee again and now really do need some whitening done. Why do I drink that wretched stuff?! I don’t want to pay for a new kit if I don’t need one.

Joyce

Dear Joyce,

The custom fitted teeth whitening trays will be fine, especially since they’ve been in your dresser this whole time. The only thing that could really damage those would be heat. We’ve had patients leave them in their car and put them in the dryer. Unfortunately, this warps the trays and they won’t fit properly. Yours weren’t exposed to heat, so that won’t be an issue.

The gel could be a different story. It’s generally good for a year, possibly a little longer if your dentist kept it refrigerated. You could look on the tube to see if there’s an expiration date. It’s unlikely. There’s probably a batch number on it from the manufacturer. You could contact them. But, honestly, it would be easier just to open a tube and see what the gel looks like. If it’s cloudy or white, it’s lost its potency.

The teeth whitening will definitely clear up your coffee stains. Most coffee drinkers find they need a touch up every year. If you keep your trays, your dentist can provide you with a new tube of gel every year. Some dentists will do that free of charge for as long as you keep up with your regular cleanings. Even if they charge, the gel won’t be much money at all.

I hope this helps.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Jerome Cha.