Methods for whitening teeth

Abstract

Method for whitening teeth are provided. The methods include the steps of providing a strip of material and applying a thin layer of a tooth whitening substance having a whitening active selected from the group consisting of peroxides, metal chlorites, perborates, percarbonates, peroxyacids, hypochlorites, and combinations thereof to a front surface of a plurality of teeth, wherein the amount of the tooth whitening substance is between about 0.05 grams and about 0.4 grams. The method further includes the steps of conforming the strip of material to the front surface of the plurality of teeth and removing the strip of material, wherein the front surface of the plurality of teeth have between a 1 and a 4 VITA LUMIN shade guide improvement in color.

1 - 31 . (canceled)  
   
   
       32 . A method of bleaching a plurality of adjacent teeth, the teeth having facial and lingual surfaces, comprising: 
 applying a tooth bleaching delivery system to a plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system comprises a strip of material and a tooth bleaching composition having a peroxide active, wherein applying the tooth bleaching system comprises:    a) applying a first portion of the strip of material and tooth bleaching composition to the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth so that the tooth bleaching composition contacts the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    b) folding a second portion of the strip of material and tooth bleaching composition about the incisal edges of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    c) applying the second portion of the strip and tooth bleaching composition to at least a portion of the lingual surfaces of one or more of the plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching composition is adhesive during use and wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system is applied to the facial and lingual surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth for a sufficient period of time for the peroxide active to act upon the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth; and wherein  32 ( a ) to  32 ( c ) are repeated until a whitening benefit of a 1-4 shade guide improvement is achieved.    
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said peroxide is carbamide peroxide.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the tooth bleaching composition further comprises glycerin, carboxypolymethylene, triethanolamine, and a flavoring agent.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said tooth bleaching delivery system is applied for a period of time between about 5 minutes and about 120 minutes.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said strip of material has two sides that are arched.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said strip of material has two sides that are stair-stepped, and wherein said stairstepped sides fold about the incisal edge of the plurality of adjacent teeth.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein the tooth bleaching composition comprises a mixture of polymers.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein said mixture of polymers comprises polyvinylpyrrolidone.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein said tooth bleaching mixture further comprises polyethylene glycol.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein said tooth bleaching mixture further comprises water and wherein said peroxide is hydrogen peroxide.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein said tooth bleaching composition comprises a poloxamer.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 32 , wherein a fresh strip of material is used for each application of said tooth bleaching substance to said surfaces of said teeth.  
   
   
       44 . A method of bleaching a plurality of adjacent teeth, the teeth having facial and lingual surfaces, comprising: 
 applying a tooth bleaching delivery system to a plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system comprises a strip of material and a tooth bleaching composition comprising a tooth bleaching active, wherein applying the tooth bleaching system comprises:    a) applying a first portion of the strip of material and tooth bleaching composition to the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth so that the tooth bleaching composition contacts the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    b) folding a second portion of the strip of material and tooth bleaching composition about the incisal edges of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    c) applying the second portion of the strip and tooth bleaching composition to at least a portion of the lingual surfaces of one or more of the plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching composition is adhesive during use and wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system is applied to the facial and lingual surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth for a sufficient period of time for the tooth bleaching active to act upon the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth.    
   
   
       45 . A method of bleaching a plurality of adjacent teeth, the teeth having facial and lingual surfaces, comprising: 
 applying a tooth bleaching delivery system to a plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system comprises a strip of material and a tooth bleaching composition comprising polyvinylpyrrolidone and a tooth bleaching active, wherein applying the tooth bleaching system comprises:    a) applying a first portion of the strip of material and tooth bleaching composition to the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth so that the tooth bleaching composition contacts the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    b) folding a second portion of the strip of material and tooth bleaching composition about the incisal edges of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    c) applying the second portion of the strip and tooth bleaching composition to at least a portion of the lingual surfaces of one or more of the plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching composition is adhesive during use and wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system is applied to the facial and lingual surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth for a sufficient period of time for the tooth bleaching active to act upon the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth.    
   
   
       46 . A method of manufacturing a tooth bleaching delivery system comprising: 
 1) shaping a strip of material such that when used the strip of material will contact the facial surface of the teeth, folds over the incisal edge of the teeth, and contacts the lingual surface of the teeth,    2) forming a tooth bleaching composition comprising a tooth bleaching active, water and polyvinylpyrrolidone,    3) applying the tooth bleaching composition to the strip of material.    
   
   
       47 . A tooth bleaching product produced in accordance with the method of  claim 46 .  
   
   
       48 . The tooth bleaching product of  claim 47 , wherein the tooth bleaching product has a thickness of less than 1 mm.  
   
   
       49 . A tooth bleaching composition comprising: 
 1) a tooth bleaching active;    2) polyvinylpyrrolidone, and    3) water,    wherein the tooth bleaching composition is a gel formed into a laminate.    
   
   
       50 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 49 , wherein the gel laminate has a thickness of less than about 0.4 mm.  
   
   
       51 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 49 , wherein the laminate is formed into a rectangular shape.  
   
   
       52 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 49 , wherein the laminate is sized to cover a plurality of adjacent teeth.  
   
   
       53 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 49 , wherein the laminate is substantially flat prior to use.  
   
   
       54 . A tooth bleaching composition comprising: 
 1) a tooth bleaching active;    2) a gelling agent,    wherein the tooth bleaching composition is a gel formed into separate layers of components and wherein the tooth bleaching composition is shaped into a generally rectangular shape and sized to cover a plurality of adjacent teeth.    
   
   
       55 . A tooth bleaching composition comprising: 
 1) a tooth bleaching active;    2) a gelling agent    wherein the tooth bleaching composition is a gel formed into a laminate sized to cover a plurality of adjacent teeth.    
   
   
       56 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 55 , wherein the tooth bleaching composition is substantially flat prior to use.  
   
   
       57 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 55 , wherein the tooth bleaching composition is shaped into a generally rectangular shape.  
   
   
       58 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 57 , wherein the length of the tooth bleaching composition is from about 2 cm to about 12 cm.  
   
   
       59 . The tooth bleaching composition of  claim 57 , wherein the width of the tooth bleaching composition is from about 0.5 cm to about 4 cm.  
   
   
       60 . A method of bleaching a plurality of adjacent teeth, the teeth having facial and lingual surfaces, comprising: 
 applying a tooth bleaching delivery system to a plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system comprises a barrier and a tooth bleaching composition comprising a tooth bleaching active, wherein applying the tooth bleaching system comprises:    a) applying a first portion of the tooth bleaching delivery system to the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth so that the tooth bleaching composition contacts the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    b) folding a second portion of the tooth bleaching delivery system about the incisal edges of the plurality of adjacent teeth;    c) applying the second portion of the tooth bleaching delivery system to at least a portion of the lingual surfaces of one or more of the plurality of adjacent teeth, wherein the tooth bleaching composition is adhesive during use and wherein the tooth bleaching delivery system is applied to the facial and lingual surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth for a sufficient period of time for the tooth bleaching active to act upon the facial surfaces of the plurality of adjacent teeth.