Dental adhesive strips are an easy fix for common dental problems.. These tiny but powerful products stabilize dentures, inhibit food trapping, and even release medication right to trouble spots inside your mouth. With so many choices currently on the market, dental adhesive strips have become more popular than ever for short-term solutions and general dental care requirements.
Throughout this guide, you will discover the various forms of best dental adhesive strips, their advantages and drawbacks, and effective ways to use them.
What are Dental Adhesive Strips?
Dental adhesive strips are thin, pliable materials that are used to stick to oral tissues or dental appliances. Unlike the traditional dental adhesives that exist in paste or powder form, strips offer a pre-measured, easy-to-use alternative.
The strips typically consist of a waterproof backing with an adhesive layer that activates when pressed against a surface. Some dental adhesive strips contain active ingredients that release over time, while others simply provide physical adhesion.
You’ll find them in various shapes and sizes depending on their intended use. To maintain cleanliness and adhesive quality, most strips come individually wrapped. So they are in best condition when you use them.
Common Ingredients of Dental Adhesive Strips
The ingredients in dental adhesive strips differ depending on their function:
- Adhesive layer: Typically hydrophilic polymers that activate with moisture
- Backing material: Typically waterproof to avoid saliva reducing the bond strength
- Active ingredients: Can contain whitening agents, painkillers, or antimicrobials
- Release liner: Prevents the adhesive from sticking until you’re ready to apply the strip
Types of Dental Adhesive Strips
Let’s take a look at common types of dental adhesive strips:
Denture Adhesive Strips
These strips are designed to keep full or partial dentures firmly in place. Adhesive strips for dentures come in a shape that matches the curves of denture bases and forms a tight seal against your gums. They’re usually moisture-activated and deliver all-day adhesion.
You’ll find these strips useful if you have poorly fitting dentures or have problems with conventional adhesive creams.
Application Techniques
To get the best results using denture adhesive strips:
1. Clean and thoroughly dry your dentures
2. Cut strips to fit your denture if necessary
3. Remove the protective backing
4. Place strips on the tissue-facing surface of the denture
5. Press denture firmly into place
Orthodontic Wax Strips
Though not adhesives in the traditional sense, these protective strips attach to braces or aligners to prevent irritation.
The wax-like material adheres to metal or plastic teeth, forming a smooth surface that will not rub against your gums or cheeks.
Wound Covering Strips
Medicated strips aid in covering oral wounds after Dental Care surgery or injury. The strips have healing-promoting compounds and form a barrier against bacteria and food particles. Another advantage these strips provide is delivering pain-relieving medication.
Whitening Strips
Arguably the most popular dental adhesive strips, these strips contain peroxide chemicals that whiten teeth.
Whitening strips bond to your enamel directly, which means extended contact with the active agents.
Best Dental Adhesive Strips for Whitening
The strongest whitening strips usually include:
- 6-10% hydrogen peroxide or 10-20% carbamide peroxide
- Contoured molds that cover front teeth entirely
- Treatment sessions of 7-14 days
- Adhesive wear 30 minutes to overnight, formula dependent
Advantages of Dental Adhesive Strips
Dental adhesive strips have a number of advantages over traditional dental adhesives:
- Simple application makes them easy to use. You just peel and stick instead of measuring and mixing.
- Pre-measured amounts guarantee you’re using the correct dosage every time. They eliminate the messy overflow often experienced with paste adhesives.
- They come in portable packaging, which enables you to carry strips with you easily. Numerous products are available in pocket-sized packaging, ideal for use on the go.
- Certain dental adhesive strips deliver medication or active ingredients directly to a specific area. This enables accurate application precisely where desired.
- The waterproof backing of most strips keeps saliva from weakening the adhesive. This leads to longer-lasting performance than with some conventional adhesives.
Convenience Factors
Here’s why dental adhesive strips are especially convenient:
- No mixing necessary
- Tidy application with untidy residue
- Simple removal when no longer in use
- No specialist tool required for application
- Reliably good results with every use
Using Dental Adhesive Strips
Use of dental adhesive strips varies according to type but, for the most part, adheres to the following procedure:
1. Properly clean and dry the area where the strip is to be applied
2. Remove backing from strip
3. Apply the strip accurately where desired
4. Press firmly to engage the adhesive
5. Use package instructions for use duration
Tips for Best Results
To achieve the best results from your dental adhesive strips:
- Always begin with clean, dry surfaces
- Use clean hands to apply or wear disposable gloves
- Keep unused strips in original packaging
- Obey temperature recommendations for storage
- Replace strips at suggested intervals instead of leaving them on for too long
Dental Adhesive Strip Limitations
Even with their advantages, dental adhesive strips are not ideal for all cases.
- Long-term use may be affected by cost considerations. Strips are generally more expensive per use than conventional adhesives, which could affect your decision for everyday use.
- Individuals develop sensitivity or allergic responses to ingredients in dental adhesive strips. Always read ingredients if you have known sensitivities.
- Environmental considerations also have their limitations. The individual packaging generates more trash than bulk adhesive products.
- The uniform shapes and sizes may not be feasible for all. Your particular dental structure or appliance may need something more tailored.
- Dental adhesive strips are inappropriate for:
Permanent cementation of crowns or bridges
Extensive denture repairs
Severe dental decay treatment
Extensive structural damage to teeth
Therapeutic use over long periods
- Lower strength as compared to professional dental cements means these strips should not be used as a substitute for proper dental repair.
FAQs About Dental Adhesive Strips
Do dental adhesive strips work?
Yes, dental adhesive strips are effective for temporary stabilization of dentures, minor repair, delivering whitening agents, and oral tissue protection during healing.
What kind of adhesives do dentists use?
Dentists employ professional-strength permanent cements, resin adhesives, and temporary adhesives not generally sold in strip form for home use.
What are dental adhesive strips used for?
Dental adhesive strips offer temporary solutions for denture securing, medication delivery, tooth whitening, and protecting oral tissues from irritation.
What is the most widely used dental adhesive?
Zinc oxide products are still the most popular dental adhesives, but they usually come in paste form instead of strips.
Conclusion
Dental adhesive strips provide convenient solutions for many different oral care needs. Whether to hold dentures in place or whiten teeth, these handy products provide effective short-term solutions to common dental problems. Although they are unable to substitute professional dental procedures, they play important roles in everyday oral care.
Aidite provides premium dental products. Their cutting-edge dental materials ensure that whenever temporary measures are insufficient, your dentist can avail themselves of the latest in permanent technologies. Aidite’s focus on innovative dental materials ensures you get the very best care whether you use in-home solutions or go to your dental professional for more extensive treatment.