Apparatus and method for whitening teeth

A method of tooth whitening, comprising:

• inserting a tooth whitening apparatus into a user's mouth, said tooth whitening apparatus comprising (a) a backing layer, and (b) an adhesive layer comprising a dry type adhesive matrix comprising (i) a tooth whitening agent selected from the group consisting of hydrogen peroxide, carbamide peroxide, calcium peroxide, sodium percarbonate, sodium perborate, tetrasodium pyrophosphate peroxidate, and combinations thereof, (ii) an adhesive matrix polymer consisting essentially of a peroxide-compatible hydrophilic glassy polymer selected from the group consisting of polyalkylvinylether-maleic acid copolymer, polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, Poloxamer 407, polyvinyl pyrrolidone-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, Polyquaternium-11, Polyquaternium-39, carbomer, hydroxypropylmethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, gelatin, sodium alginate, and combinations thereof as the sole polymeric source for complex formation with said peroxide, (iii) a stabilizer for peroxide, and (iv) a polyphosphate in order to enhance a teeth whitening effect, whereby the adhesive matrix has little or no adhesion strength in a dry state and provides a strong adhesion to teeth while releasing the tooth whitening agent when hydrated on teeth surfaces;
• conforming the apparatus to the tooth surfaces of the user's mouth;
• and
• hydrating the adhesive matrix to adhere the apparatus to tooth surfaces of the user's mouth.