A review of teeth whitening strips systems such as Crest Whitestrips ®.
| ⇓ Here's a brief overview of our topic - Teeth Whitening Strips! Whitening strips products are a relatively new innovation in the world of over-the-counter teeth whiteners. The Proctor & Gamble Company introduced the first whitening strips teeth bleaching system when they launched their Crest Whitestrips ® products line in 2000. Crest Whitestrips ® are intended to provide a means by which a person can achieve whitening results similar to those produced by at-home tray-based teeth whitening products but via a simpler whitener delivery system. Our review of whitening strips in general and Crest Whitestrips ® in particular describes the nature of this innovative type of bleaching product and how specifically the strips are intended to be used. Our pages also outline some of the side effects that are associated with the use of whitening strips as well as give you a relative idea of the type of results you might expect to achieve when using this type of bleaching system. [Crest Whitestrips is a registered trademark of the Proctor & Gamble Company.] Essentially all of the dental literature we have found that discusses the use of whitening strips systems is based on information involving Proctor & Gamble's Crest Whitestrips ® products. For this reason, although there are generic teeth whitening strips products available, the information on our pages is based on the use of Crest Whitestrips ®. |
What are teeth whitening strips and how are they used?
Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible pieces of plastic (polyethylene) that have been coated on one side with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. As opposed to other at-home teeth whitening systems where a whitener is placed into a tray, in this case the strip itself is the delivery system for the whitener and the precise dosing of the teeth bleaching agent is administered by the manufacturer.
When they are used, whitening strips are positioned across the user's teeth and then gently pressed into place so to create maximum contact between the whitener and each tooth being treated. Whitening strips kits contain two different shaped strips. Half of the kit's strips are designed to fit across the user's upper teeth and the other half are shaped so to fit across their lower teeth.
How long and how often are teeth whitening strips worn?
Teeth whitening strips are typically intended to be worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The actual number of strips contained in each whitening kit varies depending on the concentration of the whitener that the manufacturer has applied to them. Whitening strips that have been coated with a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitener (Whitestrips ® Classic) are intended to be worn over a course of 14 days (56 strips total, 28 uppers and 28 lowers). Strips coated with 10% whitener (Whitestrips ® Premium and Premium Plus) are intended for a treatment period of 7 days (28 strips total, 14 uppers and 14 lowers). Of course if a person has achieved the whitening results they desired before using the entire contents of the whitening strips kit they can terminate treatments at any time.
How are whitening strips different from tray teeth whitening systems?
Teeth whitening strips have been designed so to provide an alternative to tray-based at-home teeth whitening systems. With tray-based bleaching products a whitening gel is placed into a rigid plastic bleaching tray that is then in turn slipped over the user's teeth and worn for some hours per day or else overnight.
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Cosmetic dentistry makeovers.
In Animated-Teeth.com's Cosmetic Dentistry Smile Makeovers section we take pictures people have sent in and illustrate for them what type of results modern cosmetic dentistry techniques might be able to produce. Use the links below to see some of our dental makeovers that involve the use of the at-home teeth whitening process. Smile makeover #1 Smile makeover #2 Smile makeover #3 Smile makeover #4 |
Some people find that teeth whitening systems that utilize bleaching trays are inconvenient or incompatible with their needs. Bleaching trays can be bulky and therefore make speech difficult. They can also aggravate a jaw joint problem, trigger the user's gag reflex or promote excessive salivation. And even though transparent, bleaching trays can be noticeable to others when they are worn.
The advantage of whitening strips is that no tray is needed. The strip itself is the delivery system for the whitener and it is very thin in comparison to a bleaching tray. Because of this difference a person may find that a strip-based product interferes with life's activities less so than a tray-based one. In addition, some people may find that whitening strips are less visible than bleaching trays, thus providing fewer restrictions on those opportunities when they feel comfortable performing their bleaching treatments. |
Important things you should know before you decide to begin at-home teeth whitening treatments.
All teeth whitening processes, including those you buy over-the-counter, should begin with an evaluation by your dentist. This is because there are a number of issues and topics that should be addressed and documented. Two fundamental issues that need to be evaluated are determining why the teeth staining you have noticed exists (Is it normal? Is it the result of dental pathology?) and if the whitening goals you are seeking are realistic.
Additionally, since peroxide-based teeth whitening products such as whitening strips will generally not produce a whitening effect on existing dental work (with the possible exception being dental veneers), it's important to determine where these items exist in a person's mouth and if they will need to be replaced after the whitening process has been completed. There can be a considerable amount of time and expense involved with replacing dental restorations that no longer match the color of a person's whitened teeth.
Our pages covering tray-based teeth whitening products address many of these issues. We encourage you to familiarize yourself with these pages so you understand the importance of having at least some degree of supervision by your dentist involved with your use of an over-the-counter product.
