What side effects are associated with using teeth whitening strips?
The two most common side effects that people experience when using teeth whitening strips (Crest White Strips ®) are:
These are the exact same side effects that are most common for any form of peroxide-based teeth whitening system (including tray bleaching, paint-on whiteners and in-office "laser" whitening).
As a remedy for these side effects, the contents of this page discusss:
- Tips and suggestions for minimizing whitening strip side effects.
- Managing strip-induced tooth sensitivity.
- Managing strip-induced gum irritation.
How likely is it that you will experience side effects?
It's impossible to know specifically who will experience side effects when using their teeth whitening strips, or how problematic these side effects might become.
In general, however, it can be expected that as many as half of the people who whiten their teeth using white strips will experience side effects to some degree. Although, for the vast majority of users these effects will be just minor in nature.
What is the cause of the side effects?
Generally speaking, a person's risk for experiencing side effects directly correlates to the peroxide concentration of the whitening strips' whitener. And to the person's duration of exposure to this whitener (treatment time). As either is increased, so does the person's likelihood of experiencing side effects.
This correlation is not unique to just white strips. It is true for any type of peroxide-based tooth whitening process.
How can you test your potential for experiencing side effects?
A smart way to test your potential for experiencing side effects is simply to ease into the use of your whitening strips. For example, if the directions for your white strips recommend two treatments per day, then on your first day maybe just perform one. Just to test how things work out and see if you notice any hint of side effects developing.
If you're trying out teeth whitening strips out for the first time, it's not a bad idea to start with an introductory strips kit, meaning one that contains strips that have a relatively lower concentration whitener (such as Whitestrips ® Classic which utilizes a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitener).
In most cases a basic kit will contain enough white strips to produce the same level of whitening as those containing more concentrated strips. The tradeoff is that it will just take longer to do so (more treatment sessions and the use of more, less potent, strips). Which doesn't seem to be such a bad thing if it helps to insure that you don't experience complications with side effects.
Managing the side effects caused by teeth whitening strips.
If you experience side effects, stop your whitening treatments.
If side effects start to become problematic, it only makes sense to stop your whitening treatments. Bleaching teeth with peroxide is simply a function whitener concentration and cumulative treatment time. Interrupting your whitening regimen for a few days as you evaluate your side effects and allow them to subside will not compromise your final whitening results (assuming that at some point you are able to complete all of your whitening sessions).
When your side effects subside, re-evaluate your approach to whitening your teeth.
Once your side effects have subsided, you will need to make a decision. Should you resume your whitening treatments or have the side effects you have experienced been significant enough that whitening your teeth is simply not worth the discomfort?
If you do decide to continue on with treatments, you now have experience in what methodology will produce side effects. What you need to do now is come up with a treatment plan that will help to minimize the potential that these side effects will return.
As a way of minimizing side effects, use your whitening strips less frequently.
One plan that can be successful in helping to minimize side effects is to continue on with the use of your product but perform treatments less frequently.
Possibly you should only perform whitening treatments once each day rather than twice. Another alternative is to only perform whitening treatments every other day. You will simply have to experiment until you come up with a solution.
If this approach does not work for you then you might try using a whitening strip product that has a lower concentration hydrogen peroxide whitener. Or you may have to come to the conclusion that you are not a suitable candidate for teeth bleaching (or at least this technique).
A) Tooth sensitivity.
About 1/3 to 1/2 of the people who use white strips products will experience some degree of tooth sensitivity during the course of performing their treatments. This level of occurrence is in line with that typically reported for other peroxide-based teeth whitening methods, including tray-based products utilizing 10% carbamide peroxide as a whitener.
In most cases the tooth discomfort that is experienced will take the form of an increased sensitivity to hot and cold stimuli such as foods and beverages. One theory is that the sensitivity stems from the tooth's nerve becoming inflamed (irritated) due to its exposure to the peroxide teeth whitener. Usually the tooth sensitivity that people experience is mild in severity and does not interfere with their teeth bleaching activities. In the majority of cases the sensitivity will fade, day by day, once the use of the white strips has been terminated.
Managing whitening strip tooth sensitivity.
It may be possible for you to control the tooth sensitivity caused by your white strips treatments by way of using an over-the-counter anti-sensitivity toothpaste. Many toothpaste manufacturers make an anti-sensitivity version of their regular toothpaste. Typically these products are labeled with the phrase "toothpaste for sensitive teeth." The active ingredient in these products is usually potassium nitrate.
The idea is that you use the anti-sensitivity toothpaste in place of your regular toothpaste for some days and weeks as it produces its palliative effect. It can be a good idea to use anti-sensitivity toothpaste for at least two weeks prior to initiating teeth whitening treatments, so to minimize your potential for experiencing this side effect. Prescription-strength fluoride toothpaste or gel (as prescribed by the treating dentist) can be used in a similar fashion.
B) Gum irritation.
Probably about 1/3 to 1/2 of the people who use teeth whitening strips will notice some degree of gum irritation (a similar level to that experienced with tray whitening). Usually this irritation is only mild in severity, does not interfere with a person's bleaching activities, and dissipates within a few days after use of the white strips product has been discontinued.
Managing whitening strip gum sensitivity and irritation.
Whatever gum irritation a person does experience, it is most likely caused by their whitening strip's hydrogen peroxide whitener. Unlike the borders of a person's gum line, which are scalloped, the edges of each whitening strip are comparatively straight. This means that when a strip is positioned over the user's teeth, by nature, it will touch at least some portion of their gum tissue. It is this contact that creates the potential for gum sensitivity or irritation.
One solution for this problem is to use a whitening strip product that has been coated with a lower (rather than a relatively higher) concentration whitener. As an example, various Crest White Strips ® products have either a 6% or 10% hydrogen peroxide coating. The 6% strip (White Strips Classic ®) is less likely to create gum tissue irritation. (This lower concentration strip also makes a good choice for first-time users.)
In some cases, gum irritation may be caused by a prolonged exposure of a person's gum tissue to a residual deposit of whitener that has remained after a whitening strip has been removed. For this reason, you should always rinse, wipe or brush off any residue after each bleaching treatment. Be sure to wash your hands or toothbrush off afterwards.
