Treatment options when using teeth whitening strips - Twice-daily treatments / Extending treatment times.

A) Should you perform more than one whitening strips treatment per day?

Some whitening strips products recommend twice-daily treatments.

With some products (such as Crest Whitestrips ® Classic), the directions state that teeth whitening strips should be worn twice daily (two bleaching treatments each day).

The reasoning that lies behind this recommendation is simple. For that day you are exposed to the twice the amount of whitener. And as a result the whitening process will be sped up.

Can you perform your whitening treatments back-to-back?

With some teeth whitening strips (Crest Whitestrips ® Classic) it's permissible to perform your whitening treatments back-to-back if you so desire. (Refer to your specific product's directions for their recommendation on this matter.)

If you choose to do so, simply start the teeth whitening strip treatment process over from the beginning. So, remove and appropriately discard the whitening strips that were used during your first treatment session. Rinse, wipe or brush away any residual whitener that remains. Place your second set of strips and start watching your clock again.

The advantage of back-to-back treatments is simply one of convenience.

You may wonder if there is any advantage to performing your twice-daily whitening strip treatments consecutively? In short, the answer is no, not really. If doing so allows the most convenient scheduling for you, then that clearly is an advantage. But otherwise, from a standpoint of tooth whitening science, there is no special benefit.

Tooth whitening is simply one of cause and effect. In the case of teeth whitening strips, the bleaching effect achieved correlates directly to the number of strips that are worn and the total duration of your teeth to them. When you choose to wear the strips really isn't a factor. And for that reason either approach, performing back-to-back treatments or else spacing them out, will produce the same whitening results.

For some, back-to-back whitening strips treatments are the wrong approach.

There may be good reason for you not to perform your treatments consecutively. The potential for a person to experience tooth and gum sensitivity also correlates directly with the quantity and duration of a person's exposure to a whitener, within a specified time frame. As a way of helping to minimize or control side effects, allowing as much time between treatments as is conveniently possible may prove to be beneficial.

B) Is it ok to you wear teeth whitening strips longer than their directions recommend?

It's never a good idea use any tooth whitening product in a manner that lies outside the guidelines specified in its directions, teeth whitening strips included.

Along these lines, there is an interesting feature about whitening strips that we would like to bring to your attention. That is, unlike all other teeth bleaching techniques, when whitening strips are used it is the manufacturer who dispenses the quantity of whitener, not the end-user.

So just think about what this implies. Through testing the manufacturer will surely have determined what amount of whitener is required to remain effective for the duration of the recommended treatment time, yet not be likely to create serious complications with side effects.

So, if you extend the duration of your treatments you are unlikely to gain any significant whitening benefit (because the whitener has become depleted). But you will be placing yourself at somewhat greater risk (although probably minimally) for experiencing side effects (tooth sensitivity and gum irritation).

C) Some people choose to bleach their upper and lower teeth separately.

You may decide to treat your upper and lower teeth separately. And if you choose to do so, that is fine.

For some, the whole wearing-two-strips-at-the-same-time thing can be too overwhelming or cumbersome. If so, just put the unused strip back in its pouch, close it up, and put it in a protected place. When in storage you don't want to let the unused strip to dry out. And you don't want it exposed to moisture. Both will adversely effect the strip's whitener.

[Crest Whitestrips is a registered trademark of the Proctor & Gamble Company.]