19Jan19th January 2020 Uncategorised Crest Whitening Strips are 100% enamel-safe so they won’t damage your teeth provided that they are used as directed. There are a wide range of products so you can chose the one that is better suited to you. All products have varying numbers of strips and each product will work slightly differently to the next while still producing the great results you’re looking for. The strips are designed to be used each day, for a maximum of 20 days, with only 30 minutes of application time. One strip should be used for your upper teeth and one for your lower teeth and once used, you can throw them away. Because of the advanced technology involved, you should only need this treatment once a year as they can remove up to 14 years’ worth of stains. These can, of course, be used at your convenience
so there’s no waiting for an appointment and sitting in the chair for hours at a time and you can even eat your lunch while wearing them! Take a browse through our website to see the different products and you’ll discover that there’s something for everybody; now there’s something to smile about!How long for?
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Advice Centre > Teeth whitening > Teeth whitening strips
Teeth whitening strips: do they work and should you use them?
On this page you will learn:
- What teeth whitening strips are
- How to use them & cost
- Pros and cons
Summary – use teeth whitening strips if:
- don’t mind using the treatment every day for one to three weeks
- want something that is simple to apply, but are prepared for something a little more involved than a powder or pen
- want a relatively cheap solution
Teeth whitening strips - overview
Price: €20–€40
How to use: Fix strips to teeth, leave and remove
Number of treatments: Varies – most are 2 or 3-week treatments.
How often: Daily for 2–3 weeks
What are they?
Teeth whitening strips are gel strips that you push on to the front of your teeth and fold over to whiten the back of your teeth.
They come in pouches of two – one for top teeth, one for bottom teeth. They can be:
- dissolvable
- non-dissolvable
You need two strips for each treatment. So if a product says 40 strips, that means 20 treatments.
Dissolvable vs non-dissolvable:
Non-dissolvable
- you have to remove strips after a specified time
- usually they are peroxide, but some non-peroxide available.
- Normally take 30-60 mins to work.
Dissolvable
- Dissolves away so no need to remove
- Non peroxide
- Normally 5 – 15 mins to work
- Sometimes comes with an “accelerator” that you apply before the strips.
Find out why peroxide vs non-peroxide matters here.
All strips come with instructions.
How do strips whiten teeth?
Strips are very simple—the gel on the strip has a whitening agent in it. When this makes contact with your teeth it bleaches any stains or discolouration.
What’s in the gel?
Non-dissolving strips
In most non-dissolving strips the important ingredient is hydrogen peroxide—this is the chemical that actually whitens the teeth and can be found in plenty of teeth whitening products.
Dentists also use hydrogen peroxide to whiten teeth as part of a dental hygiene routine.
You can also get peroxide-free non-dissolving strips.
Other ingredients will be included to ensure the strips stay moist, taste nice and stick to your teeth.
Here’s a quick example of what the ingredients in one product do.
Crest 3D White Luxe Professional Effects Whitestrips ingredients (taken from manufacturer’s website)
Ingredient: PVP| What it is: thickening agent |
Helps the strip stay in place. |
Ingredient: PEG-8| What it is: solvent |
Helps the strip stay in place |
Ingredient: Water| What it is: solvent |
Helps dissolve the other ingredients |
Whitens teeth |
Ingredient: Acrylates copolymer| what it is: polymer |
Helps the strip stay in place |
Ingredient: Sodium hydroxide| what it is: pH adjuster |
Helps balance the pH |
Ingredient: Sodium saccharin| what it is: sweetener |
Makes it taste nice |
Ingredient: Glycerin| what it is: Solvent/humectant |
Stops the strip from drying out |
Ingredient: Carbomer| what it is: thickener |
Helps the gel hold its form |
Dissolving strips
Dissolving strips don’t contain hydrogen peroxide, but otherwise have similar ingredients to non-dissolving strips.
The active whitening ingredient in dissolving strips is usually sodium perborate, sodium bicarbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate or sodium hydroxide.
Some dissolving strips have activated charcoal in them.
How to use them – how often:
- Strips should be left on between 5–30 minutes
- Most strips should be used once a day for two to three weeks.
- Some you should apply twice a day.
How to use – process:
Non-dissolving strips
Each box of strips will come with its own instructions but the basic process goes like this:
- Make sure your teeth are dry.
- Rip open the pouch and identify which strip is for your top teeth and which is for your bottom.
- Place the bottom strip on your bottom teeth. You may need to fold it over depending on the type of strip you have bought.
- Place the top strip on your top teeth. Again, you may need to fold it over.
- Leave the strip for the specified time.
- Remove the strips.
Here’s a quick YouTube video taking you through the steps:
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRHpRWB6OP0 (32 seconds in)
Dissolving strips
- Moisten the teeth and gums or apply the accelerator that came with the strips.
- Place a strip on your top teeth, apply pressure and fold over.
- Place a strip on your bottom teeth, apply pressure and fold over.
- The strips will dissolve in 5–15 minutes, depending on the product.
Price:
Normally between €20 and €40.
Pros
- Affordable
- Good starting product
- Effective
How effective are strips?
If used correctly and you complete the full course, whitening strips are an effective way to whiten your teeth.
Depending on the brand you use, you may see a noticeable difference in as little as a few days.
The effectiveness varies from person to person. For example, if you have heavily stained teeth or regularly drink red wine or coffee (or other drinks that badly stain teeth), your results may not be as pronounced as someone who doesn’t.
Dr Leslie Renne Townsend,
“According to the ADA, most whitening strips, both over-the-counter and those purchased from dentists, are generally effective and safe. However, results and any resultant complications may vary on a case-by-case basis.”
Cons
- Can be uncomfortable
- Can seem uneven at first
- Can cause sensitivity
Strips can be uncomfortable. They won’t cause pain but having strips on your teeth for 30 minutes is hard to ignore. And sometimes the gel can get a little gloopy when removing the strip.
Results can be uneven depending on how snugly the strip fits. However, though this may look pronounced when you first remove a strip (or it has just dissolved) the patchiness tends to settle into a more even colour within a few hours.
If the gel gets onto your gums it can cause sensitivity.
Use teeth whitening strips if you:
Teeth whitening strips are often a good place to start if you haven’t tried whitening before, since they are easy to use and affordable.
You may want to try strips first before you move on to other alternatives.
The best teeth whitening strips—our pick:
Spotlight Teeth White Strips
Whitening ingredient: hydrogen peroxide
Time left on teeth: 60 mins.
Time to work: two weeks
28 strips included (14 treatments)
Price: €39.95
Buy now
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