A
review of teeth whitening strips systems such as Crest Whitestrips
®.
Whitening
strips are a fairly new innovation in the world of over-the-counter
teeth whitening products. Proctor & Gamble first introduced
whitening strips bleaching systems to the retail marketplace
in 2000 when they launched their Crest Whitestrips ®
products line. Crest Whitestrips ® are intended to
provide a means by which a person can achieve similar whitening
results as 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 will describe the nature
of this innovative type of bleaching product and how
specifically the strips are used. Our pages will 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 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 only references 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. Unlike other whitening
systems where a whitener is placed in a tray, the strip
itself is the delivery system for the whitener.
When used whitening strips are positioned across the user's
teeth and then gently pressed into place so to insure maximum
contact between the whitener and the surface of each tooth
that will receive treatment. Whitening strips kits contain
two different shapes of strips. Half of the kit's strips are
designed to fit across the user's upper teeth and the other
half are shaped to fit across their lower teeth.
How often and
for how long are teeth whitening strips worn?
Teeth
whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day,
twice a day. The number of strips contained in each whitening
kit varies depending on the concentration of the whitener
that has been applied to them. Whitening strips that have
been coated with a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitener are intended
to be worn over a course of 14 days. Strips coated with
10% whitener are intended for a treatment period of 7 days.
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
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.
Some
people will find that teeth whitening systems that make
use of bleaching trays are inconvenient or incompatible
with their needs. Bleaching trays can be bulky and therefore
make speech difficult, aggravate a jaw joint problem, or
promote gagging or salivation. Typically bleaching trays
are somewhat visible to others when in place.
With whitening strips 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 these differences
a person may find that a strip-based product interferes
with life's activities less so than a tray. In addition,
some people may find that whitening strips are less visible
when worn than bleaching trays, thus providing less restriction
on those opportunities when a person might feel comfortable
performing their bleaching treatments.
Important things
to know before you decide to begin teeth whitening treatments.
The availability of over-the-counter
teeth whitening products such a teeth whitening strips can
remove a valuable resource from the teeth whitening process.
That resource is your dentist and the knowledge and experience
they have to offer.
No person could possibly know more about the subject of teeth
whitening and how it specifically relates to your situation
than your dentist. Your dentist is your dental advisor and
it is their obligation to advise you about the use of dental
products, teeth whitening and otherwise, over-the-counter
as well as dentist dispensed.
Any and all teeth whitening processes should begin with an
evaluation by your dentist. There are a number of issues and
topics that should be documented and addressed. Some of the
most important are a determination about why the teeth staining
you have notice 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 this type of post-bleaching treatment.
Our pages regarding tray-based
teeth whitening products address many of these issues.
We strongly advise that you familiarize yourself with them
so you understand the importance of having some degree of
supervision by your dentist involved with your use of an over-the-counter
product.
Teeth Whitening Strips
( Crest Whitestrips ® )
- Page
1
- What
are teeth whitening strips and how are they used?
- Page
2
- What
teeth whitener is found on whitening strips?
- How
effective are teeth whitening strips?
- Page
3
- Are
there disadvantages to using whitening strips?
- What
are the safety concerns with whitening strips?
- Page
4
- What
side effects are associated with teeth whitening strips?
Professional
teeth whitening.
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