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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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