What about Crest Whitestrips?
A popular over-the-counter tooth whitening product is Crest Whitestrips.
While it appears that this is the best of the over-the-counter products,
and it does actually whiten the teeth, many patients have been
disappointed with their results, and our tests confirm that it is weak and
difficult to keep in place. But, to their credit, Crest makes very modest
claims for Whitestrips on their web site, promising only a temporary tooth whitening, and
not the deep, permanent bleaching that is done in a dentist's office. The
bleaching agent is 5.3% hydrogen peroxide, which is much weaker than the agents used in dental
offices. Crest Whitestrips Professional increases that
concentration to 6.5%, but that's still 1/2 to 1/4th of the concentration
of some peroxides used by dentists. And placing the bleaching agent in a strip
that attaches to the tooth is less effective than letting the teeth bathe in a bleaching
agent in a custom-fitted tray. One patient of ours who tried them summed up the feelings of many in her
evaluation of Crest Whitestrips. She said, "That was sixty dollars down the drain."
She began our professional treatment and reported that her
teeth were whiter after two hours of
professional at-home tooth whitening than after one month's use of Crest Whitestrips.
But for those who can't afford the professional bleaching, Whitestrips may be an
attractive alternative. They do actually whiten the teeth, and, unlike other
over-the-counter whiteners, they do
not harm the teeth.
To learn about
whitening toothpaste, click here.
Yes, toothpaste can make your teeth whiter, but you need to understand its
limitation or you could be very disappointed.
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