If you're looking to get a brighter smile without paying for professional whitening at Walnut Creek Dental, you may be thinking about whitening your smile with teeth whitening strips. But how do these products work? Are they really effective, and are they safe to use on your own? In this guide, we'll discuss everything you need to know about Crest Whitestrips and similar teeth whitening products. Let's get into the details!
As the name suggests, teeth whitening strips are small, thin, flexible strips made out of plastic. On top of the plastic, there's a coating that contains whitening agents like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide.
The way they work is simple. Pop them out of the package, then place a strip gently over your upper teeth and your lower teeth. You'll need to press down on them with your fingers to make the strip conform to the shape of your teeth.
Once your whitening strips are in place, the whitening ingredients will get to work and start whitening your smile right away. Each set of strips is typically worn for anywhere from five minutes to an hour. Then, you'll take them out of your mouth and throw them away.
There are lots of different teeth whitening strips out there, but Crest was the first dental company to create them when they launched their Whitestrips product in the early 2000s. They're still the market leader, but you can find lots of other brands on the shelves at grocery stores, supermarkets, and drugstores.
Speaking of which, this is the reason that whitening strips are so popular! You can pick them up at just about any store, and no prescription or dentist visit is needed for you to start whitening your teeth. Whitening strips also allow you to whiten your teeth on your own schedule at home, making them very convenient.
So, do teeth whitening strips really work? The short answer is "yes!" If you have minor exterior stains on your teeth, teeth whitening strips like Crest Whitestrips are a viable way to remove them, brighten your smile, and feel more confident about your appearance.
However, it's important to note that teeth whitening strips will never be quite as effective as professional whitening from a dental office like Walnut Creek Dental. The treatment is "one size fits all," and must use weaker bleaching agents to ensure product safety.
DIY teeth whitening is also more risky than professional treatment. Since you're treating yourself without the supervision of a dental professional, it's a lot easier to accidentally overwhiten your teeth. This may only cause minor issues like teeth sensitivity or gum irritation, but it can lead to permanent enamel damage in some cases.
Another limitation of teeth whitening strips is that, just like other teeth whitening methods, they cannot whiten dental work like fillings, crowns, or veneers. This can be problematic if you're whitening your teeth on your own and have extensive dental work. If you whiten your teeth too much, your old dental work may not match, causing an uneven smile.
The primary ingredient in teeth whitening strips is either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These ingredients are responsible for lifting and removing surface stains from your enamel.
Along with peroxides, whitening strips typically include a variety of other active and inactive ingredients. Adhesives help the strip stay in place and conform to your teeth, while ingredients like artificial sweeteners and flavorings help cover up the strong flavor of peroxide, making the treatment experience more pleasant.
Most whitening strips also include ingredients that help protect your teeth from the whitener, such as sodium hydroxide. This reduces the pH of the whitening strips, neutralizing the acidity of the peroxide ingredients to ensure that your enamel is not damaged during the whitening process.
Whether you choose professional whitening from Walnut Creek Dental or at-home whitening with whitening strips, all whitening products use the same basic ingredients, known as peroxides. As mentioned in the above section, carbamide and hydrogen peroxide are the most common whiteners used in dentistry.
Peroxides like hydrogen and carbamide peroxide are extremely volatile. This means that when they contact an organic stain that's on your tooth, they react by breaking the chemical bond that holds the stain in place. The result? The stain breaks free from the pores in your tooth, and the natural white color of your enamel is restored.
There are some minor differences in how some whitening products work. For example, some in-office treatments use a laser or a UV light once the peroxide whitener is in place. This excites the peroxide molecules, which causes them to remove stains more quickly. This is one of the reasons why in-office treatment is typically faster than take-home whitening kits.
Not sure whether you should try to whiten your teeth at home with whitening strips, or if you should have your teeth whitened by a professional like the dentists at Walnut Creek Dental? Here's a quick overview of how teeth whitening strips stack up vs. professional whitening.
At Walnut Creek Dental, we always advise our patients to choose professional teeth whitening when possible. With professional in-office or take-home whitening from our dental team, you'll get the best possible results in a safe environment.
However, if you do want to save some money and whiten your teeth on your own, we recommend using Crest Whitestrips. They are the only brand of teeth whitening strips that are accepted by the ADA.
ADA acceptance means that Crest Whitestrips are considered to be "safe and effective" when used according to the package instructions. So if you'd like to try DIY whitening instead of professional treatment, any whitening strip in the Crest Whitestrip family of products is a good choice.
Yes. In fact, there are some types of whitening strips that are designed specifically for patients with sensitive teeth. For example, you could choose Crest Whitestrips Sensitive Gentle. These whitening strips contain a lower concentration of peroxide, which means they are less likely to cause severe sensitivity.
If you have sensitive teeth, the package instructions will also usually instruct you to wear the strips for less time. Most whitening strips can be worn for up to an hour, but if you have sensitive teeth, it may be best to wear them for just five, 10, or 20 minutes instead.
However, we also recommend consulting with your dentist before you start whitening your teeth. Sensitive teeth are a common sign of problems like tooth wear and decay, so it's best to rule out any major oral health issues before you start whitening your smile.
If you already have sensitive teeth, whitening with DIY products can make it worse and cause lots of discomfort during the treatment process. So instead of using at-home products like whitening strips, we recommend seeing a dental professional like Dr. Pappas or one of the other dentists at Walnut Creek Dental. We offer:
We offer expert treatment for patients who suffer from tooth sensitivity. Depending on how sensitive your teeth are, your dentist may opt for a whitener with a lower peroxide concentration, and even split your treatment into multiple visits to make sure your teeth don't feel too sensitive.
Unlike DIY kits, our in-office whitening products also include special compounds and ingredients that help reduce sensitivity and keep your enamel healthy throughout the whitening process. If you're worried about whitening your teeth at home with whitening strips due to sensitivity, book a visit with the team at Walnut Creek Dental today!
If you would still prefer to whiten your teeth at home, we also offer take-home whitening kits at Walnut Creek Dental. This treatment uses a set of custom-built whitening trays that fit perfectly around your teeth.
Similar to in-office whitening, your dentist will pick the perfect concentration of peroxide whitener for you, and your whitening products will contain ingredients that help combat whitening-induced sensitivity.
Take-home whitening also works a bit more slowly than in-office whitening, which means it's more gentle overall. This makes it a great choice for anyone who has sensitive teeth but still wants a brighter smile in Groveport OH.
Wondering what teeth whitening strip side effects you may face if you choose at-home whitening with a product like Crest Whitestrips? Here are a few of the risks and potential side effects of using whitening strips at home:
If you do choose to use Crest Whitestrips or a similar at-home whitening strip product, there are some steps you can take to protect your teeth and make sure you get the best possible results.
No matter which product you buy, make sure you follow the package instructions closely to avoid complications. Most Whitestrips products, for example, recommend wearing the strips for between 5-60 minutes per day and taking a break from whitening after 10 days of use to prevent excessive tooth sensitivity.
During the whitening strip treatment process, avoid the temptation to combine your whitening strips with other products like gels, mouthwash, toothpaste, and so on. If you use multiple at-home whitening products at once, you're much more likely to overwhiten your teeth and cause damage to your enamel.
Instead, stick to just one whitening product at once! Use only your whitening strips. Then, once you're done with your at-home whitening treatment, you can switch to a whitening toothpaste and/or mouthwash to help keep your teeth bright.
Brushing your teeth regularly is essential while you're whitening your teeth. Toothpaste contains fluoride that helps remineralize and strengthen your enamel, which is especially important during teeth whitening.
Make sure you brush at least twice a day for two minutes, and consider switching to a toothpaste that's meant to reduce sensitivity, such as Sensodyne. These contain ingredients that help reduce the severity of sensitivity and keep you more comfortable during the whitening process. For comprehensive oral care guidance, explore our preventative dentistry services.
The short answer is "no." You may have heard about some natural whitening methods like oil pulling with coconut oil, using banana peels, or even brushing with charcoal. The fact of the matter is that most of these "natural" methods are typically completely ineffective at removing stains.
In fact, some can be harmful! For example, charcoal is a very harsh abrasive. If you start brushing your teeth with charcoal, you may remove some surface stains, but you'll also wear down your natural enamel. This could eventually lead to weakened teeth with a higher risk of decay and infection.
When it comes to natural vs. chemical whitening, there's no comparison. We recommend steering clear of "natural" solutions for a brighter smile. Instead, turn to ADA-accepted at-home whitening products, or consider seeing a dentist at Walnut Creek Dental to discuss your options for professional whitening.
Still have questions about teeth whitening strips? Here are a few more answers to some common FAQs about these products.
If you use an ADA accepted product like Crest Whitestrips and follow the package instructions closely, teeth whitening strips are a budget-friendly way to enhance your smile. However, their results are much more limited compared to professional treatment, and you could be putting your smile at risk if you overwhiten your teeth.
So if you're interested in teeth whitening in Groveport, OH, we recommend scheduling an appointment at Walnut Creek Dental. Led by Dr. Michael Pappas, our dentists provide both in-office and custom take-home whitening options that can help you get the smile of your dreams.
With professional whitening, you'll enjoy faster and more predictable whitening, enhanced safety during treatment, and long-lasting results. Give us a call at (614) 350-5300 or contact us online to book your consultation today and take the first steps toward the picture-perfect smile you deserve.
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