()I am a great candidate for the use of whitening strips since my teeth are naturally less than a perfect white.I gave up coffee for health reasons but also hoped it would improve the color of my teeth.They did improve somewhat but not nearly as much as I would have liked.I've tried the whitening toothpastes and rinses out there with negligible to average results at best.Which brings us to Crest White Strips.When I finally bit the bullet and decided to go the whitening strip route I was pleasantly surprised with the results.I wasn't prepared to spend the kind of money it takes to get whitening done at a dentist's office and my dental insurance doesn't cover whitening.So Crest Strips turned out to be a great do-it-yourself alternative.
I will admit that my expectations for the strips were perhaps a bit too great to start.I was anticipating a noticeable change in three days as the package indicates.I did see some difference but it wasn't as dramatic as I hoped.However, after talking to friends who've used whitening strips, I decided to quit over-analyzing the process and just go with the program.By doing so I found the end results to be very satisfactory.Although spending 30 minutes a day with this film stuck to my teeth took some getting used to, in the end it wasn't a horrible process.
I followed the regimen to the letter and after a full carton of strips, I have to say my teeth were indeed noticeably whiter.They are still not as white as I'd like them to be, but they are certainly improved from where they were when I began using the strips.I plan to do another regimen and see where that takes me.If you're willing to put $50 into a whiter smile, Crest White Strips is a great choice.I can't say how effective they are compared to other brands since I've never used them, but I am satisfied with the results I got for the price of a box of strips.That's all anyone can ask.
()The package claims that you can see visible whitening after only 3 days. This claim is true. I've never whitened my teeth before but they weren't too yellow to begin with and I noticed the difference after 3 days exactly. However, I also have sensitive teeth and by the third day, the strips had increased their sensitivity. The instructions say that if your teeth are sensitive, start using the strips every other day (instead of every day), so that's what I did. The sensitivity stopped immediately after skipping a day. I used the rest of the package in a similar manner: using the strips every other day, sometimes using them two days in a row. The whitening continued just fine using this method. My teeth are extremely clean looking now, but not that fluorescent look some people get with over-whitening. They just look pretty and clean.
A few notes on usage. The strips are easy to apply, especially if you follow the instructions and put the bottom one on first. I definitely recommend, as the package says, to use them BEFORE you brush your teeth. The instructions say it will reduce tooth sensitivity but there's also another benefit: if you use them daily before you brush your teeth, you won't forget to do it AND you can brush off the gooey stuff that the strips leave behind on your teeth. Also, the strips are EXTREMELY sticky. They won't come off accidentally; they stay on securely. They are comfortable to wear. When you pull them off, make sure your fingers are dry so you can get a good grip to pull off the strip.I wasn't terribly optimistic about how well these would work. I only bought them since they were on sale and decided to give them a shot. I recently quit smoking and was giving myself a kind of "bodily makeover", but I don't have infinite funds to spend and can't afford a professional job. I'm only about halfway through the carton and I have better results already than I expectedwhich was little to none. But they aren't without their pitfalls.
The upsides: you do see results fairly quickly and they aren't a big problem in terms of time to use them or very difficult to use and comfortable enough to wear. I only had a couple of times where they folded in on themselves while I was applying and had to pull them apart a little wet, but they were still usable. I dry my teeth with a piece of cotton and brush/floss just before I apply to make sure there isn't anything in the way of good adhesion. A word of warning, once they are stuck, they are stuck. It's not easy to reposition them after they are pressed onto your teeth, so you have to do it right the first time.
The downsides: they can cause some sensitivity and gum irritation. I personally didn't find it too troublesome and the tooth sensitivity faded after a few days even while continuing to use them. As I understand it, not everyone has the same experience and it is too bothersome for some people to continue use. My gums are a bit irritated in spots, but honestly I've lost track of time on a few occasions when wearing them and had them in a lot longer than recommended. So had I only worn them for the recommended 30 minutes, that might not be such a problem. On the other hand, that showed how comfortable they can be, if I could totally forget about them for well over an hour.
They can be difficult to get in between the teeth. I usually use a fingernail to push them between my teeth a bit. I've noticed that where there isn't good direct contact like between teeth and right at the gumline, it is less white. Also, I have flourodosis spots on my teeth. So my teeth naturally have a lot of white splotches and while these help to blend those in better, they will not go awaysomething I vaguely hoped for, but didn't expect.
I also found that when I have bad dry mouth, they are more uncomfortable to use. I initially thought I could wear them while on my treadmill and that didn't fly. The exertion combined with these odd tasting plastic sheets on my teeth and needing to drink lots of water, just wasn't going to work and was really uncomfortable. You can sip water during use, but I've found a good sized gulp will destroy the adhesion and taste terrible. Considering the cost, you don't really want to waste any of them.
Lastly, don't expect perfectly bright white teeth like you would see in a commercial and I'm not confident it is truly "professional level whitening" in a box. In fact, those are usually either caps or veneersin other words, they aren't even real teeth. If you have any artificial dental work, these won't change the color of it, you will need replacement for that. Also, it will depend on what you are starting with as to how white they will get. If you are starting with heavily stained teeth from years of smoking, coffee and soda drinking, etc., you might just want to pop for the professional job at the dentist's office since this will only take them up a few shades. On that note, I was told by a dentist friend that post professional whitening, one should avoid the big teeth stainerscigarettes, coffee, dark teas and sodas for 2 weeks. Otherwise, you tend to reverse all the work that was done. In order to try and get the best results I can, I've been avoiding all those during use, so that could be helping to get better results, I can't be sure. I'd rather go overboard and get better results than risk not getting the most for my money because of something that could have been easily avoided. And it doesn't cost a cent to avoid those things. Annoying perhaps, but monetarily speaking, that is something you can do at home withoutspending a dime or second of your time and there are other obvious health benefits to cutting out those things.
I was also using the Crest 3D white toothpaste prior to using this product and will continue to do so. It has a minor effect, but takes a very long time for even slight results. That also might be increasing results somewhat, but again, I can't be sure. I just figure it can't hurt. You still have to brush anyway, right?
Bottom line, the product works, just don't expect that a do-it-yourself carton is going to make your teeth look like a movie star's. If that is truly what you're after and any less is a disappointment, see a cosmetic dentist for an all over professional job and you'll likely need some artificial work done since very few people have such perfect or white teeth naturally.
()I will provide my answers based on my using the product to some of the more important questions concerning it, then I will explain my rating.
Q: Will it really whiten my teeth?
A: Yes. After 14 applications, my teeth are whiter but the more expensive 'professional' treatments produce better results.
Q: Would it be fair to say that this relatively inexpensive alternative to 'professional' treatments produces the same results?
A: No. See above.
Q: Is Crest's claim that I will see 'results' after as little as 3 days true?
A: Yes. I was able to notice some whitening after 4-5 applications.
Q: How often should I use this product?
A: Crest recommends that you use a 20-pouches carton twice a year.
Q: Are the strips easy to apply/remove? Do they stay attached to the teeth?
A: Yes and yes.
Q: For how long do you keep the strips on your teeth?
A: Crest recommends to keep them on for half an hour.
Q: Are these treatments harmful to your teeth?
A: The strips contain a gel that is infused with Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2). Crest claims that it will not harm your teeth.
Q: Will it hurt?
A: In my case, yes. On my second day, my teeth became sensitive to hot, cold and anything remotely spicy. I stopped and resumed after 2-3 days, as recommended by Crest. The sensitivity returned. I had to abandon use after 14 applications, following Crest's advice to discontinue if sensitivity did not go away. Crest claims that not everyone may have such experiences.
Q: Are there any freebies in the box?
A: Yes, there is a $7 coupon that can be used with your next purchase of a Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional, Advanced or Vivid and an additional $2.75 worth of coupons to use with related toothpaste, toothbrush and rinse products.
Q: Is it okay to eat, drink, smoke or sleep while wearing the strips?
A: No. Only the drinking of water is permitted.
I had to abandon using this product after wearing the first 14 strips because the level of pain caused by the induced tooth sensitivity could not be justified by the marginal whitening of my teeth. I will not resume the treatment. Crest claims that not everyone will feel discomfort but I can only speak for myself. After 14 applications my teeth are marginally whiter but, if we are to follow Crest's advice and use this product twice a year, one would be applying these strips for 40 days in any given year. Speaking for myself only, having somewhat whiter teeth at the expense of tooth sensitivity for 40 days each year (more than 10% of the time) is not worth it.
Given my experience, my 2-star rating should not be a surprise. 2 stars mean "I don't like it", which truly reflects my feelings toward this product. I don't 'hate' it after all, it did whiten my teeth a little but this is not for me.
To start I have worked in dentist offices for a few years, and a couple of my closest friends are top notch dentists. My teeth have always been white, just not white enough for my taste. I like to have a smile that pops. I have had professional whitening done (Britesmile), and these strips are great for maintaining my whiteness. Even if you haven't had that, these should work well for you. Keep in mind that I don't smoke, and I never drink coffee, tea, or colored drinks. If you're someone who always drinks java or things like it, you might not keep your results very long as anything that can stain a white T-shirt will stain your teeth (but if you brush your teeth a least 2x a day you should be okay;-).The adhesive nature of the strips are great and such an improvement from the previous whitestrips. First and foremost, the most important thing is to make sure your mouth is healthy all together because one can have very white teeth but have underlying issues with gums and decay. If your teeth are particularly sensitive, you might get an occasional "zinger" when whitening, or your teeth might become more sensitized throughout your whitening process. If this is the case, definitely use a toothpaste like Sensodyne that should greatly help you. I recommend to apply the strips at least twenty minutes after brushing. I know everyone has different results, but overall you should see improvement. If you're someone with white teeth to begin with, you might get a shade or two lighter, but if your teeth are off white you could be lightened several shades. Another little piece of advice chew gum (sugar-free of course). Funny thing for as long as I know every time I see my friends (the dentists) they are always chewing gum in and out of the office.I prefer Orbit or Trident. The action of chewing gum can greatly help your teeth because of the added flow of saliva, which helps inhibit tooth decay.I wish everyone good luck and a happy mouth!
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