The secret to a whiter smile (Tooth Whitening)

Member Name: johnpeter50

Product:	Tooth Whitening
Date:	23/03/07 (4863 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Easy to use, low mess application, does what it claims to do.

Disadvantages: Relatively expensive, level of success varies between individuals, potential tooth sensitivity.

INTRODUCTION
After several years of dull, yellowing teeth I finally decided to take the plunge and purchase a home whitening set. Having spent a reasonable amount of time researching products online, I came to the conclusion that nothing I could buy from the supermarket would make much difference. Eventually, I came across a product that looked like it might provide the solution; a home teeth whitening product made by none other than consumer favourites Crest.

Released over half a decade ago in the United States, ‘Crest Whitening Strips’ seemed to be taking the international market by storm. Currently unavailable to buy in the UK, a quick trip to a popular auction site was required, but by the weekend the ‘premium’ version of the kit was in my hands.

WHAT’S IN THE KIT?
The whitening strips come packaged in a blue, oversized plastic container with a snap open lid. Inside, the set is divided into two sections – one holds the strips for the upper teeth, and the other holds the lower strips; a small mirror adorns the top lid, allowing you to use the kit on the move and a small instruction leaflet finishes off the contents.

Although the box feels substantial, it seems rather bulky for what are essentially a set of 28 thin gel strips. I can’t help but feel that a slim-line box would provide just as good a result whilst reducing manufacturing costs and, ergo, consumer price.

Similarly, the instruction manual lacks any extensive detail. The folded leaflet certainly left me with a few unanswered questions which only a comprehensive internet search could resolve. I’m also somewhat surprised that no whitening ‘shade guide’ was included; surely half the pleasure comes from being able to see your teeth move from a grungy ‘eight’ to a nearly sparkling ‘two’?

THE STRIPS
So, what are the advantages of having strips over, say, ‘paint on’ or ‘mouth guard’ systems? Well, the idea is that the transparent strips provide maximum surface area coverage. You can therefore wave goodbye to uneven applications, gooey pastes and sticky fingers; the gel strips ensure a quick, hassle-free, even coating every time.

Each strip contains a micro-fine coating of gel that contains a 10% strength hydrogen peroxide formula. This is the same formulation that many dentists use in professional whitening consultations, albeit at a strength higher than that on the ‘premium’ strips.

The strips need to be used for half an hour at a time, and two applications are needed for both upper and lower teeth each day. The ‘premium’ kit requires this procedure to be carried out for one week, although timing varies between kits and peroxide strength. The strips won’t work on crowns, bridges, implants, veneers and other cosmetic dental treatments, so check up on potential conflicts before using.

APPLYING THE STRIPS
The upper and lower strips come in blue and white sachets respectively to avoid any confusion as to which is which. The lower strips are roughly three-quarters of the size of the upper strips, but both should cover roughly seven to ten teeth. This cleverly restricts the whitening action to only the teeth that can be seen; it may not provide an ample level of coverage for those with a particularly wide smile but the vast majority should find that the length is more than sufficient.

Removing the strips from the backing is simple thanks to a jagged lift tab; this ensures that the gel strip doesn’t twist and turn, allowing you to get a good grasp without getting coated with the peroxide solution. However, the strips are far more flexible than you may expect so take care when first using the system; you may want to try wearing disposable latex gloves the first few times just to ensure that the whitening happens on your teeth rather than your hands. Should the gel come into contact with the skin, it will temporarily mark the surface so always ensure that you concentrate when applying, lest you want a series of white blotches over your hands.

Learning curve aside, application is relatively easy once you get the hang of it. The first couple may be a little awkward, but it’s simply a matter of getting used to the procedure. Align the top edge of the strip with your gum line and manoeuvre into place, folding the excess underneath your teeth; then, repeat with the other strip. Many suggest that you do a before and after comparison between upper and lower by whitening one set of teeth at a time; personally I think that this merely impedes your whitening progress, dragging out the process by an avoidable extra week.

Once applied, each strip needs to remain in place for the full half-hour before removal. Thankfully, the adhesive quality of the gel makes this an easy task, and virtually nothing will dislodge the strip accidentally.

During use, talking is a lisp-inducing task, but it’s certainly easier to do than when wearing the ‘dental trays’ of old; chatting to a spouse or neighbour isn’t too difficult, but I certainly wouldn’t recommend an application during a business meeting or presentation. It’s best to choose a quiet time if possible; during the drive into work, watching the television, just before bed or even whilst writing a review (yup, I’ve got mine in right now).

Removing the strips involves nothing more than simply sliding them off your teeth and placing them in the nearest rubbish bin. You’ll find that a gelatinous residue remains where the strips were positioned, but a quick rinse with tap water will soon rid you of that problem; many may find that they want to take the time afterward to brush their teeth as the flavour of the gel, whilst not overwhelming, isn’t particularly pleasant.

RESULTS
Obviously, my observations are pseudoscientific at best, although I did take digital photos of before and after for the sake of comparison. Results, naturally, vary depending on any number of factors including genetics, previous dental work and level of staining.

However, on my dentures at least, the strips seemed to have performed relatively well. I’m happy to report that my teeth are now several shades lighter than they were before. Okay, they’re hardly “movie-star” dazzling white, but then I’d have been both surprised and dismayed if they were!

Surprisingly though, the most noticeable effect wasn’t the increase in whiteness, rather it was the decrease in contrast between lightly and darkly stained areas; now, my teeth are a much more uniform shade. I’m sure that with extended use, the change could become even more apparent, but I’m currently more than pleased with my new ‘off-white’ colour. The decreased contrast has also helped to disguise, although not entirely conceal, my very mild fluorosis [slight white spots and mottling on the teeth caused by high levels of fluoride in the water] which is a welcomed bonus.

SENSITIVITY
The major complaint I’ve seen levied against this product in particular is an associated increase in teeth sensitivity during use; in fact, some have complained about rather severe pain after a single application! I found that I experienced little to no pain during my usage period, although I did gain a slight level of sensitivity on the penultimate day of use; this quickly subsided after a couple of days, and it wasn’t unbearable enough to warrant me putting off using the product again.

I recommend using your initiative when considering the purchase of these strips. If you’ve experienced great sensitivity before then, obviously, use caution or consider a dental consultation before use. Otherwise, keep some analgesics handy and hope you don’t end up needing them.

COST
Next to the increase in sensitivity, it seems that most people felt that price was a major factor when deciding upon the purchase of these strips. I paid just under £18 including postage and packing for the ‘premium’ version, which is roughly the same price as the recommended retail price within the US.

I’d certainly object to paying much more than this, and I’ve seen these kits being sold for nearly *triple* the asking price on supposedly ‘reputable’ websites! My advice is to shop around for a good deal and look for information about when the kits were manufactured so you aren’t sold out-dated or ‘close to expiration’ strips.

Whilst the ‘Crest’ system does cost more than the supermarket brightening kits, I personally think it’s worth paying just that little bit more for a generally better result. If cost is an issue for you, I’d recommend going with the original version of Crest’s whitening strips; they are coated with a lower concentration of peroxide (6.5%) and require two weeks of use, but can generally be found more cheaply, even online.

OVERALL
I don’t think you could ever expect a home treatment that costs less than £20 to ever compare to the likes of a professional dental experience (that could potentially run into the thousands of pounds); I can tell you now that those expecting a miraculous result will be sorely disappointed with *any* home treatment kit.

However, if you maintain a reasonable level of expectation about the likely outcome I’m sure you’ll be happy with the whitening results; if all your smile needs is a bit of brightening then these strips will do the job nicely.

Summary: The perfect system to give your smile the once over.