using crest white strips

my dentist told me that I should not get my teeth whitened professionally because my teeth are too sensitive, though he told me to try the Crest Whitestrips.

I just bought some, though the instructions are not very clear.

1. How long do you use them for? Is there any issue with using them continuously, every day for months?

2. The package came with Advanced White Strips and then some touchup strip. How are these designed to be used? When are the Touchup strips supposed to be used vs. the Advanced ones?

Thanks in advance.

I've used them. There should be an instruction sheet with the box.
AFAIK there are different versions. The Advanced kit I used was a 2-week regimen, to be repeated at most every 6 months but I think there are others that are milder and can be used more often.

If you have the Advanced and the touchups, I think you're supposed to use the advanced strips for 2 weeks, then the Touchups after a few months if your teeth are staining again.

If your teeth are sensitive, the white strips will make them extra sensitive temporarily. My wife had to take alternating days off the strips because of this.

Edit: Hmm, did I just respond to a spambot?

^^^ no worries, you answered my Q.

Honestly if you haven't opened them, RETURN THEM! The active ingredient is just hydrogen peroxide. Just buy a bottle of peroxide for 89 cents at Target and swish it in your teeth for 5 minutes every day. It works amazingly.

A spambot?

I bought a package of them at Costco, and for whatever reason, mine are missing the instructions.

What is the harm if I do not wait 6 months in between using the advanced strips?

Originally Posted by TKJTG

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Honestly if you haven't opened them, RETURN THEM! The active ingredient is just hydrogen peroxide. Just buy a bottle of peroxide for 89 cents at Target and swish it in your teeth for 5 minutes every day. It works amazingly.

Thanks for this. I'm going to try it.

Would there be any issues with doing this everyday?

Originally Posted by TKJTG

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Honestly if you haven't opened them, RETURN THEM! The active ingredient is just hydrogen peroxide. Just buy a bottle of peroxide for 89 cents at Target and swish it in your teeth for 5 minutes every day. It works amazingly.
This. Do it morning and night and you'll start to notice a difference in a few days. It's also good for your teeth.

Originally Posted by mediafred

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Would there be any issues with doing this everyday?

You might have some issues with tooth sensitivity. For me, if it starts to bother me I just take a week off from doing it and it's fine. Pro tip: do it BEFORE flossing.

I've search the literature for any negative effects of using peroxide in this manner and have found none. In fact, many toothpastes have peroxide in them, and on the bottle I have it even says "oral antiseptic".

Originally Posted by TRA8324

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This. Do it morning and night and you'll start to notice a difference in a few days. It's also good for your teeth.

Did you notice a significant difference?

Here is a cut and paste from another thread where I wrote an answer- btw- swishing with peroxide- while not dangerous at all will not do anything to whiten teeth. The peroxide gets diluted too quickly with saliva to have any whitening effects. if it makes you feel good, go for it- but your teeth will remain yellow:



Man, there are some serious misconceptions on this thread and some outright false information. Let me attempt to clarify the truth about whitening teeth. My credentials - Im a practicing dentist for the past 15 years, I lecture nationally and internationally on the technology in dentistry as well as cosmetic dental procedures.

Question- What is the best way to whiten?
Answer- Hands down the "best" way is to use bleaching trays created by your dental office. Trays provide an intimate fit to your teeth and dont allow the bleaching gel to escape. Typically you will get a solution (15-35%) of carbamide peroxide (a variation of hydrogen peroxide) from your dental office that you will place nightly in your trays. The more often you can place the gel in the trays, the faster and better the results.

Now- what if you get sensitivity? decrease the frequency of whitening- so instead of every night, do it every other night. Sensitivity is temporary and is the limiting factor in how fast you can whiten and how strong of a solution you should use. There is NO PERMANENT DAMAGE with whitening. None. ZERO, nada, zilch. Its a temporary thing. Similar to hey- my tailor stuck a needle in me, it hurts. Yes- it hurts till the needle is removed. Same thing with whitening- most people get temporary sensitivity. But it will eventually go away. Use sensodyne toothpaste if the sensitivity persists.

What about the light and "laser bleaching" Laser bleaching is bullshit. doesnt work and there is really nothing on the market that bleaches the teeth with a laser. You do have britesmile and zoom- these are popular. However their efficacy is questioned. We have both in our office and frankly I just tell people to get the trays. In office bleaching is like a jump start- meaning its the equivalent of doing 2-3 days with the trays at home but its not necessarily better. I always give my patients a set of trays after their in office session- no matter what.

What about the crest white strips and similar over the counter materials - they work but not as well. Its simple, what your dentist can prescribe is a stronger solution of the gel which you cant get over the counter. But they do work and its an option. However because the strips are glued to the teeth, saliva gets in and decreases the concentration of the gel which minimizes the effect of the gel. so you have to use the strips longer and change them more often. Instead of bleaching with the trays your dentist gives you for a week- you may have to do the strips for a month? cheaper? debatable as you have to buy more strips.

What should it cost? - I can only tell you what we charge - $400 for inoffice and trays. $250 for just trays. You can get em cheaper im sure online and as long as the materials are good, im sure you get a similar result. There are offices charging 500-1000 bucks for whitening. Im sure you get a good result but you should expect to pay 250-500 for trays. I can tell you that at a dental office you are paying for the overhead of the office, the expertise of the dentist and getting the proper materials. Kind of similar to going to a high end tailor to get a great result. Theres ****** tailors who overcharge and there are ****** dentists who overcharge.

Using whitening toothpaste, rinsing with hydrogen peroxide etc will not whiten your teeth. The perioxide is not in contact with your teeth for long enough to do anything. its diluted quickly with the saliva.

And you cannot kill the germs that cause "bad *****" wtf???? Bad ***** my man is bad *****! a dentist aint gonna help you there.

painting titanium dioxide wont help either - yes its a temporary fix but wont do much to permanently whiten the teeth.

How long should white teeth remain white? - anything that will stain a white shirt will eventually stain your teeth. If you are a coffee or tea drinker, if you like red wine etc- your teeth will eventually get dark again. So with the bleaching trays- after your initial treatment- i recommend to my patients to do a touch up (about 30 minutes of wearing the trays) about once a month. just pop them in while you are watching tv or something.


hope this helps.

I've been using peroxide for days and the difference is quite noticeable. How can you account for that? Spend the <2 bucks and buy a bottle of h2o2 and find out for yourself.

Originally Posted by musicguy

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I've been using peroxide for days and the difference is quite noticeable. How can you account for that? Spend the <2 bucks and buy a bottle of h2o2 and find out for yourself.

pic or it didnt happen because the tooth god seems to know his ****

Originally Posted by alexanduh

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pic or it didnt happen because the tooth god seems to know his ****
I didn't take pics. Buy a bottle of 3% h2o2 and see for yourself. It's only 2 bucks. 'Tooth god' is a doctor and wants money.

Originally Posted by musicguy

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I didn't take pics. Buy a bottle of 3% h2o2 and see for yourself. It's only 2 bucks.

'Tooth god' is a doctor and wants money.



Umm, yeah- I want your money so bad. Thats why I posted not only my office website but also my phone number to the office so that you can come in and pay me for my services. NOT!

dumbass!

Put up or shut up with your peroxide. If it makes you feel better, by all means use peroxide. Other than the placebo effect it aint gonna whiten your teeth.