Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects,10-Day Dental Whitening Formula System, 40 Strips (Packaging May Vary)
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Customer Reviews of Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects,10-Day Dental Whitening Formula System, 40 Strips (Packaging May Vary)
Customer Review: Crest Whitestrips Work to Brighten Teeth
Summary: 4 Stars
I am a dentist who recommends Crest White Strips to my patients because they do work to whiten teeth. However, they have to be used correctly and I recommend that you follow the directions exactly as specified inside the box.
1. Use the strips twice per day for maximum efectiveness as stated on the box. The inner part of the strip has a 10% concentration of hydrogen peroxide which causes the stains inside your teeth to be oxidized and turn white. Applying the strips has a small learning curve as you will probably bend or fold a couple of them before you get the technique down.
2. Leave the strips on for 30 minutes at a time. After thirty minutes the peroxide has absorbed into your tooth to the extent that it is no longer effective. You can reapply a new strip immediately if you chose, for the treatment requires one hour of treatment time per day to work. It does not matter if you do this in one continuous 60-minute period or two 30-minute periods. Do this for two weeks and your teeth will get whiter.
Disadvantages
1. The chemical can possibly "burn" your gums. If you notice a burning sensation when you use the product, it is the chemical oxidizing (or burning) your gums. Depending on how severe the burning is, it may cause you to want to stop the treatment. It is OK to stop the treatment for a day or two to let the gums heal. Once they are normal again (not white, red or irritated), resume treatment with the White Strips. The strip is designed so that a minimum amount of peroxide gets on your gums, but it still does happen.
2. Your teeth may become senstiive during the two-week treatment time. Try to tolerate the sensitivity if it is mild, but if more severe, take a day or two off to let the teeth settle down and then pick up where you left off. You may notice much more sensitivity to cold water, ice cream, etc. The peroxide causes a reversible inflamation of the inner pulp, or nerve center of the tooth and makes the teeth very sensitive to biting or cold drinks or foods. If your teeth become too sensitive, back off on the strips until the sensitivity is gone before resuming bleaching.
3. The strips only cover your front teeth, so only your front teeth will bleach. You may notice the distinct difference between the back (unbleached) teeth and the front (bleached) teeth. Since most people notice the front 6 teeth anyway, this is not a big deal. However, if you have a wide toothy smile, you may want to have a dentist make you a tray that will hold the chemical on the back teeth to whiten them too.
3. The bleaching effect works best on yellow stains. If your stains are due to tetracycline (brownish grey stains in a band on your teeth, your best bet is to have a dentist whiten your teeth initially in two sessions, and then use Creast Whitestrips for thereafter.
Crest bleaching strips work for the vast majority of people. It is a good place to start with bleaching, and if you are not satisfied with the results, you can then see your dentist for a more concentrated form of bleaching.
Jim "Konedog" Koenig, DDS
Customer Review: *Sparkling Smile*
Summary: 4 Stars
I discovered Crest White strips after I quit smoking 6 yrs ago. I was going to shell out the $ at the dentist's to reward myself but decided to give these a try. The first Crest Strips that came out were tough on the gums and I could only use them every other day, but worked spectacularly! Within a week, I was getting compliments on what a pretty smile I had, which made me want to smile even more :). I've used them off and on since, and find that I can go 3-4 mo, use them for a couple of days and, voila! White smile.
I'm something of a walking sales pitch for these things, because I don't whiten my bottom teeth, (since they never show and it saves $-why whiten what you can't see?). When people ask how well they work I show them the difference and they're astounded. Most people's teeth are slightly yellow, but I drink coffee and brushing just doesn't remove the staining.
They're kind of tricky to put on because they're flimsy, so just make sure your teeth are dry, place them right where the gum line meets your teeth, run your tongue over the strip and if you can suck air between your teeth it kind of vacuum's them on. Pat them in firmly with your finger. I only use 1 and save the other one (in the package) for the next day. It dries it out a little and actually makes it easier to adhere to your teeth. I usually use them right before I get in the shower, and by the time I'm finished blow drying my hair or getting dressed, it's been 30 min. (No worries of eating/drinking during this time) If your teeth aren't sensitive you can use them twice a day for faster results.
The only "con" of these (hence, 4*) is the flimsiness. It makes them tricky to get on and if you place them on your gums it could irritate them. Some people report tooth sensitivity but I haven't had any problems. I love the way they whiten, without giving me a Brite!White! fake whitening. It's a healthy-looking, natural whiteness that gives you more confidence in your smile.
A touch-up 30 min. every couple of months is all you need. :) You don't HAVE to use them for 7-10 days. Just whiten them to the shade you want. You can also whiten just your top teeth so you can judge the difference (if your bottom teeth don't show when you talk or laugh-might look kinda goofy if they do:)
Customer Review: They are not what you think... :-(
Summary: 2 Stars
There's a reason why curiousity killed the cat... I read all the reviews on all these crest whitening products prior to my purchase... Being curious, price conscious and wanting the best bang for my buck, I bought these crest white strips... I can tell you that I'm not impressed! Prior to purchasing these, I have used the equate Walmart brand in the blue and white box, 56 strips I think and they run about $18.00, so I have something to compare.
1. The biggest pain with these crest strips is that they are very thin, flimsy, they tear very easily and they move all over your teeth even if you press your lips down on them from the outside of your mouth.
2. I hardly saw a difference after using these crest strips, every single time I used the walmart strips, I saw white and about 2-3 white spots on my teeth immediately after every use. The white spots are small, normal and they go away within a short amount of time. Btw, I have fairly nice teeth, not bright bright white but not all yellowish either... Maybe a 6-7 out of 10 whiteness.
3. With these crest strips my lips became dry, sticky and my teeth hurt for a while after every use, even during the night. I rarely felt tooth sensitivity with the walmart brand.
All in all, they are both suppose to do the same thing... Whiten teeth! The walmart brand strips are a little bit thicker but easier to use in my opinion and they stay put, crest says your able to be normal, talk and enjoy life with theirs on... hogwash!! When I put on any whitening strips, I'm at home watching TV or on the computer and the last thing I want to do is have a conversation with someone! 30 minutes flies right on by and then I do another 30. I have nothing against crest, I just think they put more effort into marketing their nice oversized blue plastic box rather than making a better whitening product! If it looks good, people will buy it... That's Corporate America! I'm sooo glad I didn't pay the rediculous price they want in the retail stores!!! I will not be buying these again. Hope this info helps...
Customer Review: Did the Job
Summary: 5 Stars
I used this product at the suggestion of my dental hygienist prior to having some dental veneers replaced. I read the reviews and I had some misgivings about using an over-the-counter product but it was fine.
The Results: I am pleased with the results. The strips lightened my teeth noticably. I do not have "chiclet" teeth, that blue white luminous shade that, frankly, looks artificial but my teeth are cleaner and whiter than before. I had my new veneers prepped today and the dentist commented that I had lightened my teeth, that they looked very nice and that the product worked well for me.
The Process: I found the product fairly easy to use after a couple of applications. There is a technique but it was easy enough to get the hang of it. The gel adhered well to the surface of the tooth and I always had a lot of gel left on my teeth when I removed the strip. From about day three to six, I found my gums and teeth a bit sensitive but I persisted and the sensation went away by the end of the ten days. I found that my lips dried out while I used the strips and it helped to apply lip balm before and after using the strips.
Some Tips: Wash your hands when you finish applying the strips so that you don't get white patches on your fingers. Rinse your mouth when you finish to reduce gum sensitivity. Find a couple of times during the day when you have enough time to concentrate on how you apply the strips. It's a small thing but I think it makes a difference to apply them well. As I said, you may want to apply something to your lips to keep them from drying out. You can anticipate some sensitivity. It was not a huge issue for me but I can see it might be for some.
The directions say that Crest Strips will not lighten dental work. It actually did lighten my old veneers a bit. However, if you have veneers that you are not planning to replace, you might not like the two-toned effect you get. So if you have cosmetic dental work, I'd suggest you ask your dentist before you try this product.
Customer Review: Very Effective Whitening Program
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using Crest Whitestrips for years now because they have been so effective for me. I do prefer the 10-day program over the 7-day program because those extra few days make a significant difference. Whereas they can be a bit messy, and they don't taste all that great, I'm more interested in results, and I get compliments all the time regarding the whiteness of my teeth. I'm 60 years old and had the typical yellowing teeth that come with age, so I figure I'm a great resource when it comes to effective whitening programs. I tried numerous brush-on products, which were a total waste of time and money! I know there are other systems that are far more expensive than Crest's line, but I've also read countless reviews, and more times than not, Crest comes out ahead. As for the inconvenience of having to wear the strips for 30 minutes, I apply them as soon as I get up in the morning, and by the time I've had my shower, gotten dressed, etc., 30 minutes has come and gone before I even realized. Likewise, as I'm winding down my day, I apply them before I sit down to watch TV, read, or other quiet times. It's just not that much of a hassle. Be aware that it IS difficult to talk with them on the teeth (at least my speech is affected by them), which is why I recommend applying the strips when the least likely to have to communicate with others. I also checked with my dentist about the safety of this product, and he said the level of peroxide is well within the acceptable limits NOT to erode the enamel, and as long as I follow the instructions, I should have no problems with long-term erosion.