 They work! |
| Review Date: August 3, 2006 |
| Reviewer: R. Morris, Iowa, USA |
First, this product really *does* whiten teeth--it's not a gimmick as some people think. (It uses a peroxide, which is probably how your dentist would do it, although this is a less concentrated form and takes two weeks.) Of course, it only whitens natural teeth, not dental work, but for most people, they should work.
Now, on to the product itself. Some people have complained about them being difficult to apply, but after the first couple strips I didn't have any problems, and even the first time I applied it I didn't fold a strip or mess up anything major. Keep in mind that some tooth sensitivity is normal; personally, mine was only mild at worst and really only noticeable right after I applied a strip, but I know some people who aren't as lucky. If this is you, using a toothpaste for sensitive teeth may help. Also keep in mind that eating, drinking, and probably talking (unless you have better luck than I) are pretty much out of the question while you're wearing these, but I simply did one application on my drive home from work and another later in the night. My only concern was that the strips, especially the top ones, are a bit short and only cover your front eight or so teeth, but for most people that shouldn't be a problem.
A year after my first use (teeth still looking good), I am currently using a generic brand--Equate, available from Wal-Mart for about $15, about $5 less than these--and have to say that I like Crest Whitestrips better because the strips are more flexible and easier to apply, and they stay in place better. The Equate ones have a bit harder plastic and tend to slide off my teeth if I open my mouth. Hardly worth it to save $5.
It is also worth noting there are two other versions of Whitestrips: Premium and Premium Plus. Both contain a more concentrated peroxide that works in less time (7 and 10 days, respectively [the 10-day version is the same as the 7-day version but includes three extra days of strips for extra whitening], as opposed to the 14 of this Classic version) but are more expensive and--based on their reviews--seem to cause more problems with sensitivity and such. Therefore, unless you're in a hurry, I think you'd be fine with these.
In summary, I am happy with this product and think that most people would be, too. Not bad for the price (certainly cheaper than a professional whitening), and they really do whiten! |
Great product
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| Review Date: June 30, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Jenn B, Vermont USA |
I love this product. It is true what other say about the sensitivity. I would recommend using sensitivity toothpaste while you are using the strips, it helped for me. It made my teeth noticeably whiter. I would suggest you take a picture of yourself smiling before and after. I noticed the whiteness of my teeth when I saw a picture taken recently and I couldn't believe how nice they looked. I just had to dig up an old picture to compare and it was a big difference. After I have noticed this in the new picture, I love smiling for pictures now and showing my teeth. I was alway self conscious about it before. That alone makes it worth the price.
I was very satisfied with my results. Make sure to read all the instructions before using.
It just became a part of my bedtime routine, not a bother at all. I just put one on while I was watching my evening TV programs and just kept an eye on the clock.
Also, I recommend that after you have finished your pack that you use the Crest whitening toothpaste. It really helps to keep your teeth staying white.
Great product and it was recommended to me by my dentist.
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A Dentist Reviews This Product
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| Review Date: July 21, 2007 |
| Reviewer: James Koenig, Minnesota |
I am a dentist who recommends Crest-brand White Strips to my patients becasue they do work to whiten teeth. However, they have to be used correctly and I recommend that you follow the directions as specified inside the box.
1. Use the strips as directed on the box. The instructions will tell you to bleach twice a day for 30-minutes a time. The inner part of the strip has a chemical called hydrogen peroxide; (in-office, or dentist-assisted dental whitening uses a 15-35% version of the same chemical) that 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 the time recommended in the instructions and do not overbleach your teeth, as this leads to sensitivity.
Disadvantages
1. Hydrogen Peroxide can "burn" your gums. If you notice a burning sensation when you use the product, it is the chemical oxidizing (or burning) your gums (it will turn them white with a minor chemical burn). 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 healed, resume treatment with the White Strips. Try to not get the strip on your gums.
2. Your teeth may become senstiive during the 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.
4. 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 begin bleaching with yoru dentist and then use the strips to continue the bleaching process.
Now comes the confusing part: Crest White Strips come in 4 different packages, each a bit different than the others. The main difference is in the strength of the hydrogen peroxide, and the price. The higher the dose of hydrogen peroxide, the most costly the product package. Here are the 4 packages: 1. Crest White Strips Classic (6% hydrogen peroxide, 14-day treatment). 2. Crest White Strips Premium (10% hydrogen peroxide, 7-day treatment). 3. Crest White Strips Premium Plus (10% hydrogen peroxide, and has 12 additional strips). 4. Crest White Strips Renewal (9.5% hydrogen peroxide). The cheapest method (at around 25 dollars, is the Crest Classic Whitestrips, but it takes 2 weeks to complete the treatment). Premium and Premium Pro are both 10% peroxide formulations, work in 7-10 days, and the "Premuim-Plus" gives you 12 additional strips. I am not sure why Crest recently came out with "Renewal", as it is a 9.5% hydrogen peroxide formulation which is not significantly different from the 10% concentration. Leave it to the manufacturer to confuse the consumer!
Crest White Strips work for the vast majority of people. Younger people with yellow stains seem to respond better than older people or those with gray stains.
If you are not satisfied with the results and still want whiter teeth, you can then see your dentist for a more concentrated form of bleaching. This is much more expensive, but the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is much higher and this works better on stubbornly-stained teeth.
Jim "Konedog" Koenig, DDS
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*~*~*SPARKLING, SHINY TEETH!!!*~*~*
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| Review Date: May 26, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Tiffany, Pennsylvania, United States |
| I just finished my two weeks using Crest Whitestrips. I was a little skeptical about whether it would work, but after reading the reviews I tried it. My teeth weren't really bad, but they had a bit a yellow-ish coloring and weren't the brightest. I swear I noticed a difference after 24 hours! After the first week, my teeth weren't only white, but they were also shinier. I'm so glad a spent my money & time on this whitening system!! |
Fantastic!
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| Review Date: August 30, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Susan, Philadelphia |
The Crest White Strips have worked really well for me and I have nothing but good to say about them. I understand that other people have complained that they are tricky to put on and that they were painful, but I experienced neither. I found them easy to apply, I am totally able to speak while they are on (with a slight lisp!), and for me they were not painful at all. My teeth are noticeably whiter and I am very happy with the whole experience. My concern was if they were good for my teeth (I didnt want to accidentally do irreperable damage to my enamel) but a conversation with my dentist solved that completely.
I will definitely use them again if required and wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to others.
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