You've probably heard of tooth whitening strips and their whitening wonders. Some people swear that a tooth whitening strip across their teeth is the best way to achieve a dazzling smile. Even better than other professional tooth whitening products, they may say.
But is this true? Do tooth whitening strips outperform other products like tooth whitening gel, tooth whitening trays, or similar systems?
The Tooth Whitening Strip - How It Works
Tooth whitening strips are a unique tooth bleaching system. They are clear strips of plastic coated with carbamide peroxide (usually around 6-10% concentration), and are designed to be worn over the teeth twice a day, for an average of 30 minutes each session. The upper tooth whitening strip has a particular design as does the one for the bottom teeth. They are easy to apply and are barely noticeable to others (and thus can be worn practically any time of the day).
The Tooth Whitening Strip - Is It Effective?
As mentioned, a tooth whitening strip is designed to fit directly on the fronts of our teeth without causing any oral discomfort or jaw pain (unlike other products with which these symptoms are often associated - more on this later).
The bleaching solution used on a tooth whitening strip is an effective whitening solution. The strips deliver them well and have proven to make teeth whiter in a matter of days.
However, there is a serious drawback called "striping" that is not usually mentioned by advocates of the tooth whitening strip. Striping is when the areas between your teeth - the nooks and crannies - are not reached because whitening strips only connect with the fronts of our teeth.
Imagine painting a brown fence white but not dipping your brush in between the crevices. The end result will be a white fence with strips of brown. This is how teeth often look like after using whitening strips.
So while they may work, "striping" is definitely not something in the product's favor.
The Tooth Whitening Strip - Costs Involved
Tooth whitening strips are not that expensive. Depending on the brand you want to buy, probably the lowest you'll pay for a box of tooth whitening strips is $25.
The Tooth Whitening Strip - Any Alternatives?
There are a few home tooth whitening alternatives. One would be whitening toothpastes. However, because toothpastes spend very little time on one's teeth, especially after rinsing, they don't come highly recommended.
Another would be the use of a tooth whitening tray. Some people claim trays to be the most superior system as they allow teeth to be completely submerged in tooth whitening solution. However, other people complain that trays are bulky and uncomfortable. This is true of generic trays that are designed as one-size-fits-all. The best trays are those custom-made to fit your teeth. They are far more comfortable and provide comprehensive whitening.
Then of course, you have your dentist. Nothing beats the professional attention of a dentist and this is probably everyone's best recourse. The only drawback is the tooth whitening cost involved. You will be charged anywhere between $500 - $2000 per treatment.
Our tooth whitening tip? Try a tooth whitening strip just to see how it goes. Then try trays and work your way from there.
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