Teeth whitening strips have only been around for about 10 years, but they’re a very popular addition to the bevy of teeth whitening products available to the consumer. They’ve given people who want to whiten their teeth a more convenient option than sitting in a dentist’s chair or sitting around (and sometimes sleeping) with bleaching trays in their mouths.
Brush on whitening gel is available also, but seems to be less effective for general whitening than teeth whitening strips. This is because the gel does come off the teeth because they’re inside your mouth and exposed to saliva and friction. Teeth whitening strips, however, will usually stay in place. But what are they exactly, and do they work?
Teeth whitening strips are essentially strips of plastic coated in a bleaching gel that contains hydrogen peroxide. It’s not necessary to use mouth trays with whitening strips because the strips are simply pressed onto the teeth, where they stick and let the hydrogen peroxide start bleaching the tooth enamel. Each kit will have strips that are designed especially for both upper and lower teeth to minimize contact with the gums and to get maximum tooth coverage.
These strips, for the most part, are designed for use twice daily for about 30 minutes at a time. Some strips have only about 5% or 6% hydrogen peroxide, and take about 2 weeks to show results. Strips that have about 10% peroxide are designed for about a week of use before the desired whitening is achieved.
Teeth whitening strips have the advantage of not being messy like gels and mouth trays. You simply press the strip on and you’re finished. You can talk and do everything you might normally do, except eat and drink, during the application. Mouth trays can make talking difficult, and it’s unlikely that anyone would want to wear them out in public. Strips, however, can be almost invisible and so are more convenient to use no matter what comes up.
What are the disadvantages of teeth whitening strips? Some people find them difficult to use. First of all, the sticky nature can make using them a little tricky at first. Once you press them on, they’re in place to stay for a while and not easily moved. But even though you might have trouble moving the strip when you want to, they can still occasionally come off during treatment.
The biggest disadvantage from a cosmetic point of view is that the strips are only designed to cover the front teeth. This isn’t an issue for some people who are only really concerned with making their smile whiter in the first place. But the limited size of the strips, in some cases, can leave darker teeth that are visible when the user smiles. Whether or not this will be the case for you depends on the side of your mouth and teeth and how well the strip covers.
Teeth whitening strips do work, though they won’t give you the same dramatic results that in-office or gel and mouth tray kits will.