Anyone use Crest whitet strips?

[2diamonds&a~gem]

Or anything like them?

I want to brighten up my smile for Christmas pictures and wanted to see if anyone has had any luck with any of these products.

My teeth are already white, but they dont sparkle. I have a hard time justifing the $300-$400 cost at the dentist right now. So I wanted to try an over the counter type for the reduced cost and quick fix.

So what brands have you tried and did you like them and were they easy to use?

Thanks in advance for you help!

 

[KarenAylwood]

I tried them back in the day when they were new (and way more expensive). They worked, I just couldn't stand wearing them! I got bored with it really quickly and then kept forgetting to use them. As I remember, you used the top strips first and then the bottom strips. I never even got to the bottom strips!

They work though if you stick with them. They also might have changed it since I used them- you had to use them twice a day for a half hour each.

I have also tried the Crest Night Effects or whatever it was called (I'm not entirely sure that was the name). It comes in a little nail-polish like bottle and you just paint your teeth before you go to bed. It tasted nasty at first but I quickly forgot about it and had no trouble getting to sleep. I liked it better than the strips. It worked too, but not as well as the strips.

Anyone tried the strips recently? I was thinking of trying to get back to them as well... is the process still the same? (ie, two a day/30 min ea)?

 

[mindystar]

Actually I'm using them right now. I've used the Crest White Strips before. And like Karen, the first time they came out I only used the top ones. I used them again last year before Christmas, the ten day ones, and I can definitely tell a difference. They last a long time too. There are different kinds of Crest White Strips--the original, Premium and Premium Plus. I'm using Premium right now--you can wear both the top and the bottom at the same time, still two applications a day for a half hour each. For the Premium it's only seven days of wear, and they say you'll see results after three days and that the whitening should last a year. Premium Plus is ten days of wear and lasts for a year and a half. When I wear mine, I have to keep my mouth closed the whole time, because they become very sensitive when exposed to air with the strips on them. Which is why I just want to do it for seven days--but they do work. I did try the Rembrandt brand where after two hours you'll have a brighter smile--I followed the directions exactly and saw no difference and neither did my family. However when I wear the Crest Strips my family and co-workers notice the difference. I hope all this rambling helps

 

[mimif1]

My daughter used them and I could really tell a difference. Don't forget to register on their website for a free coupon. Coupon

 

[christinadei]

I've used the original ones and liked them. They are on sale often for 19.99. I just bought another box, but keep forgetting to use them.I never did use them both morning and night, just at night, usually when i got a bath. They worked and lasted for a long time.

 

[ceecee]

Check with your dentist, the bleaching kits have really come down in price for dental professionals and most reflect these savings to their patients. We use Opalescence and it is $75.00 for the models and four weeks of solution. Additional solution is $20.00 for 4 tubes. It works in 3 days to 2 weeks max and it does work on almost all patients a lot of them had tried all the over the counter whitening to no avail. It's worth a call, a few years ago we were selling the bleaching for $200.00!

 

[shades]

Just want to add - if you have veneers or composites - according to the dentist I talked to - over-the-counter whitening products will not work on these so don't waste your money.

I've tried the "nail polish" type stuff and I thought it was nasty. My teeth became so sensitive after the first use that I decided I'd rather live with the tea stains.

Ditto - on what the other poster states about checking with your dentist on buying whitening kits through the dental clinic. You may find you get a better product for close to what you pay for OTC kits that may or may not work.

 

[airplane]

I have used crest strips, the advanced ones and night effects.
I have had the same results with all of them. My teeth look great after using them although they do get a little bit sensitive. I use sensitive toothpaste when I know I am going to be using the strips. I am a coffee and tea drinker and they whiten my teeth w/in the first couple of days of using them.

If you don't have the patience for the strips or gels try Rembrandt Whitening mouthwash. It makes my teeth just as white as the strips do.

 

[disneyisfun]

I have used them and got great results...I am going to try the premium plus soon.

 

[rae662000]

Thanks for the coupon offer...I signed up

 

[GOOFY D]

Are these "whiteners" harmful to your teeth or do they weaken the enamel?

 

[BettyCv]

I have a question, too. Does the solution from the strips get between your teeth at all? I'm concerned that the strips will whiten the front of my teeth, but that between my teeth will still look yellowed...

Betty

 

[luvthatdisney]

I used them this spring and did not get the whitening I had hoped for. So I inquired with my dentist in August when I went and decided to go ahead and let him bleach my teeth.

I had to have molds made and then we started with the top teeth. I wore the tray about 2 weeks at night - it was not that bad I was able to sleep! I was amazed at how white they were! Then we started on the bottom teeth - only had to wear it 9 nights - since the teeth tend to be smaller it does not take as long.

Total cost $300 - included the molds taken, trays, solution and 3 visits. Well worth it IMO! I also got piece of mind since my dentist was watching the progress and if I had an issue he was there to help! Did have a little sensitivity on the bottom teeth!

 

[bigolive9]

I like the Oral-B/ Rembrandt whiteneing strips. You only wear them 1/2 hour a day for between 5-7 days. I noticed results after only 2 days. They stay in my mouth better and don't taste as bad to me as the Crest strips. also, they did not make my teeth as sensitive.

 

[pjlla]

I have a question, too. Does the solution from the strips get between your teeth at all? I'm concerned that the strips will whiten the front of my teeth, but that between my teeth will still look yellowed...

Betty

I was concerned about that too... so I bought both the Crest White Strips and the Colgate night effects paint on stuff. I painted on the brush stuff between the teeth and then put the strips on over it. It worked well. My dentist was okay with it.

I have used two boxes of the White Strips over the past few years. I noticed a definitely change after the first one. Now I just use it occasionally to "maintain" the whiteness. I used both the top and bottom at the same time... why not?? I couldn't see the harm in it. And I usually only do it once a day (I forget at night anyhow).

Good luck if you decide to use it.................P

 

[p2oh]

I used the Crest premium strips for a wedding I was in in October and several people commented on how white my teeth were, I noticed a difference in just a couple of days. I wore them in the tanning bed, I think it made a big difference.

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

hi
I prefer the original white strips, they work very well for a already pretty white smile, kinda of like a little pick me up without pain,,, The premium ones hurt my teeth.Really bad
I really like a new toothpaste called luminous by colgate or crest cant remember which right now, but it really makes my teeth shiny and it shows up in pictures.
Ive used rembrant tooth paste for forever so im a fan of that too.

 

[tink2dw]

I had repeatedly asked my dentist abot whiting my tea yellowed teeth but they said they were in the normal range of white. It made me question their eye site but I was worried about the damage enamal from over the counter products and I wanted something other than the strips. Something with more control.

I found Colgate Simply White tooth paste with a spin brush it said helped to increase the whiting, on sale last christmas and bought 2 of them. I started brushing. I thought it might take a long time but with in a week the yellowing was gone and my teeth were whiter. Not that neon white you see you hollywood smiles but natual unstained white teeth!!

And the best part was if they started looking dingy all I had to do was brush my teeth!!

Here is a coupon to save $1.25 off the tooth paste and
http://www.colgate.com/app/ColgateSimplyWhite/US/SpecialOffers/CouponTP.cvsp

Here is a coupon to save $1.00 off a spin brush
http://www.colgate.com/app/Colgate360/US/Offers.cvsp

happy new white theeth

 

[MayMom]

I bought my Crest Premiun Plus Whitestrips on eBay and saved a ton of money! I put them on before my shower and wear them while getting my shower, hair dried, etc.

 

[IndyJammer]

Hey Megan - Since we are both Hoosiers, I thought I'd throw my professional opinion out there! (I'm a DDS in Pendleton!)

The White Strips do work well - but the over-the-counter ones are fairly temporary. They will look brighter while you are bleaching, but they will go back to 'normal' fairly quickly - even the Premium ones. There is actually a system of White Strips that can only be "Prescribed" (ie sold) from a Dentist office that works even better and does last a little while longer.

Crest has spent a lot of time & money researching their bleaching, so you can feel confident that it is safe as well. (Do be careful with some of the off-name bleaching products) The stronger the percentage of bleach, the more likely you are to get some sensitivity though.

The White Strips will not work well on fillings or veneers - and not at all on crowns. It would be best to have a check-up before starting any bleaching - just to make sure that there are no cavities present, or they will be even more sensitive.

A lot of dental offices are promoting bleaching now - with new patient exams, yada, yada - b/c it has come down in price for the dentist - so you might actually check with your dentist before just assuming that you cannot afford take-home bleaching. The material that comes from a dentist office is typically stronger, safer, and will last longer.

OT - I would stay away from "in-office bleaching" - it looks neat on Extreme makeovers & those tv shows, but it is almost Never worth the money. It will look great for about a month, but you can get almost as good results with the White Strips (it just takes a little longer) and you will get much better results with custom trays & dentist-recommended take-home bleaching material!

OT2 - If you do get some sensitivity with bleaching, I'd recommend the Crest Sensitivity toothpaste or Sensodyne - something with Flouride and Potassium Nitrate in it!

Hope that helps - Feel free to PM me if you have any other questions!

IndyJammer, DDS