Are Teeth Whitening Strips Effective
Do you want to whiten your teeth but can’t afford having them whitened at the dentist’s clinic? Having noticed the proliferation of cheap teeth whitening strips in drugstores, you may be wondering if they are just as effective. Read on to find out.
How do you use teeth whitening strips
Teeth whitening strips are flexible thin pieces of plastic coated with bleaching agents. To use the whitening strips, just position them across the teeth and press gently for the film of the whitening formula to be in contact with the teeth. Leave the teeth whitening strips on for 20 to 30 minutes. Teeth whitening strips are best used 30 minutes after breakfast and before going to bed at night. Most manufacturers recommend using the strips twice a day for two weeks or up to a month. Once the teeth have reached their desired whiteness, you can stop using the strips. To maintain the whiteness achieved, just use the strips once a month.
Pros and cons of teeth whitening strips
Teeth whitening strips provide some level of comfort compared to using mouth trays. The whitening formula applied using mouth trays may worsen jaw joint problems and can cause excessive salivation. While whitening strips are hassle-free, they offer no instant results. Also, the strips’ design will only allow whitening on the middle six teeth. The whitening agents found in teeth whitening strips are also known to cause gum irritation and tooth sensitivity. Gum irritation is the usual reaction of your gums to the hydrogen peroxide in the strips. It also results from not following instructions properly. One should take notice that strips used across the upper teeth are shaped differently than those intended for lower teeth. Tooth sensitivity is the usual side effect from using the strips beyond the recommended time. Thankfully, this is only temporary and will go away once you stop using the strips.
Teeth whitening strips are indeed an effective and cheap way to whiten teeth but only through cumulative use. If suffering from side effects, one should choose strips with lower concentration of whitening agents or use them less frequently.
Related questions:
1. How often should I use teeth whitening strips?
2. How does whitening strips compare to mouth trays?
3. What should I do if irritation or tooth sensitivity happens?