Review by James Koenig:

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 exactly as specified inside the box.

1. First brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush to remove the layer of plaque (toothpaste is unnecessary). Rinse your teeth well with water. Tooth enamel has pores, and the pores need to be open for the chemical to penetrate.

2. 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 an 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 have a dentist whiten your teeth as the dentist will use a tray to hold a more concentrated form of the chemical on your teeth for a longer period of time.

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. White Strips don’t work as fast as a dentist-made custom tray bleaching, (or in-office bleaching) but over time, you will get a result that will be close to that of a dentist, and you will save money too.

I recommend starting with with either the Classic or the Premium-Pro. The Classic works in 2 weeks and is about .80 a day. The Premium Pro works in 10 days and is about dollars a day. The Premium and Premium Pro are likely to give you more sensitivity than the Classic. Be sure and check out the price of each kit, as they vary from store to store. Obviously, get the cheapest kit that supplies the same amount of strips.

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 using a custom-tray system or in-office 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

Review by Pen Name:

Crest Whitestrips is an incredible product. It is virtually the same hydrogen peroxide bleaching solution that dentists use. It’s amazing how much whiter they make your teeth after only a few days. I’ve been using them for a couple of years and decided to try the new “Whitestrips Premium PLUS.” This product is exactly the same as the regular Crest Whitestrips Premium- 7- Day Dental Whitening Formula System, 28 Strips, except the box it comes in has a window and it comes with 3 extra days of strips. The regular Whitestrips takes 7 days and this takes 10. After 7 days, your teeth are pretty much as white as they’re going to get, and I didn’t notice much of a difference from the additional 3 days. The “Plus” in the product’s name seems to refer more to the much higher cost of this product.

If you’re thinking about getting this, just realize that all it is is three more strips, so when you figure out how much you’re being charged per strip, you may find you’re paying considerably more for these per strip than the regular Crest Whitestrips Premium- 7- Day Dental Whitening Formula System, 28 Strips.

That being said, the strips are a great product and if you get them, make sure you buy some toothpaste for sensitive teeth because this product WILL make your teeth feel like they’re on fire. It’s definitely worth it though.

Review by M. Pickering:

As a person that consumes large amounts of coffee and tea, keeping my teeth white has been an ongoing struggle that has prompted me to buy just about every whitening product available. Every time Crest comes out with a new Whitestrips product I give it a try. Many have been disappointing, and all have proven to be a somewhat unpleasant chore to use. Now I understand that doing something to make your teeth whiter is worth some time and effort, but using the Crest Whitestrips is usually a messy, uncomfortable process that I have always dreaded. Still, I have always been able to get noticeable results so I continue to use them nonetheless. Until recently I was getting the best results from using the Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects 10-day System. However, those strips still tended to slide around on my teeth and required that I keep my mouth closed for the entire treatment.

In February I was given the opportunity to try the new Crest Advanced Seal Whitestrips kit. It is certainly a big improvement over the other Whitestrips products. The Advanced Seal kit only requires a 30 minute treatment once a day, whereas the rest of the Whitestrips product line requires two 30 minute treatments each day. The entire kit lasts for 14 days, but it promises that you will see results within 3 days. The kit contains 14 packets, each packet containing an upper and lower whitening strip. Each strip is coated with a peroxide-infused gel, which is claimed to mold and adhere to teeth better that any previous Whitestrips product. Crest also notes that this product will only work on natural teeth, and will NOT whiten caps, crowns, veneers, fillings, or dentures. These Whitestrips should not be used by anyone under the age of 12, and should not be used on teeth with braces. Crest even claims that you can drink water while whitening your teeth with this product.

Here is the 3-step method for using this product (taken directly from the Crest website):

1. Peel:

- For best results, do not brush teeth immediately before applying strips.

- Open foil pouch and remove.

- Peel strips from backing.

2. Apply:

- Apply gel side of strip to teeth. It will instantly mold and adhere to teeth.

- Align strips with gum line and press gently for good contact.

- Fold the rest of strip behind teeth to keep in place.

3. Reveal:

- Wear strips for 30 minutes once a day, remove and discard.

- Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal comes off cleanly.

After using this kit for the full 14 days, here is what I have personally experienced:

First of all, the claim by Crest that these strips hold much better to your teeth is true. In fact, when trying to remove these strips some may feel that they hold TOO good. I have found that removing them can be a somewhat difficult and messy task. After being in your mouth for 30 minutes the strips are rather slimy and slippery, so I have learned to pull one end loose and then use a tissue to pull the strip off my teeth. You really have to tug pretty hard in order to get these strips off from your teeth! Second, the strips still leave some unpleasant residue on your teeth, so you will want to make sure to brush right after removing the strips. Third, the strips are still a little bit of a pain to apply. It’s hard to fold them over your teeth without getting creases in them. But, the fact that they hold strong is a great thing. They hold on tight for the full 30 minutes, and therefore don’t slide around on your teeth like the previous Whitestrips did. I don’t experience the excessive amount of saliva generated by the previous Whitestrips products either. Although some folks do experience a mild amount of increased sensitivity after repeated use of this product, I was able to complete the full 14 treatments (without skipping a day) without any discomfort whatsoever. These Advanced Seal Whitestrips are a great improvement in design, and they are ultimately much easier to use. I definitely notice that my teeth appear whiter within 2 to 3 treatments, and by the end of the 14-day treatment my teeth looked wonderfully bright.

Overall I am very pleased with the improved design and excellent results provided by the Crest Advanced Seal Whitestrips product. They’re not completely perfect, and they are still a bit of a chore to apply, use, and remove. But when all is said and done these strips are definitely the best effort produced by Crest yet. If you are looking for whiter, brighter teeth, and don’t mind a 30 (35 minutes including removal and brushing afterward) minute inconvenience for 14 days, I highly recommend the Advanced Seal Whitestrips system from Crest. Shop around though, because they can be found much cheaper on the Internet than in local retail stores. I have found them nearly twenty dollars cheaper on sites like Amazon than what they sell for in brick and mortar stores. In these tough economic times it is always good to save a few bucks whenever possible. After all, paying more for the same product is not going to get your teeth any whiter. =o)

Review by James Koenig:

As a dentist, I am often asked by patients and friends where to start in terms of selecting a bleaching product. Since Crest produces some very good products, I generally steer them to Crest products. However, there are a multitude of Crest bleaching products to select from, so where does one begin? Here is my advice in selecting and using Crest Bleaching products:

First, let’s begin with the Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal. This product was introduced in February, 2009. It contains a 10% hydrogen peroxide gel that is attached to a clear strip (like a band-aid) that wraps around the teeth. The primary advantage to this system is that the strip adheres to the teeth better than all the previous whitestrip products. In fact, some users report that it can be somewhat difficult to remove. However, having a strip that adheres to the teeth allows the user to do other things (remain active) while they bleach – work-out, shop, drive, talk, even drink fluids. The previous versions instructed the user to bleach for 30 minutes while stationary so the strip would not be displaced. In terms of bleaching effectiveness, Advanced Seal is equivalent to Crest Premium, Premium-Plus, and Pro Effects (as they all have a 10% hydrogen peroxide gel).

A brief review of the other Crest bleaching products is in order to understand the options available. Crest White Strips come in as many as 7 different formulations. This can be very confusing for the consumer! Please remember the key difference in all these products is the strength of the hydrogen peroxide gel, and of course the price. The higher the dose of hydrogen peroxide, the faster the bleaching result, and the most costly as well. Here is a quick summary of the products:

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 Pro Effects (10% hydrogen peroxide, 10-day treatment).

5. Crest Advanced Seal (10% hydrogen peroxide, 10-day treatment).

6. Daily Whitening Multicare (6% hydrogen peroxide, 5-minutes/day, 6-week supply)

7. Daily Whitening with Tartar Protection (6% hydrogen peroxide, 5-minutes/day, has a chemical that discourages tartar from attaching to the teeth, 38 upper and lower strips)

In using any of the Crest bleaching products, please follow the specified instructions that come with each product.

1. For most products, the instructions will direct you to bleach twice a day for 30-minutes a time. The inner part of the strip has a chemical called hydrogen peroxide 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 can lead to sensitivity. Crest bleaching products will generally work for most people, especially younger people and those with yellow stains.

Potential Disadvantages to Consider

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 too far up on your gums.

2. Your teeth may become senstiive during the 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 revesible 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 have a dentist whiten your teeth in the office for two sessions and then use White Strips to continue the bleaching process.

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 have severely stained teeth, especially those with tetracycline (an antibiotic) stain, the strips may not work well for you.

If you are not satisfied with the results and still want whiter teeth, you can then see your dentist for a more concentrated in-office form of bleaching. Crest offers a product called “Crest Whitestrips Supreme” through dental offices that can be used at home. It is a 14% hydrogen peroxide gel in a thinner strip. It is used for 30 minutes once or twice a day for 3 weeks.

Jim “Konedog” Koenig, DDS

Review by Marlene McDaniel:

This product works the best tooth whitening product I have used, and I have used a lot. I bought this product before from another company and they quit carrying it; however, I tried Amazon and much to my dismay, they carried it and at a cheaper price than I was paying with the other company. The shipment was quick with Amazon (as usual) and I am very happy. With only one 15 minute use, people were already making comments on how much whiter and brighter my teeth were. This product works awesome! And when I know my teeth are white and bright, I SMILE more often which is a GOOD thing!

Review by C. Buck:

Impossible to find in the stores…used to be available…not sure why its not sold in the stores but it is still the best Whitening Tooth Gel on the market. I used it before my wedding instead of paying to have my teeth whitened professionally. I look at my wedding photos and think my teeth looked like they were done by a dentist! Can’t recommend this product enough…you won’t be disappointed with the results in fact you’ll be amazed and sold on it!

Review by Patty Therre:

I have teeth stained by cola and tea and have tried all kinds of whiteners from the strips to the gels to the pastes and the ampules. Nothing really did much for me. I bought the iWhite kit on an impulse and boy, am I glad I did.

The mouthpiece is rubber and I had no problems with it fitting despite the fact that I have a small mouth and TMJ. The foam strips are not messy and have no taste or scent. And the treatment worked very well for me. I saw noticeable whitening after the first time. After five days, my teeth looked great. You won’t get professional whitening with this system but, if you want to lift the stains and whiten your teeth four or five shades, I recommend this product! The light must really activate the ingredients because they are nothing special. Combined with the pulsing blue light, the foam strips go to work and break down tough stains.

My gums felt slightly sore after the first treatment but that went away after an hour and didn’t return. I have sensitive teeth but had no pain or irritation using this whitener.

I’m extremely happy with this product and I’m not easy to please!

Review by Ricardo Filipponi:

This item has the same technology that my dentist charges over 0 for. Blue Light Technology combined with whitening agents. 5 Days and my teeth were white and not only on the surface but in between where the ’strip type product’ can’t reach effectively. Neat item. Quick. Easy to use. Faster than 14 or 21 day claims the others make. Worth the money.

Review by J. Tomaszewski:

After reading some of the reviews of this product it made me realize many people are VERY hard to please. The mechanism of action behind most tooth whitener products is to hold hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide (which breaks down to hydrogen peroxide with urea in your mouth) solution in contact with the teeth for a predetermined amount of time according to the concentration of the particular product. Aquafresh White Trays are no different – rather than a strip they use trays. When hydrogen peroxide stays in contact with soft tissue, especially irritated soft tissue, it is normal for a burning sensation and temporary discoloration to occur in sensitive individuals. The Aquafresh trays do a good job of holding the hydrogen peroxide gel against your teeth. You do have to use your finger on the front of the trays to spread the gel around evenly, but is that really too much work? These are not custom fit trays, so I did not expect a perfect fit. I noticed visible results after a few applications and was pleased with the performance of this over-the-counter product. If you have sensitive teeth then be wary of tooth whitening products as they often increase sensitivity. You can either keep the trays on for a shorter duration or use a potassium nitrate based toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth (Sensodyne, Colgate Sensitive, etc.) for several weeks prior to, and during, the whitening process. This should alleviate a lot of the discomfort. All in all I liked this product better than the strips because the gel is able to penetrate better into the spaces between your teeth ensuring a more well-rounded whitening process.

Review by chlamy:

I read several reviews before buying the product and there are people who absolutely love it and those who swear wouldn’t buy again. I’ll try to be as objective as possible…

Effectiveness:

The product works. It whitens my teeth after the first use, and the result became very obvious after 3 uses (as it claims), so I’m pretty satisfied.

Tray Design:

The tray fits my mouth quite well (but I have a small mouth… I even wonder how it would fit bigger mouth since the tray is kinda small.) Spreading the gel so that it fully covers the teeth isn’t easy. I noticed that the top part of the teeth are whiter than the bottom (especially the bottom teeth.)

Side Effect:

The gel DOES hurt the gum. I read other reviews and people have been complaining about bleached gum. My gum didn’t get bleached, it didn’t turn white, but it bled!!! The part of the gum closest to the teeth turned red because of the bleeding and there’s also minor peeling of the gum too. It hurt pretty bad when I brushed my teeth. The bleeding only happened the first two times… I guess my gum got used to the gel since it didn’t bleed after the third time (however, still hurt a little.)

Bottom line:

It does the job. It whitens your teeth, but comes with a price… hurts your gum!

So, here’s what I do:

The first two trays I used them two days in a row (like the instruction says) and on the second day, it’s really painful on the gum. So I waited one day before doing the third one and my gum didn’t hurt as much. I would suggest using it every other day (or you can try two days between use)… I think it helps with the tooth sensitivity (which I didn’t experience as much as when I used the Crest White strip) and the painful gum.

I hope this helps.

Review by Sanibeljac:

I bought this as refills for my trays; I originally used a lower strength of the same brand name. I thought this might work in a shorter time frame so I wouldn’t have to keep the trays in overnight. Well–not only could I never keep this in my mouth overnight, I can barely tolerate it for five minutes. It burns my mouth a LOT, especially at the gum line. Torture. In fact, after just a few minutes, I found some spots on the gum line to be bleached out white. My own fault for ordering such a high strength. I might use this vendor again because the service was fast and complete, the price of the product was excellent…I guess they recoup some of that low cost with the high price of shipping.

Review by SHOPPER:

I was sold a product that expired two years ago! the proct had lost it effect. i have used 10% and 20% I know the effect when you use it. I was warned to be cautious using this by my dentist it could burn my gums. no burning no whitening! no bubbling peroxide does when you use it. DO NOT PURCHASE FROM THIS DISTRIBUTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!