Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects

Bottom line

Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects are convenient to use and very effective at whitening teeth. Due to their high concentration of hydrogen peroxide, they can cause tooth sensitivity. Professional Effects is similar to Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid (*Est. $40), but they have a slightly higher hydrogen peroxide concentration and they are designed to be used for 20 days instead of 14.

Performance

Results in three days. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects are bandage-like strips that hold bleaching ingredients in place long enough for them to treat stains. They contain 10-percent hydrogen peroxide and are to be worn daily for 30 minutes over 20 consecutive days. They are best suited to people who like the convenience of an at-home whitener without the bulkiness of mouth trays.

Crest Professional Effects Whitestrips are among the top-reviewed teeth whiteners at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com, where hundreds of users give them an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Most users say that the Whitestrips produce noticeable results in a matter of days and dramatic whitening by the end of the 20-day treatment. One user says, "... these strips gave me noticeable results in a few days. After the full treatment, my teeth were significantly whiter." Another says, "On a scale of 1-10, I'd rate my results as a 7." She explains that results weren't as good as what you'd expect from professional whitening, but they are very good for an over-the-counter treatment.

Ease of use

Strips really stay put. Crest Whitestrips remain a popular staple for many users because they are very convenient and easy to use. The strips apply to teeth in the same manner as a bandage and contain extra polymers to ensure that they really stay put. Users say the only downfall is that you have to make sure you put them on correctly the first time because it's really hard to adjust them once they are stuck. Luckily removing them after each 30-minute treatment isn't as difficult, according to most users.

Safety

Tooth sensitivity is manageable. As with most teeth whiteners, we saw a lot of complaints about tooth sensitivity with Crest Professional Effects. Most say that it's manageable and wears off quickly after each treatment. Several users recommend using toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth (for recommendations see the ConsumerSearch report on toothpaste) or stopping treatment for a day or two if sensitivity becomes too unbearable.

Crest, like all teeth whiteners, is safe to use if you have good oral health. Experts suggest avoiding bleaching products if you have cavities, gum disease and/or exposed roots and nerves. Teeth whiteners can aggravate these conditions and cause further pain and damage.