Crest Whitestrips Supreme

Bottom line

Crest Whitestrips Supreme produce dramatic results in a short amount of time. Although the process of applying them and removing them is simple, users say they are messy. They cause an excessive amount of drool and make it difficult to talk. Furthermore, users say they are likely to cause a bit of sensitivity, but it's easy to control. Overall, Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid (*Est. $40) are the more convenient option, but they don't produce as dramatic results.

Performance

Pronounced whitening. Reviewers are very pleased with the whitening results of Crest Whitestrips Supreme. They contain a high dosage of hydrogen peroxide (14 percent), similar to professional at-home whitening (*Est. $200 to $600) but for less. Reviewers say they produce similar results as well. Furthermore, the strips outperform several popular whitening treatments in one professional test where experts say they produce "pronounced whitening."

Users at Amazon.com, TeethWhiteningReviews.com and MakeupAlley.com agree. Hundreds of reviewers at these websites say the strips produce dramatic results that are noticeable within a few days. One reviewer says, "The box is not completely done yet; but my teeth are already several shades whiter!" Another writes, "... you may not need the whole box."

Ease of use

Convenient but messy. Crest Whitestrips Supreme work in a similar manner to Crest's over-the-counter 3D White line. The strips adhere to teeth -- much like bandages -- allowing for maximum contact with the bleaching agents. Users say the Supreme strips don't stick to teeth as well, however. That's because they don't use Crest's Advanced Seal technology, which employs extra polymers to better adhere to teeth. Users complain that it makes for a messy ordeal. The Whitestrips cause a lot of drooling, which, in turn, makes the strips slide around on teeth. One user at MakeupAlley.com says she prefers to use them while she is lying in bed in order to "prevent saliva from pooling around" her mouth.

Safety

No pain, no gain. Most users say that Whitestrips Supreme cause a bit of discomfort and tooth sensitivity, but the majority say that it's bearable. Several say that the pain is worth the dramatic results and can easily be managed with over-the-counter pain medications. One user found that reducing treatments to once every other day got rid of the pain completely.

Crest Whitestrips Supreme are available at dentists' offices, which makes them a tad safer than over-the-counter whitening treatments. That's because your dentist can determine if you are a good whitening candidate by examining teeth for signs of cavities and gum disease.