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Over-the-counter teeth whitening kits

If you're looking to spend less money and don't mind some inconvenience, over-the-counter tooth-whitening kits are a safe alternative if they're used according to directions. (Some dental experts have pointed out that consumers tend to overuse teeth-whitening products, thus it's always best to consult your dentist.)

Two Crest Whitestrips products, Premium and Classic, receive the most favorable reviews. Whitestrips are included in studies by Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal and Prevention magazine. They are also tested in trials presented at the 2007 IADR meeting. They are the best-reviewed whitening products on Amazon.com and Drugstore.com, where contributors say they work well for the money and are easier to use than some other products.

Crest Whitestrips Premium (*Est. $35 for seven-day supply) contain 10% peroxide gel. They should be worn twice a day for 30 minutes each time, for seven days. On average, they lighten more than three shades. Results should last about 12 months -- twice as long as the results with Crest Classic (*Est. $20) , which contains 6% peroxide. Good Housekeeping refers to Crest Whitestrips Premium as a "Hall of Fame" product. In a 2004 study, Good Housekeeping testers find that these strips lighten teeth more than three shades. In a Prevention magazine survey, the four testers of this product have good results. Whitestrips Premium Plus (*Est. $30) includes enough strips for ten days of treatment, instead of seven.

Crest Whitestrips Classic (*Est. $20) contain 6% peroxide gel. They are worn twice a day for 30 minutes each time, for two weeks. They are a gentler, albeit slower, alternative to Crest Whitestrips Premium. Experts find them to be convenient and effective, with average whitening of about three shades. Results can last up to six months. Some testers notice whiter teeth after only a few days of use. However, in The Wall Street Journal study, testers are less enthusiastic about Crest Whitestrips Classic. They find only a half-shade improvement and are displeased by associated drooling.

The strongest Crest Whitestrips Supreme (*Est. $50) are only available through dentist offices. Crest Whitestrips Supreme contain 14% peroxide gel and consists of a three-week treatment. Reviewers are pleased with the results, but complain that the strips cause more tooth and mouth sensitivity than other Crest Whitestrips products. One tester at Redbook reported that the pain was so intense that she could only continue treatment for six days. Still, even in the shorter time period, she said that she noticed a significant difference in the shade of her teeth.

To the delight of testers in the Good Housekeeping study, another Crest Whitestrips product, Crest Whitestrips Daily Multicare (*Est. $30) , is worn only five minutes a day. These Whitestrips come in a box containing 42 pouches, each of which contains two strips. On average, these strips lighten almost a shade, but experts say that they are safe enough to use every day and may be ideal for maintaining results in between professional treatments. Consumers at Drugstore.com and Amazon.com claim that Whitestrips Daily Multicare is an option for those with super-sensitive teeth who can't tolerate other whiteners. Oddly, Crest won't reveal the exact percentage of peroxide in this product, though it is certainly less than the 6% in Whitestrips Classic.

Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips (*Est. $30) also receive high marks from reviewers for their convenience. They don't whiten as vividly as Crest Whitestrips (testers only saw differences of a half a shade, on average), but reviewers like that the strips dissolve on their own -- you don't have to remove them. The manufacturer claims that Quick Dissolving Strips dissolve after five to ten minutes, but consumers say that it takes a bit longer and that a residue is usually left behind on the teeth.

If you would pay more for convenience, Go Smile Advanced Formula B1 (*Est. $90 for 10-day supply) may be a good option. This system consists of individual tubes of gel that each have a small brush attached. The gel is squeezed onto the brush and then scrubbed onto the teeth. It does not have to be removed. This product receives good marks wherever it is reviewed, including a Prevention.com survey, a CBS Morning Show interview with a dentist, a Real Simple review and a Good Housekeeping study. On Amazon.com, many reviewers give it the highest rating, although for some it does not work at all. Many testers see a difference immediately. The testers in the studies do not identify a specific shade reduction, but they are pleased with the whitening results. Go Smile contains 6% hydrogen peroxide.

When it comes to over-the-counter whitening products, experts and testers prefer teeth-whitening strips and paint-on whiteners to over-the-counter mouth-tray whiteners. Since the mouth trays are one-size-fits-all, they can be ill fitting. In a Good Housekeeping study, Aquafresh White Trays (*Est. $40) provide the best whitening of the four products tested. This system also does well in the Real Simple testing. The pre-filled trays are worn 45 minutes a day for one week. On average, teeth become two shades whiter. Some testers, however, find the trays to be messy or uncomfortable.

In reviews on Amazon.com and Drugstore.com, Aquafresh White Trays are often associated with pain and irritation. The reviews suggest that the product whitens well when the tray is a comfortable fit. In a Good Housekeeping study, two reviewers find another tray product, Plus+White 5 Minute Speed Whitening System (*Est. $12) , to be ineffective. In addition, the foam mouth tray is uncomfortable, even causing a sore throat in multiple testers. Rembrandt 2-Hour Whitening Kit (*Est. $20) , another gel with a mouth tray, is tested in a Good Housekeeping study. The tester's teeth brighten three shades in two hours. No comments are provided regarding the tray's comfort. However, reviewers at Amazon.com report very mixed results. Some users say it made their gums tingle and hurt but gave two shades of brightening, while others say there was no pain, but very little whitening.

Another novelty to hit the market is tooth-whitening gum. Trident White (*Est. $1.50) doesn't contain peroxide, but it does have a "patented technology" that supposedly breaks up surface stains. To see an effect, you need to chew two pieces for at least 20 minutes, four times a day -- not a problem if you are a habitual gum chewer. However, if you are simply seeking a way to whiten your teeth, you're better off picking a more convenient option. Testers at Good Housekeeping do claim to see one shade of improvement after chewing whitening gum for six weeks. However, this is a good place to point out that some studies have found a large placebo effect with tooth-whiteners, noting that, given a 'sham whitener', people claim to see an improvement. Plus, a product containing peroxide can produce a better result in one week.