Home Teeth Whitening Kits

Over-the-counter teeth-whitening kits

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

Four Crest Whitestrips products -- Premium, Pro Effects, Classic and Daily Multicare -- receive favorable reviews. Whitestrips are included in studies by ConsumerReports.org, Good Housekeeping, The Wall Street Journal and Prevention magazine. They're also evaluated in trials presented at the 2007 International Association for Dental Research meeting. Crest Whitestrips are also the best-reviewed whitening products at TeethWhiteningReviews.com, 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) contain 10 percent 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 Whitestrips Classic (*Est. $20), which contain 6 percent peroxide. Good Housekeeping refers to Crest Whitestrips Premium as a favorite of the Good Housekeeping Research Institute. 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.

Also containing 10 percent peroxide gel, Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects (*Est. $35) should be worn twice a day for 30 minutes over 10 days (compared to seven days for Whitestrips Premium). This product is the rebranded Crest Whitestrips Premium Plus, which was discontinued in August 2008. Pro Effects is among the top-reviewed whiteners on Drugstore.com and Amazon.com.

A gentler (albeit slower) alternative to Premium and Pro Effects is Crest Whitestrips Classic (*Est. $20). These strips contain just 6 percent peroxide gel and are worn twice daily for 30 minutes over a two-week period. Experts find them to be convenient and effective, with average whitening of about three shades. Those 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, finding that they produce only a half-shade improvement. They're also displeased by the associated drooling, saying that the Classic Whitestrips cause "something of a flood."

Crest Whitestrips Supreme (*Est. $50) are available exclusively through dentists' offices. This is Crest's strongest whitening solution. It contains 14 percent peroxide gel and requires three weeks of wear. 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 magazine reports that the pain was so intense that she could only tolerate the 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 Good Housekeeping testers, another Crest Whitestrips product, Crest Whitestrips Daily Multicare (*Est. $35), is worn just five minutes a day. These come in a box containing 42 pouches, each of which contains two Whitestrips. On average, the Daily Multicare strips lighten almost a shade, but experts say they're safe enough to use daily 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 users with super-sensitive teeth that can't tolerate other whiteners. Oddly, Crest won't reveal the exact percentage of peroxide in this product, though it's certainly less than the 6 percent found 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 see 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. Listerine claims that its whitening strips dissolve after five to 10 minutes, but consumers report that it takes a bit longer than manufacturer's stated time and that residue is usually left behind on the teeth.

If you're willing to pay more for the sake of convenience, the Go Smile Advanced Formula B1 (*Est. $90) system consists of individual tubes of gel with attached brushes. The gel is squeezed onto the brush and then scrubbed onto the teeth; it doesn't have to be removed. Go Smile receives good marks wherever it's reviewed, including a Prevention magazine survey and an interview with a dentist who praises Go Smile's ability to "get into every nook and cranny" on CBS' "The Early Show." Real Simple and Good Housekeeping also give Go Smile Advanced favorable reviews. The testers in these studies do not identify a specific shade reduction, but are pleased with the whitening results nonetheless. Go Smile contains 6 percent peroxide.

In a Good Housekeeping study, Aquafresh White Trays (*Est. $40) whiten the best out of the four products tested. ConsumerReports.org, Real Simple and TotalBeauty.com also evaluate the Aquafresh whitener. The pre-filled whitening trays are worn 45 minutes a day for one week. On average, reviews say that teeth become two shades whiter. Some testers, however, find the trays ill-fitting and therefore messy or uncomfortable. This is backed up by user reviews posted on Amazon.com, Drugstore.com and TeethWhiteningReviews.com, where Aquafresh White Trays are often associated with pain and irritation. Some even mention that the whitening gel ran down their throats. When the tray is actually a comfortable fit for the user, however, reviews suggest that the product whitens effectively.

In a Good Housekeeping study, two reviewers find another tray product, the Plus+White 5 Minute Speed Whitening System (*Est. $12), to be ineffective. In addition, the Plus+White foam mouth tray is uncomfortable; it also causes sore throats for multiple testers. The Rembrandt 2-Hour Whitening Kit (*Est. $20), another gel with a mouth tray, is tested by Good Housekeeping, which finds that the tester's teeth brighten three shades in two hours. No comments are provided regarding the tray's comfort, but owners posting previews 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 the Rembrandt 2-Hour Whitening Kit is painless, but mostly ineffective.

Another novelty to hit the market is tooth-whitening gum. Trident White (*Est. $1.50) doesn't contain peroxide, but it does employ a so-called "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. (This means you'll wind up buying five packs a week.) However, if you're just seeking a way to whiten your teeth, you're better off picking a more convenient option. Testers at Good Housekeeping 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 still claim to see an improvement. Plus, a product containing peroxide can produce a better result in one week.