Home Teeth Whitening Kits

Crest Whitestrips revamps its line

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, and it's always best to consult your dentist before you begin using one.)

Crest Whitestrips products receive favorable reviews from several sources including ConsumerReports.org, InStyle, Real Simple, Good Housekeeping and Prevention magazine. They're also evaluated in trials presented at various International Association for Dental Research (IADR) meetings. 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.

The Whitestrips lineup of home teeth whiteners was recently rebranded Crest 3D White, and all of their whitening products have new names. The new lineup is designed to coordinate various toothpastes, mouth washes, toothbrushes and whitening strips for maintenance and upkeep of whitening effects. Many of the Whitestrips contain higher dosages of whitening ingredients than previous versions.

Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid (*Est. $40), formerly called Advanced Seal, contain 9.5 percent peroxide gel. Crest says the new Whitestrips have extra polymers  to create a more secure attachment to teeth (previous versions were known to slip off teeth and cause drooling). They should be worn once a day for 30 minutes each time, for 14 days. On average, they lighten about three shades. In a clinical study presented by the IADR, Advanced Vivid Whitestrips were shown to lighten teeth as well as professional light-assisted whitening. More than 300 users combined at Amazon.com and Drugstore.com give Advanced Vivid a good overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Most are pleased with the results, which they say are noticeable after two to three days. Users also say that they are easy to use and have such a good grip that they can be a bit difficult to remove. Some also complain of sensitivity issues, but the discomfort typically goes away once they stop using them. Crest also recommends Advanced Vivid as a replacement for Crest Whitestrips Premium, a popular product that has been discontinued. The Premium Whitestrips, however, did not have Advanced Seal and were designed to be used twice per day for seven days.

Another popular teeth whitening choice among reviewers is Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects (*Est. $45), formerly Pro Effects. These teeth-whitening strips contain 10 percent peroxide gel and should be worn twice a day for 30 minutes for 10 days. They are recommended by InStyle magazine because of their high concentration of hydrogen peroxide and the same extra polymers which keep the strips in place long enough to make a noticeable difference. The Whitestrips are also among the top-reviewed teeth whiteners at Amazon.com, where hundreds of users give them an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars. Users say that the Whitestrips produce noticeable results in a matter of days but they can cause sensitivity.  Several recommend using a toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth (for recommendations see the ConsumerSearch report on toothpaste) or stopping treatment for a day or two.

An affordable alternative to Advanced Vivid and Professional Effects teeth whitening products is Crest 3D White Whitestrips Vivid (*Est. $30), formerly Crest Whitestrips Classic. These strips contain 10 percent peroxide gel as well, but are worn only once daily for 30 minutes over a 10-day period. Reviewers at Amazon.com say that they do provide noticeable results but can result in some sensitivity. Most say that it subsides, when they stop using the teeth whitening strips. However, in The Wall Street Journal study, testers are less enthusiastic about Crest Whitestrips Classic. They're especially displeased by the associated drooling, saying that the Whitestrips cause "something of a flood." Users at Amazon.com agree, adding that the whitening strips don't stay in place very well. Note that this Whitestrips product doesn't have the extra polymers included with the Professional Effects version.

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 say the strips cause more tooth and mouth sensitivity than other Crest Whitestrips products. One reviewer at TeethWhiteningReviews.com reports that she had to take ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Still, she says that it is worth it for the significant difference in the shade of her teeth.

Another Crest Whitestrips product, Crest 3D White Whitestrips Stain Shield (*Est. $40), formerly Daily Multicare, is worn just five minutes a day for six weeks. These come in a box containing 42 pouches, each of which contains two Whitestrips. They contain 10 percent peroxide gel, and they're meant for maintaining results in between professional treatments.

In 2010, Crest also introduced two new Whitestrips: Crest 3D White Whitestrips Gentle Routine (*Est. $35) and Crest 3D White Whitestrips 2 Hour Express (*Est. $50). The former is designed for those with sensitive teeth and contains a lower level of peroxide – 6 percent. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Gentle Routine is worn for five minutes each day for 28 days. Results are not as dramatic, but sensitivity is greatly reduced. Crest 3D White Whitestrips 2 Hour Express are supposed to produce noticeable results after one two-hour treatment. Crest recommends using Express Whitestrips once every three months. Each package contains enough whitening strips for one year of treatments. Peroxide content for this product is not available, and we did not find many reviews for these two teeth whiteners.

Teeth whitening gels, trays and strips

Listerine Whitening Quick Dissolving Strips (*Est. $15) also receive high marks from reviewers for their convenience. They don't whiten as vividly as Crest Whitestrips (testers see only 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 says 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. Users post fewer complaints about sensitivity with Listerine Whitening Strips than other teeth whitening methods.

If you're willing to pay more for the sake of convenience, the Go Smile Whitening System (*Est. $85) consists of individual tubes of teeth whitening 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 InStyle magazine, where it earns a Best of Beauty award for its tasty mint and fruit flavors and fast dissolving formula. Real Simple magazine says that this teeth whitening gel is good option for those with sensitive teeth. Editors also point out that, unlike other whitening formulas, Go Smile is safe to use on crowns, veneers and other dental work. The original Go Smile Advanced Formula B1 (*Est. $40) is still available and also does well in reviews. The original system works over a course of 10 days (instead of seven) and contains a lower level of whitening ingredients.

In an informal test at TotalBeauty.com, Aquafresh White Trays (*Est. $30) whiten an average of one shade over the course of treatment. The pre-filled whitening trays are worn 45 minutes a day for one week. Testers say that results are noticeable after three days but some 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 users say Aquafresh White Trays are associated with pain and irritation. Some even say the teeth 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.

Teeth whitening chewing gum

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.) Experts say if you're just seeking a way to whiten your teeth, you're better off picking a more convenient option. Testers at Good Housekeeping say they 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 say they see an improvement. Plus, a product containing peroxide can produce a better result in one week.