Crest Whitening Strips - Frequently Asked Question

Crest Whitestrips - How It All Began - History & Products

Product Development

Then in 2007 P&G developed their new ‘Advanced Seal’ technology, and subsequently launched it as a stand alone product. The benefits of this new ‘non slip’ technology dramatically improved the range. The new technology was made out of 4 individual micro layers and because of this they were stronger, more durable and stayed in place perfectly. Therefore very little ‘whitening ingredient’ could seep out and you could actually talk and drink water whilst wearing them.

So it was only a matter of time before this new, ‘strip’ found its way into a revamped range. However with the launch of the new 3D Whitestrips range what P&G have done is simply remarkable. They have a produced a high quality suite of teeth whitening products to suit everybody’s requirements, no matter what the shade or condition of your teeth. Effectively they have integrated both types of whitening strips into one range, with only the shorter ‘wear’ treatments using the old technology, creating fewer problems. This means that any problems of ‘slippage’ with the old strips has been eradicated.

Crest 3D Whitestrips - The New Range

Clearly P&G had also listened to their customers. The levels of hydrogen peroxide used (10-14% in their intense whitening products) are dental strength and did lead to some complaints of sensitivity. Whilst sensitivity is a normal part of teeth whitening they were not satisfying all their clients needs.

With that in mind and as part of the new Crest 3D Whitestrips range they have launched Crest 3D Whitestrips Gentle Routine, a short 5 minute per day treatment with a minimal level of hp. Gentle Routine is based on the old technology however with minimal tooth contact time and lower hp level, this ‘strip’ allows many clients the opportunity to whiten like everyone else without the risk of sensitivity.

Some of the questions we often get asked at CrestWhiteStrips.Co.Uk is what do you do after you have whitened? Can you whiten again? When can you whiten and which product is then the right one to use?

The great news is that incorporated into the new range is Crest 3D Whitestrips Stain Shield. Like Gentle Routine this is a short 5 minute, once or twice a day wear time with a medium strength hp level. That may not seem much, however you get 28 days, so basically a months worth of daily whitening. Now no matter what you consume during the day, whether it be smoking, red wine, caffeine, curries or other foodstuffs you can come home and remove the tooth stain. This provides an ongoing monthly or bi monthly whitening treatment that is easy to use, affordable and will leave you with permanently whiter teeth.

At the top end of the range are the products that are made from the new ‘advanced seal’ technology. These are Crest 3D Professional Effects and Crest 3D Advanced Vivid. These are both 10% hp and the difference between them is that the former is a 20 day whitening treatment, Advanced Vivid is 14 days. These products are aimed at people who have discoloured teeth, varying from mild yellow, yellow, brown to even red brown tooth stain. They are brilliant, they do not slip, they do not come off, you can drink water, talk and even shower whilst wearing them. As they are the same strength early shade improvements tend to happen after 3 – 5 days with full results in either 14 or 20.

P&G have also kept faith with the original Classic Whitestrips which they have re branded as Crest 3D Whitestrips Vivid. This product fills the gap between Advanced Vivid and Gentle Routine. At 6.5% strength it is a perfect whitening product for people with dull or off white teeth. It is a 10 day whitening treatment based on the old technology. It is very affordable, the results are excellent and don’t be put off by the old technology, they work just like the rest and if your teeth are not that discoloured they provide a really good tooth whitening solution.

Below is our 'Product Selector Guide'.  Just decide what shade of teeth you have and the level of whitness your require and make your selection by clicking any of the product links

• Crest Whitestrips Professional Effects For those with yellow teeth and some brown stains. New non slip technology. Maximum 20 day treatment with whiter teeth seen in 3-5 days. Wear time is 30 minutes.   Comments – Great Whitening and highly recommended.

• Crest Whitestrips Advanced Vivid For those with yellow or mild yellow tooth stain. Benefit from new non slip technology. Whiter teeth visible from 5 days full results in 14. Wear time is 30 minutes.   Comments – Best Value

• Crest Whitestrips Vivid Ideal for mild yellow or off white teeth. Maximum 10 day treatment these strips should be worn for 30 minutes at a time. Comments – Very Affordable

• Crest Whitestrips Gentle Routine For those with ’sensitive’ teeth. Lower whitening strength with a shorter wear time of 5 minutes to reduce sensitivity. 28 treatments that can be worn once or twice per day. Comments – Brilliant for those with sensitive teeth

• Crest Whitestrips Stain Shield For those that have already whitened. 28 days of 5 minute treatments that will keep your teeth white and prevent stain build up again. Comments – Should become your daily whitening forever

Two addendum’s to the range that you need to be aware of;
The original Advanced Seal product (which is now Advanced Vivid) is still available in the market, this will continue until stocks are exhausted. You may find it slightly cheaper than Advanced Vivid, as the manufacturers use up old packaging.

Crest Whitestrips Supreme. This has been the market leading Crest Whitestrips product since the original launch 10 years ago. Based on the old technology at 14% strength it is the strongest strip available and is a 21 day treatment. In America it is only available through dentists and is the correct product to use for those who need to remove heavy tooth stain, or who have dull white or grey teeth (hardest stains to remove).

Crest Whitestrips - Frequently Asked Questions

Crest Whitestrips

Q. How do Crest Whitestrips work?
A.Crest Whitestrips are thin, flexible strips that are coated with a tooth whitening gel containing peroxide and are designed to conform to the shape of your teeth. They work by keeping the whitening gel on your teeth long enough to get at stain build-up below tooth enamel to visibly whiten your teeth. Crest makes 30-minute twice a day strips as well as 5-minute once a day strips for more convenient whitening

Q. How do I use Whitestrips?
A It is best if you do not brush your teeth immediately before applying strips. Open the pouch and remove the strip. Peel the strips from the backing liner and align with gum line. Press gently for good contact. Fold the rest of strip behind teeth to keep in place. Wear strips for required amount of time, then remove and discard.

Q. Is it okay to use Whitestrips back to back?
A Yes. With all the Whitestrips products except Supreme you can use one strip right after the other (back-to-back). Wear strips for the time instructed, then remove; rinse or wipe if needed, then apply a second strip. Remember if you do get any tooth sensitivity cease use and consult your dentist. Once you have used your initial Crest 3D Whitestrips it is recommended that you use Crest 3D Stain Shield the ongoing 5 minute a day treatment.
  

Q. What happens if I skip an application?
A. You can skip or miss a couple of applications without affecting your whitening benefit.

Q. Can I switch strips (wear upper strip on bottom teeth and vice versa)?
A. We do not recommend switching strips. Although the strips would still work if switched, each upper strip is designed specifically to cover the area of your upper teeth while each lower strip is designed specifically to cover the area of your lower teeth. These shapes were designed to keep the strips in place while covering those teeth that show when you smile. Wearing a lower strip on your upper teeth will result in you covering less area on your upper smile teeth.

Q. Can I reuse a strip?
A Using a strip over again will not provide any tooth whitening benefits. Even though there may be some gel remaining on the strip when you take it off, most of the peroxide is gone.

Q. I dropped a strip in the sink after pulling from the backing. Can I still use it?
A.It's not recommended. Start over with a new strip.

Q. Is it okay to use Crest Whitestrips on my back teeth?
A. It is not recommended. The strips provided for your upper and lower teeth are designed to fit the front teeth only. Using the strips on the back teeth may result in the strips coming loose and eventually falling off during the wear period.

Q. What happens if after using Whitestrips, I have white spots on my teeth?
A. The white spots are temporary. These spots are not harmful and will go away. The white spots are caused by a loss of water from the tooth enamel. This water loss is not harmful and will go away within a few hours.

Q. What if I experience excessive foaming or saliva while using Whitestrips?
A. You're experiencing a natural reaction between your saliva and the hydrogen peroxide on our Whitestrips. Saliva increases whenever you place an object of any kind in your mouth. Together they make a foam.

Q. What do I do if the strips keep coming off?
A. Try using a mirror to properly apply the strips, making sure the strip is in good contact with the teeth. If the strips begin to slip, close your mouth and create suction to tighten the strips up again. Don't touch the strips excessively with your tongue. You can try gently tucking the strip in the spaces between your teeth with your fingernail, then folding it behind your teeth. You can also try new Crest Advanced Seal- specially designed to strongly adhere to your teeth better with a new revolutionary formula.

Q. How do I remove gel left on my teeth after using strips?
A. Since the left over gel isn't harmful, you can do any of the following:
    •    Rinse your mouth with water
    •    Wipe the gel off your teeth
    •    Brush it off
    •    Leave it, as it will dissolve eventually

Q. Will my teeth be more susceptible to stains after using Whitestrips?
A. No. Whitestrips will not cause your teeth to stain faster.

Q. Can I eat while wearing Whitestrips?
A. Eating while wearing a strip is not recommended. Doing so will affect whitening results.

Q. Can I drink water while wearing Whitestrips?
    A.    It is okay to drink water while wearing the high adhesion Crest Whitestrips Advance Seal whitening strips. Drinking while wearing our other strips is not recommended. Doing so will affect results.

Q. Can I wear Whitestrips overnight while I sleep?
A. No, do not wear Whitestrips overnight or while sleeping.

Q. Can I brush my teeth immediately before using Whitestrips?
A. Do NOT brush immediately BEFORE applying strips. To avoid gum irritation, allow for some time to pass after you have brushed your teeth to apply strips.

Q. Can I brush my teeth immediately after using Whitestrips?
A. Yes, after using Whitestrips, you can brush gently.

Q. Can I use Whitestrips after a professional cleaning from a dentist or hygienist?
A. You may want to wait a few days after a cleaning before using Crest Whitestrips, otherwise, you may experience increased tooth sensitivity. We recommend you discuss this with your dentist.

Q. Can I use a whitening toothpaste while using Whitestrips?
A. Yes. We recommend using Crest Vivid White while you're whitening your teeth. To help maintain whiter teeth after using Crest Whitestrips, we recommend using a Crest Whitening Toothpaste to gently polish away surface stains daily.

Q. Can I use mouthwash after using Whitestrips?
A. It's OK to rinse with an over the counter mouthwash after using Crest Whitestrips. We recommend using Crest Whitening Rinse to help maintain your whiter teeth.

Q. My Crest Whitestrips is expired. Can I still use it?
A. We do not recommend using Crest Whitestrips that have passed the best used by date, they won't work as well for you.

Q. Will Whitestrips work past their expiration date?
A. Although Crest Whitestrips that has passed its expiration date is still safe, we don't recommend using it past its expiration date, as the whitening ingredient's efficacy will be weakened.

Q. What if I don't see results after using the Whitestrips?
    A.    If your teeth are significantly discolored, you may need to use 2 boxes of Crest Whitestrips initially to get the desired result. We recommend using a Crest whitening toothpaste to gently polish away surface stains daily.

Q. Can I floss my teeth while wearing Whitestrips?
A. No, the strips conform to the surfaces of your teeth, so flossing would pull the strip out of place.

Q. Can I smoke while using Whitestrips?
A. No, do not smoke while while wearing a strip. Doing so could cause the strips to dislodge from the teeth, thus affecting the whitening results.

Q. Will Whitestrips remove smoking stains?
A. Yes, however, smoking stains can be difficult to remove and may take a little longer. If you continue to smoke, your teeth may discolor faster.

Q. Can I use Whitestrips while I am outside in the sun?
A. Yes, however do not store the strips in the sun or heat.

Q. Can I use Whitestrips to bleach facial hair, age spots, fingernails, etc.?
A. Crest Whitestrips is only intended to whiten natural teeth.

Q. Can Whitestrips be used by children?
A. We have not conducted research with children under 12. No Crest Whitestrips product is intended for use in children under the age of 12.
NOTE: Crest Whitestrips Supreme (which is available only from dental professionals) should NOT be used in persons under age 18.

Q. Can I cut the Whitestrips into smaller pieces to fit them into different spots in my mouth?
A. No. If cut into smaller pieces, the strips could dislodge from the teeth and have the potential to become aspirated.

Q. Can I add additional peroxide to the strip before applying it to my teeth?
A. It is not recommended. No data is available on the safety of effectiveness of adding additional peroxide to a Crest Whitestrips. Also, adding anything to the strip will affect its ability to stick to the tooth surface, thus affecting whitening results.

Q. Do you have a teeth whitening chart so I can see my progress?
A. We don't offer a tooth color comparison chart. However, after a few days, many people who use Crest Whitestrips can already see a brighter difference in their smile. Friends or family may also begin to comment on the change! You can also see the result by looking at your back teeth.

Q. What should I do if I have skin irritation from getting gel on my skin?
    A.    Prolonged contact with your skin may cause small, white spots on your skin. These white spots are not harmful and will disappear. Be sure to rinse off any gel that gets on your skin.