Teeth Whitening Strips
Currently among the most popular of the home-based whitening procedures, teeth whitening strips are convenient and relatively inexpensive, especially when you compare their cost to the cost of whitening performed by a dental professional.
The strips are thin, flexible pieces of plastic coated on one side with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide. This layer of hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent and is the active ingredient that causes the whitening. In short, the teeth are whitened wherever they come into contact with this bleaching agent.
Bleaching strips typically come in pairs, with one set designed for use on the upper teeth and the other on the lower teeth. These strips are placed on the teeth for a minimum of 30 minutes twice each day. These twice-daily treatments usually go on for about 14 days. At the end of this period, your teeth will be noticeably whiter and brighter.
As mentioned above, the strips are fairly inexpensive, costing about $15 for a two-week treatment. They’re also convenient in more than one way. First, strips are easy to purchase as you will be able to choose from several brands at your local pharmacy or grocery store. Second, using strips is simple and can be done in the comfort of your home. You don’t need any dental appointments to use the strips, but you’ll achieve noticeably brighter teeth.
In addition, strips don’t use any messy liquid ingredients like some other home teeth whitening kits. Their invisibility is another benefit. Strips can be worn whenever you like. They also don’t irritate the jaw or stimulate gagging, a side effect sometimes seen among people who use mouth guards or tray-based teeth whitening systems.
All things considered, teeth whitening strips are easy to obtain and use. They also work. By following the typical regimen (usually 14 days), teeth whitening strips will give you a whiter, brighter smile.
Like all other types of over-the-counter and professionally applied teeth whitening products, teeth whitening strips work by chemically bleaching the teeth. All teeth whitening procedures, including whitening strips, can cause tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. However, this side effect is minor with teeth whitening strips, and in most cases it only occurs when and where the strips actually touch the gums. These issues are more significant with whitening gels and certain other over-the-counter and professional whitening products.
Although their side effects are minimal, whitening strips are also slightly less effective than other methods. Strips are only able to whiten areas they actually touch, while liquids and gels can reach more areas. Being flat, strips do not completely cover and touch the curved areas near the sides of your teeth. This means only the fronts of your teeth might be whitened, with the sides remaining their original color. If your teeth have any cracks or surface irregularities that prevent parts of your teeth from being touched by the strips, those areas will not be whitened either. In addition, most whitening strips are designed to be used only on the front teeth, leaving the rear teeth untouched.
Another disadvantage of teeth whitening strips is the fact that the whitening effect achieved with strips usually does not last as long as that achieved with gel products. Typically, your teeth will remain noticeably brighter for between six and twelve months after using the strips. Other whitening techniques may provide a longer-lasting effect. However, whitening strips do their job at a much lower cost, and the process can be repeated as needed.
People seek whiter, brighter teeth for professional as well as social reasons. Society places great importance on appearance, and your teeth and smile are an important part of the impression you make. Fortunately, teeth whitening strips allow you to brighten your smile in a way that’s not only effective, but also inexpensive and convenient.
