Like all cosmetic procedures, teeth whitening is also not 100% safe. Many brands would market their brands by stating that it is enamel-safe or that they strengthen the teeth, but these are all false statements. While teeth whitening strips are considered safe, it is natural for many to wonder if the regular use of the white strips could damage teeth or cause permanent dental issues. Here, you will find easy answers to all questions about whitening strips.
The Rising Popularity of Teeth Whitening
A dental survey conducted found that 1 in 4 adults avoids smiling because of teeth coloring. In recent times, whiter teeth are associated with being well-groomed and attractive. In a world driven by social media likes and followers, one cannot afford to have teeth stains. As a result, there are more options and ways today to whiten teeth as compared to a decade ago.
Natural teeth eventually lose their color with age, but the staining that happens beforehand is mostly a result of lifestyle habits and bad oral hygiene. Stains are of two types –
- Intrinsic stains, which are mostly a result of genetics or disease, and
- Extrinsic stains, which are caused by citrus fruits, acidic foods, caffeine, red wine, sugar, alcohol consumption, and smoking.
While the latter is easier to remove.
When it comes to whitening teeth, there are two ways you could go –
- A professional dental procedure or
- An at-home whitening procedure.
Dental procedures are, by far, the best and most effective whitening procedures. Methods include peroxide washing, UV light boosting, and laser teeth whitening. The obvious advantage is the professional supervision under which the procedure takes place and the longer-lasting results.
The at-home procedures include a number of options – whitening gel, toothpaste, rinses, and teeth whitening strips. At-home whitening strips are the most prevalent, and it is the use of these that has sparked talk of possible risks and damage. To fully check risks, you have to first understand how they work.
Using Whitening Strips
Almost all teeth whitening strips work the same way. Depending on the brand you use, there may be a few differences in the duration for which you keep the strips on and a higher or lower concentration of the whitening ingredient. All white strips are coated with a whitening gel, which acts on the tooth enamel to lighten the stains there. Again, teeth whitening strips work only on extrinsic stains.
The most popular brands of whitening strips include the use of bleaching agents like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. You could also find a few brands that use natural ingredients like coconut oil or citric acid. The peroxide strips work best for whitening.
- It is vital that you read the instructions carefully before you begin the use of the strips.
- You may also want to consult your dentist to check for allergies or tooth sensitivity.
- Once you have read the instructions, brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush to remove any food particles, and then proceed to remove the plastic covering on the strips.
- Apply the strips and gel side down onto the surface of the teeth.
- Try to avoid contact between the strip and the sensitive gum tissue during application.
- Leave the strips on for the time suggested by the brand, and once done, remove the strips and rinse your mouth thoroughly.
It is the ease of application that makes the strips popular.
The strips work by keeping the whitening gel in place while the bleaching agents dissipate the stains on the tooth surface. The effect may take some time to become apparent, which is why continuous use is advised by the product brands that you use the strips every day for a minimum of two weeks.
Are Whitening Strips Bad for Your Teeth?
Provided that the instructions are adhered to, the American Dental Association considers the utilization of teeth whitening strips to be generally secure and safe to be used for a stipulated period of time. However, even then, there are some risks involved. The risk is, of course, low-key, but there are certain things about the strips so that you know what you are doing.
The strips work because the strips contain whitening gel. The gel is similar to what you could buy as whitening kits that include custom whitening trays that fit onto your teeth. The reason these kits aren’t very popular is that there is a chance the gel does not spread across the teeth evenly, leading to patchy whitening. The strips come prepared with gel on them so that you do not have to fiddle about with tubes and syringes. The content of these gels is the first factor that you have to take into account when it comes to the safety of whitening products.
The Ingredients Used
The ingredients used in the whitening strips are a more concerning factor than the use of the strips themselves. You would find three main ingredients in most white strips –
- Hydrogen peroxide or Carbamide peroxide. These are the primary bleaching agents that bleach the tooth of surface stains.
- Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) can prevent teeth stains from forming in the future should you consume staining foods
- Glycerin, which helps to keep the strip in place once you have applied it.
Other common ingredients include Sodium hydroxide and Hydroxypropyl cellulose.
These are components that are used mostly in the chemical peroxide whitening strips. Natural white strips would include ingredients like baking soda, citric acid, coconut oil, and aloe vera. However, the impact that the natural strips have on teeth whitening is not that impressive. The peroxide strips do a more thorough job.
Do Whitening strips damage enamel? The short answer is yes. The peroxide strips are more effective because they include chemical bleaching agents that eat into or break down the stain. In the process, there is also a chance that the strips damage enamel over time. The use of these strips would leave the tooth enamel porous, giving access to the dentin layer of the tooth. Of the three layers of the teeth – enamel, dentin, and connective tissue, damage to the dentin layer is serious and could lead to further staining of the teeth.
In addition to a whiter smile, strips that contain hydrogen peroxide could also increase tooth sensitivity. If you already have sensitive teeth, it is advised that you steer clear of bleaching agents and opt only for the natural alternatives. However, most of the peroxide strips also contain ingredients that rid the mouth of harmful germs, reducing the chances of decay and cavities.
Factors That Increase the Risk Factor
There is a recommended time after which you should peel the strips off. Leaving the strips on for longer does not mean that you would get a brighter smile, but it would increase the chance of the bleaching agents eroding away at the enamel. This would also increase teeth sensitivity after you take off the strips.
A standard cycle of strip use lasts for two to three weeks. Ensure that you do not extend the use of the strips for far longer than that. Each treatment is meant to last that long so that your teeth’ enamel can sufficiently recover. It is advised by dentists to abstain from using whitening strips for a minimum of one month following the last treatment.
The gum tissue mustn’t be in contact with the strips for too long. When applying the strips, carefully place the strips at the exact height so that the gums are not covered. Avoid talking too much while the strips are on to avoid having the strips move about. Gum irritation is a common side effect of not properly using the strips.
If you believe your teeth to be in poor condition, avoid the use of whitening strips. A visit to the dentist is your best bet, as teeth whitening strips could further present damage to the teeth. Open cavities could become extremely raw, and exposure to bleaching agents would do nothing for the toothaches apart from aggravating the damage.
After you peel off the strips, rinse your mouth thoroughly and ensure that you steer clear of staining foods like red wine, tea, and coffee, and avoid smoking. This would stop further discoloration of the teeth, help the teeth enamel recover, and also help your teeth whiten quickly. Practice good oral care while you use the strips.
Alternatives to Teeth Whitening Strips
If the talk of risks and possible damage has put you off whitening strips, there are alternatives that you could consider.
- The most obvious whitening procedure option is the one provided to you by your dentist. Dentists have their whitening kits that contain hydrogen peroxide and a pH balancing ingredient, which are slightly more powerful than the at-home strips, and they also use UV lights to enhance the result.
- Another option is using a laser to blast the stains off your tooth surface. Either procedure could take close to an hour, and the results are a lot better. The only downside is the cost.
Whitening procedures are considered to be ‘cosmetic’ procedures, so unless you have an all-inclusive dental medical insurance policy, this would be an out-of-pocket expense. The cost could range from $400 to $2000 depending on the stent staining and the patient’s health status.
If that does not sound too good, you also have a range of teeth whitening products that could be bought OTC –
- Whitening toothpastes
- Whitening mouthwashes, and
- Whitening and custom whitening trays.
The former two work and can be used just like your standard oral hygiene products, but that also means that whitening results are not as prominent. In fact, mouthwashes have the least efficacy when it comes to brightening your smiles. The whitening trays are effective, but they cost a pretty penny, and because the gels used in the trays vary in strength, a trip to your dentist becomes vital.
A Case for White Strips
To whiten your teeth safely and effectively, strips are the way to go. Yes, there are some risks involved, but the same is true for all whitening products and procedures. If you are looking for a teeth whitening strip brand that is trusted and can deliver on the promises it makes, you could consider Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening or Crest 3D Whitening strips, which come in as a close second.
Nubeam Supersmile is a vegan formula that works on stubborn stains, keeps tooth enamel safe, and is also safe for sensitive teeth. The formula is recommended by dentists. The procedure includes the application of the strips for 60 minutes, once a day for 14 days. You could also use an LED light, which can be bought from the company.
Crest Whitestrips work on the teeth’s surface to remove extrinsic stains. Also recommended by dentists, Crest furnishes an entire range of whitening products in addition to the white strips. Similar to Nubeam, the Crest strips must be applied to the teeth for 30 minutes once a day for 20 days.
Here is a quick look at both products so that you can make a more informed decision.
Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening Kit | Crest Whitestrips | |
---|---|---|
Kits Inclusions | 28 PAP Pro strips for 2 weeks of applications & an optional LED light | 40 Dental strips for 20 days of application |
LED Light Required | Optional | No |
Ingredients | Polyvinylpyrrolidone K30 (PVP K30), Glycerin, Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, Polyvinylpyrrolidone K90 (PVP K90), Aqua, Ethanol, Hydrogen Peroxide, and Menthol. | PVP, Water, PEG-8, Acrylates Copolymer, Hydrogen Peroxide, Sodium Hydroxide, and Sodium Saccharin. |
Reviews | Positive | Positive |
Cost | $49 for the 28-strip kit and $79 for the kit with the light. | $45 for the strips |
Refund Policy | 30-day return window | None |
Where to Buy? | Supersmile Teeth Whitening Strips can be directly purchased from the Official Nubeam Website, click now | Crest Whitestrips can be purchased from Amazon, GNC, Walmart, GNC, and other online vendors. |
Since most people look for something extra, the Nubeam formula includes the use of ethanol, which is an alcohol that rids the mouth of germs that could harm your teeth while whitening. This feature is missing in the Crest product. Also, you see results in 14 days with Nubeam, while Crest makes no such commitment. For these reasons, we would recommend Nubeam as a better option.
Summary
The teeth whitening strip is a relatively safe and effective, not to mention – affordable, option to whiten your teeth. One cannot deny that there are a few risks involved, but as long as you follow the instructions, do not exceed the time of use, and allow for your teeth to recover from each bleaching session, your pearly whites are pretty safe. Of course, the results of the procedure do not rival those offered by dental medicine, but they are a close second.
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