The American Dental Association is the leading authority on dentistry and oral hygiene. It is this forum that guides the many oral hygiene brands in the right direction when it comes to dental care, prevention of tooth and gum diseases, and general oral well-being. The ADA awards the ‘Seal of Approval’ to brands that go above and beyond. Two brands have earned the seal – Colgate and Crest. However, there is much confusion about which is the better brand for general dental care and for whitening. Also, teeth whitening is all the rage, and yes, both brands feature products for the same.
Which works better, and how do Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening Strips work into all this? Let’s find out.
A Brief Note on the Brands: Colgate & Crest
To say that both brands are giants is more of an understatement. Colgate and Crest products can be found the world over, and they both have a wide range of products to suit every dental need you could come up with. The start, though, was humble enough.
Colgate began in the late 1800s as a company that dealt primarily with starch, soap, and candles. With the turn of the century, the company also ventured into Palmolive soaps (a runaway hit) and introduced the collapsible tube for toothpaste. After a few economic setbacks, the now Colgate-Palmolive brand acquired new import licenses for European goods, expanded its product range, and also acquired several small manufacturers. The launch of dental health supremacy came when Colgate developed a gingivitis-fighting antimicrobial agent called triclosan, which was launched under the name Colgate Total. Being the only toothpaste approved by the FDA at the time – 1997, Colgate Total became a household name all over the globe. The launch of Colgate Total also made the brand a leading name in dental hygiene. Colgate now has quite an impressive range of oral care products – brushes, toothpastes, mouthwashes, a special range for kids, and a range of teeth whitening products.
The Colgate teeth whitening range includes 4 whitening toothpastes, 2 whitening pens, a mouthwash, and an LED teeth whitening kit. The range is called Colgate Optic White®. Now, while the fact that Colgate is a household staple, most people tend to treat the whitening range as a run-of-the-mill product rather than an actual tooth-whitening procedure. Because of this, many overlook the brand when looking for brightening options. Another problem is that most Colgate products include the use of triclosan, which is believed to be a carcinogenic agent and may be the cause of canker sores in some. The ingredients are now no longer in use. Others claim that fluoride doses are too high. Some of the whitening toothpastes are safe for children but should be used only under adult supervision to ensure that the paste is not swallowed. In contrast, others are recommended only for adults, causing confusion. While the toothpastes include a minty flavor for fresh breath and can help with fighting cavities, the Optic White® has a lukewarm to positive response from the public in terms of teeth whitening. The whitening pens are mostly ignored because of the design and the fact that many believe that the product looks too much like Tippex. It is a choice that customers have but one that is not picked as often.
Crest is the result of a research program conducted by Procter & Gamble and the University of Indianna in the 1940s. At the time, deteriorating gum health and cavities were the leading dental issues in the Americas. Crest with Fluoristan was launched in 1956 and, by 1962, was the leading toothpaste brand in the US. Unlike Colgate, Crest is a brand under the Procter & Gamble banner, which is a manufacturing superstar. Once Crest received the ADA Seal of Acceptance for the Crest Pro-Health Toothpaste – a formula that could fight against six dental issues at once, the brand became a leader in oral hygiene. Similar to Colgate, Crest offers a large range of oral care products like toothpastes, mouthwashes, and a range of products dedicated to whitening, gum health, and sensitivity.
Possibly because of the importance of whiter and brighter teeth nowadays, Crest has launched quite a large range of products, 25 in total. The collection includes 10 kinds of toothpaste – some with tea tree oil and charcoal, 4 types of mouthwash, 3 emulsions or whitening gels, and then a few whitening strips. If anything, the range is too busy, which is also the biggest flaw of the Crest range. With so much choice, most people are left confused and, therefore, ignore the range in its entirety. With so much happening all at once, it is difficult for the everyday Johns and Janes to pick up the right product. Of course, each product is explained and has a dedicated webpage, but no one has the time or patience to read through it all and finally arrive at the perfect whitening agent. Customer reviews of the Crest range, especially for the emulsions, are rather disappointing. The emulsions are pricey, have little to no research to back its claimed efficacy, and consumers complain that the results don’t last. The Crest toothpaste and mouthwash range haven’t had much of an impact. The strips, on the other hand, have had some success. These affordable products are, so far, their biggest sellers in the whitening range.
Let’s Compare – Similarities & Differences
Dentists and consumers have the final say when it comes to dental hygiene products. Since both Colgate & Crest have carved out niches for themselves in the market, it is safe to assume that they are doing something right. When it comes to teeth whitening products, it is safe to state that mouthwashes from brands have bombed. The efficacy of these products is next to nil, and while users claim the rinses can help with bad breath, they do not do much for a brighter smile.
Since we are comparing only the whitening products, we could compare the most popular products for each brand and compare their counterparts. Since the comparison could get a little confusing, here is a table to make it easier. The best whitening toothpaste was found to be – Colgate® Optic White® Pro Series Toothpaste. At the same time, Crest has the Crest 3D White Whitestrips and the closest counterpart is the Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen.
Brand | Colgate | Crest | Colgate | Crest |
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Product Name | Colgate Optic White Pro Series Toothpaste | Crest 3D White Brilliance Charcoal Toothpaste | Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen | Crest 3DWhitestrips Professional Effects Teeth Whitening Strips |
Description | Contains 5% hydrogen peroxide that claims to eradicate 15-year-old stains & prevent the formation of new stains | Uses a combination of charcoal to remove stains from teeth & fluoride to fight cavities | Dispenses a hydrogen peroxide formula directly onto the teeth that whitens the teeth overnight | Uses hydrogen peroxide gel on strips, which can be applied to the teeth for exceptional whitening teeth |
Pros |
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Cons |
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Dentists’ Approval | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Application | Brush twice a day every day with a pea-size amount for optimum results | Brush twice a day every day with a pea-size amount for optimum results | An even layer to be applied right before you go to bed | Strips to be peeled & applied for 30 minutes a day for 20 days |
Reviews | Positive | Mixed | Negative to Mixed | Positive |
Cost | $8.99 | $13.92 | $19.97 | $45 |
Let’s talk about the toothpastes for a bit. Both Colgate and Crest options are designed to deep clean the teeth while offering whitening benefits. The truth of the matter is that no one brushes for more than 15 minutes at one go, and twice a day is the norm. A whitening toothpaste cleans and freshens your breath and whitens your teeth. However, expecting instant results from a few brushes is unreasonable. Even the best toothpaste can only deliver so much in 15 to 20 minutes. The reviews for whitening toothpastes all claim that there are whitening results, but the level of brightening is nothing to write home about. They are good toothpastes, but as far as whitening is concerned, they disappoint.
The Colgate pen doesn’t do much for the mouth either, and there were barely any results that could be noticed. This is probably because the gel that is applied to the teeth is washed away before it can do much. While some found the pen to be effective, most users did not find it beneficial at all. Comparatively, the Crest strips work a lot better. There are a few problems with the Crest product, too.
- There are so many types of strips that a new user would have a tough time choosing one that fits them. Unless you speak to a specialist, it would be difficult to make a decision.
- Another problem is the price, which a few customers find pricey. While the strips are the most effective at-home whitening procedures, there are several brands of strips. While Crest has strips, they aren’t the ones we would recommend.
- A problem with all these products is that they make no concession for sensitive teeth.
In fact, let us introduce you to Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening Strips.
The Recommended Brand – Nubeam Supersmile
Unlike Colgate and Crest, Nubeam is not a dental hygiene brand; instead, it is a stand-alone manufacturer that invests and deals solely in teeth whitening strips. There is no marketing propaganda or major advertising, only a stellar product. This dentist-recommended brand of strips is designed to easily remove the stains from the teeth’s surface without fuss, tooth sensitivity, or enamel damage. The product has gone through several independent clinical trials and has been proven to help with old stains and also discourage the formation of new stains.
Customer reviews for the product have been positive, with many claiming to see a visible difference after the very first application. It must be mentioned, though, that the Nubeam system has not been approved by the FDA, and it would be best if you spoke to your personal dentist before you begin use. Also, the strips help whiten natural teeth only and do not work on crowns or veneers. For the bleaching of those, you should visit your dental surgeon.
The Nubeam whitening system includes:
- Whitening Strips and
- An LED light booster.
The use of the latter is recommended but not a necessity. The kit also includes a shade card so that you can track the brightening of your pearly whites. The application is straightforward enough; peel back the paper on the strips and place them on the top and bottom teeth. Leave them there for 60 minutes. After taking off the strips, you have the option to use the LED light for 5 minutes to enhance whitening, but it is not mandatory. Rinse thoroughly after use. It would be best if you brush your teeth and have a good floss before you start the process. This is to rid the mouth of any food particles. Continue use for 14 days for best results.
Unlike Colgate and Crest, which have products for all aspects of dental care and hygiene, Nubeam is dedicated only to the brightening of your smile. There are no other products or systems that the brand has to market. This means that all efforts of the brand have been diverted into the research, development, and perfection of the whitening strips alone. Because there is only one product here, Nubeam offers no confusion whatsoever. Another factor that makes Nubeam the better white strip is the formula. Most strips only add bleaching agents and adhesives and are done with it. Nubeam also includes ethanol. Ethanol is an alcohol that rids the tooth surface of harmful germs that cause gum damage and cavities. It prevents further staining, bad breath, and decay from settling in.
Peel, apply, and reveal your stunning smile – grab your discounted Nubeam Whitening Strips today!
Why Choose Nubeam?
If you take a look at the reviews online for the Nubeam whitening kit, you will only come across positive responses. These responses are from various forums and have been tested by various individuals, so there is little chance of the brand influencing the reviews, and it is also recommended by dentists.
While big brands like Colgate and Crest have entire marketing teams dedicated to pushing products, Nubeam relies only on the efficacy of its product, which is the best marketing strategy. With just one product to advertise, Nubeam has pooled all its efforts into perfecting the formula on the strips, which makes the whitening so much more efficient.
A professional teeth whitening procedure could cost anywhere from $300 to $1000, and, in more cases than not, the procedure is not covered by insurance as it is deemed as ‘cosmetic’. Not everyone can afford those prices. With Nubeam, you get professional-grade brightening at a fraction of the cost ($49 for the strips alone and $79 for the strips plus the LED light).
Tooth sensitivity is another issue with most whitening products. Nubeam includes Hydroxyethyl Cellulose, which forms a protective layer on the tooth’s surface. The cellulose stops the enamel from eroding. This also means that Nubeam can be used by those who suffer from sensitive teeth.
On the whole, if you are looking for an efficient and cost-effective at-home whitening procedure, Nubeam is the way to go.
Nubeam Glow, Effortless Whitening, Endless Confidence, click to order now from the Official Website!
Summary
Despite the abundance of Colgate and Crest products in the toothpaste aisle at your nearby supermarket, it was discovered that the whitening choices from both brands were underwhelming. Even though there are results, a lot is left to be desired from the toothpaste and the strips. Nubeam Supersmile Teeth Whitening Kit offers an affordable, at-home whitening system that provides you with professional-grade results. And this is the brand that we would recommend as opposed to the already established brand of Colgate and Crest
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