While there are advantages to using whitening strips, there are also some downsides. These include: Teeth whitening treatments are not recommended for users under 18 years of age, or women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Whitening kits will also not work on crowns, veneers or false teeth, so if you have any of these speak to your dentist. Don’t use the strips immediately after dental treatments such as crowns or fillings, or if you wear orthodontic braces.

Dr. Klein also says you risk harming the protective enamel on your teeth if you overdo it with whitening strips. “Most are safe and effective, but not all products follow the same safety protocols,” she says. “Be informed, read about the products that you are looking into, and note some of the side effects. Not all people can tolerate the same chemicals, and allergies can be product specific.” Brush and floss as normal after bleaching. A whitening toothpaste will help keep surface stains at bay once you’ve achieved your desired level of whiteness. Look for products containing gentle natural abrasives such as bicarbonate of soda or charcoal, which can’t penetrate the enamel of the tooth in the way that bleach in your whitening product does, but can be very useful after bleaching to help maintain whiteness. Similar to the possible risks of carbamide and hydrogen peroxide, it is important to apply caution if using certain products that people sometimes recommend, such as fruit juices, vinegar, or scrubs. These may instead cause damage to the teeth or make staining even worse. A person can also get whitening products or services through their dentist. Dentist-supplied whitening products are usually more concentrated. The options available directly from dentists include: More is not necessarily better when it comes to teeth whitening strips. “Do not exceed the number of days recommended by the manufacturer,” says Dr. Klein. “You can get great results if you follow the instructions on the product.”For safety reasons, in the UK, at-home teeth whitening kits may contain hydrogen peroxide at concentrations at up to 0.1%, whereas your dentist, using a custom-fitted mould, is able to safely use a concentration of up to 6% without harming teeth or gums. This means the professional treatment is usually able to achieve more noticeable lightening results. Dentist-only treatments such as laser whitening (in which the bleach solution is activated by a laser shone onto teeth) are also much faster, taking only 1-2 hours.

You can use more than one programme, if you wish to do so. We recommend you leave at least 14 days between programmes. If used correctly, at-home kits will certainly lighten your teeth by a few shades. You might want to pop to the dentist for at least a thorough dental clean before starting your treatment, as plaque and tartar on the teeth can stop the bleaching agents penetrating stains, so getting everything scrubbed clean first is bound to boost results. What else will help my teeth stay white? verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ If your current brushing and flossing routine isn’t enough to remove stains and discoloration, it might be time to consider teeth whitening strips that return your smile to its former luster. But when all teeth whitening strips promise a brighter smile and pearlier whites, how do you choose?