Because saliva contamination happens almost immediately after the gel application, she notes that active whitening only occurs for a few minutes. There’s no doubt that Crest Whitestrips are one of the most recognizable over-the-counter teeth whitening systems available. It seems almost as if they’ve been around forever — and professionals still love ‘em. “Over the counter, I recommend Crest 3D White Whitestrips,” Dr. Hadaegh says. “A lot of my patients who naturally have whiter teeth or slightly discolored teeth are happy with the results.”

Teeth whitening strips are only as effective as their ingredients. According to Dr. Marina Gonchar, DMD and Owner of Skin to Smile, the best teeth whitening strips are formulated with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. “These ingredients help break down stains and discoloration on the outer surface of the tooth,” she says. “Hydrogen peroxide breaks down chemical bonds on the surface of the tooth to remove staining and is available in different concentrations in different products; carbamide peroxide has a similar mechanism of action—it breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and another by-product called urea. As a result of this additional chemical reaction step, carbamide peroxide is usually present in higher concentrations in whitening products, results in less tooth sensitivity, and has prolonged whitening effects.” To see just how well these strips live up to their claims, we tested them on someone who has long-avoided whitening strips due to how sensitive they make their teeth. After wearing the strips for 30 minutes a day for seven days straight, we found that the strips adequately whitened their teeth a full eight shades—all without triggering any pain in the process.Your smile plays an important part in your confidence. Teeth whitening can boost your smile and give your self-confidence a bit of a boost as well. For best results, the kit says to apply the strips one to two times a day for seven consecutive days. In doing so, we found that these strips brightened our teeth two full shades. While that may not seem like much, it was enough for folks around us to take notice. That said, it was also gradual enough to not cause any excess sensitivity.

Dr. Shahira Saad, DDS, is a cosmetic dentist at Silicon Beach Dental. She completed an Advanced Education in General Dentistry residency in which she focused on cosmetic smile design as well as conservative restorative dentistry. Once you have a kit, Dr. Messina says you can use it for seven to 10 days to start, and then once every other week or so for maintenance. Before you do so, though, consider taking a trip to the dentist for your standard teeth cleaning and to consult on your at-home whitening plans. “Tooth whitening is something that should only be done in a healthy mouth situation,” he says. “If somebody has cavities or periodontal disease, or some other reason why their teeth aren’t white, whitening is not the right choice for them. That’s why it’s always good to have a thorough examination done by your dentist before starting on a whitening program.” Not to mention, if you do the whitening right after having your teeth cleaned at the dentist, Dr. Messina says, you’ll be whitening your tooth enamel itself rather than the tartar or build-up on top of it. Regardless, he says, involving your dentist in the discussion will help you ensure you’re taking the right path.Your smile can have a huge effect on your next job interview. Smiling has a lot of benefits during an interview. Having a bright, healthy smile can help you portray confidence, energy and enthusiasm. To learn more about how to be successful with the use of your smile. When we tested these strips, we found that they were easy to apply—but that it’s important to take your time. The strips are designed to be pressed into teeth and folded over the edge. When done with care, these thin strips will stay in place, however, if done hastily, they will slide around and not be as effective. But more than half of the whiteners we tested contained far too much hydrogen peroxide and you could be putting your health at risk by using them. On Average, 100 Million people take advantage of teeth whitening treatments every year. If you want results, however, the type of treatment you get is very important. Many of our patients come to us after getting disappointing results elsewhere. Here at Nu, we specialize in Boost Teeth Whitening, a treatment that is proven to be the most effective treatment for teeth whitening. This method involves NO harmful or uncomfortable UV lights, takes only an hour, and is totally painless. As far as after, proceed with care. Most whitening strips advise against eating or drinking anything aside from water for 30 minutes post-treatment to ensure the whitening formula has enough time to sink into teeth. That said, you may want to wait to brush until bedtime.