Teeth Whitening Strips
Teeth whitening strips are thin plastic strips that contain a mild carbamide peroxide solution. The side with the whitening solution is pressed directly on to your teeth for a set length of time. Teeth whitening strips come in two different sets: One for your upper teeth, and another for your lower teeth. Whitening strips have become a very popular and convenient way for people to use - but how good is it? Here are some of the advantages and disadvantages of teeth whitening strips.
The biggest advantage to using teeth whitening strips is that you’re cutting down on the cost for whitening treatments. Visiting your dentist for a whitening treatment is expensive, and using teeth whitening strips can save you a lot of money. It would cost you no more than twenty to thirty US dollars per pack of teeth whitening strips, which is far more affordable than getting the in-office treatment.
Teeth whitening strips can work to some degree, but they don’t really compare to having it done professionally. The main reason for this is the chemicals used. If you have professional tooth whitening performed at the dentist, the chemical that will be used will invariably be “Carbamide peroxide”. This is much more effective than the hydrogen peroxide that’s used in the strips.
Some level of side effects tends to be a general problem when using teeth whitening strips as a method of whitening teeth with the most common side effects being gum irritation and sensitive teeth (both problems will generally disappear over time). The likelihood of suffering from such side effects is reduced if you use teeth whitening strips with the lower concentration of bleaching agent (6%) which will deliver the same result as the higher concentration strips but it will just take longer to whiten your teeth.
Another disadvantage has to do with an individual whitening strip’s shape, and your gums and teeth’s sensitivity. Because an individual strip is straight, it may cause gum irritation, as it may come in contact with your gums. Choose a brand that has a lower solution concentration to avoid irritating your gums. If you have sensitive teeth and gums, stick to brands that have a lower whitening solution concentration. Make sure your teeth whitening strips covers most parts of your teeth for best results. And don’t overdo your whitening treatment; abusive use of any teeth whitening product could result in the weakening of your teeth enamel and some minor damage to your gums.