20 DAYS TO A BRIGHTER SMILE
Crest has certainly made teeth whitening easy with its line of 3D Whitestrips. Consumers and dentists alike praise the virtues of these little plastic strips as a reasonable-priced alternative to expensive professional whitening. The newest addition to the Whitestrips lineup is called Crest 3D White Professional Effects Whitestrips ($49.99) and promises to remove over 10 years of set-in stains in just 20 days.
With seven different options to choose from, picking the right Whitestrips treatment can be a bit confusing. A 1-5 rating system in terms of intensity and whitening power helps. Those with sensitive teeth will do better with choosing an option on the low end of the scale. 3D White Gentle Routine Whitestrips are formulated for people who are sensitive to whitening and offers a concentration that gradually whitens teeth. On the other end of the scale is the 3D White Intensive Professional Effects Whitestrips, which carries a 5 rating, and is said to create professional-level whitening in just 7 days.
The new 3D White Professional Effects is rated a 4 and is formulated to be worn for 30 minutes for 20 days. I’ve been using these strips for the past week and haven’t felt any sensitivity at all. Better yet, I’m already seeing my teeth get whiter. Another BITB writer tried the Intensive Professional Effects and found that this more potent alternative made her teeth tingle and her gums feel sensitive.
Whitestrips have come a long way since the days of flimsy strips that didn’t stay in place. The new Professional Effects features a wider, thicker strip that stays in place easily—you can even drink water while wearing it. Most if not all of the other Whitestips options have these new improved strips as well.
I’ve tried professional whitening at a dentist’s office and found the experience expensive and disappointing. The cost of the treatment ranges from $350 to $550 and requires maintenance with an at-home bleaching kit, which is a lot messier than the simple Whitestrips.
“Many times I will ask patients if they whiten their teeth and they will tell me they use Whitestrips and I am pleasantly surprised because their results look as if they had their teeth professionally whitened,†stated NYC dentist Nancy Rosen.
Most smiles can be brightened, but the strips won’t whiten veneers or crowns. In addition, “people with a grayish hue don’t bleach as well as other hues like yellow or brown,†said Dr. Rosen.
Unfortunately, my own teeth are not naturally pearly white. I see a lot of Whitestrips in my future.
FINAL VERDICT: RDW (Run Don’t Walk)
BY WAY OF: GIFTED
Would you buy it again? YES
Would you recommend it to a friend? YES
