Yes, white strips work but they’re not the most effective way to whiten teeth. Here’s how they work, what you should know before you try them, and how to use them safely.
What are white strips?
Teeth whitening strips are small pieces of a flexible plastic called polyethylene. Each white strip is coated with a whitening gel that contains either carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide.
White strips are applied to the fronts of the teeth, and molded to fit their shape. You use one strip on the top teeth, and one on the bottom. The peroxide gel then seeps into the teeth to lighten them.
Do they work?
White strips do actually work, but only to a degree. Fact is that the concentration of whitening ingredients in them is quite low. They will help remove surface stains and make your teeth somewhat whiter over time but they just aren't as effective as professional teeth whitening done at your dentist’s office. That's because dental professionals are able to use much higher concentrations of bleaching ingredients when whitening your teeth.
Problems with White Strips
Besides not being very effective, white strips can also pose some problems.
Gum Damage
It's important not to let the white strips touch your gums when you apply them! White strips can cause a chemical reaction with your gums, resulting to damage to the tissues.
Yellow Spots
White strips tend to have only a minimal effect on the in-between spaces or the curved bottoms of teeth. People who use white strips often end up with the centre of the tooth being whiter than the edges.
Tooth Damage
Without a dental professional to monitor the whitening treatment it’s possible to overdo it and damage your teeth. Unlike nails and hair, once teeth are damaged they’re damaged for good.
Over-whitening can also cause enamel to soften, and the teeth to turn an odd greyish colour. Mistakes with whitening strips could even cause you to experience shooting pains in your teeth, or make you sensitive to certain foods!