Crest Whitestrips is a line of

tooth whitening Tooth whitening or tooth bleaching is the process of lightening the colour of human teeth. Whitening is often desirable when teeth become yellowed over time for a number of reasons, and can be achieved by changing the intrinsic or extrinsic colour ...

products made by

Procter & Gamble The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G) is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It specializes in a wide range of personal health/con ...

Description

Crest Whitestrips were announced in 2000 introduced in 2001. The product is used by placing a disposable plastic strip directly onto the teeth that contains an enamel-safe whitening gel. It is reported to be most effective on yellow and heavily stained teeth. In 2010, the "3D" range of Whitestrips was introduced. The new "Advanced Seal" was a technological advancement from the older Crest Whitestrips. The strips are now non-slip, and also whiten more teeth because each strip is longer. These are available with the strongest retail 3D Advanced Vivid and 3D Professional Effects Whitestrips. U.S. dentists also offer a specialized Crest Whitestrips called "Supreme", which is more effective than retail versions due to the higher concentration of

hydrogen peroxide Hydrogen peroxide is a chemical compound with the formula . In its pure form, it is a very pale blue liquid that is slightly more viscosity, viscous than Properties of water, water. It is used as an oxidizer, bleaching agent, and antiseptic, usua ...

. Possible side effects from Whitestrips usage include gum irritation and

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...

spots on the

teeth A tooth (: teeth) is a hard, calcified structure found in the jaws (or mouths) of many vertebrates and used to break down food. Some animals, particularly carnivores and omnivores, also use teeth to help with capturing or wounding prey, tear ...

for a few hours after use. Sensitivity can also temporarily occur. Whitestrips can also have a bleaching effect if they come in contact with

clothing Clothing (also known as clothes, garments, dress, apparel, or attire) is any item worn on a human human body, body. Typically, clothing is made of fabrics or textiles, but over time it has included garments made from animal skin and other thin s ...

skin Skin is the layer of usually soft, flexible outer tissue covering the body of a vertebrate animal, with three main functions: protection, regulation, and sensation. Other animal coverings, such as the arthropod exoskeleton, have different ...

. Whitestrips are not for use by children under the age of 12, while Crest Whitestrips Supreme should not be used in persons under the age of 18. The active ingredient is

. According to a 2009 article in The Washington Post, Consumer Reports found Crest Whitestrips Supreme to be the best of the eight teeth whitening products it tested. This product was the most expensive kit tested by Consumer Reports.Washington Post, July 21, 2009, The Price of a Whiter Brighter Smile
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Ingredients

Crest Whitestrips contain

water Water is an inorganic compound with the chemical formula . It is a transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance. It is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known liv ...

glycerin Glycerol () is a simple triol compound. It is a colorless, odorless, sweet-tasting, viscous liquid. The glycerol backbone is found in lipids known as glycerides. It is also widely used as a sweetener in the food industry and as a humectant in pha ...

, carbomer 956, and

sodium saccharin Saccharin, also called saccharine, benzosulfimide, or E954, or used in saccharin sodium or saccharin calcium forms, is a non-nutritive artificial sweetener. Saccharin is a sultam that is about 500 times sweeter than sucrose, but has a bitter or me ...

. Crest Whitestrips Professional Effects (Hong Kong Version) contains water, glycerin, carbomer 956, sodium hydroxide, and sodium saccharin.

Usage

Crest 3D White Whitestrips only whiten natural teeth. The strips do not whiten caps, crowns, veneers, fillings or dentures. They are not to be used with dental braces, loose teeth or temporary or loose restorations. Crest recommends that if customers are in need of dental work, have had dental work or have staining from medication, they ask a dentist if tooth whitening is appropriate.

Summary of products

Strengths available

* Crest Whitestrips Supreme has 100 mg of gel with 14% hydrogen peroxide (14 mg) of hydrogen peroxide per upper strip. * Crest Whitestrips Professional has 200 mg of gel with 6.5% hydrogen peroxide per upper strip. * Crest Whitestrips Professional Effects (Hong Kong Version) has 200 mg of gel with (14 mg) of sodium hydroxide as active ingredient.

References

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External links

Crest Official website
Procter & Gamble brands