I drink a lot of coffee to keep me awake and a lot of tea to clear my congested sinuses. Consequently, my teeth suffer from staining. However, they are still reasonably white thanks to the toothpaste that I use as often as possible: Crest Baking Soda & Peroxide Whitening with Tartar Protection. I also use the Crest Pro-Health mouthwash. I have a lot of confidence in Crest products.
Nevertheless, every time I go to my dentist for my biannual cleaning and checkup, the hygienist tells me my teeth are stained and I should cut back on my coffee and tea. Fortunately for me, I received through the Amazon Vine Program a box of Crest 3D White Whitestrips Vivid. Because it was manufactured by Crest, I had little fear or worry about trying the product.
On 23 February 2010, I received the box of whitestrips. Inside are $9.50 worth of coupons for the 3D White Family of Crest products that include whitestrips, toothpaste, toothbrush and rinse. I carefully read the instructions on how to apply the strips, the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) and, most importantly, the always scary warnings about avoiding eye and skin contact. I scanned and posted all of the above documents.
While using the product, I never experienced a bad taste in my mouth and my gums were never sore or aching. There was a very slight odor of peroxide which is one of the main ingredients used to bleach the teeth. A couple of times I didn't thoroughly wash my hands after applying the strips and the peroxide caused small, white spots that burned slightly on my fingers. This is due to the fact that peroxide is a disinfectant used to kill germs. The white, burning spots quickly vanished after I washed my hands. I was able to talk with the strips in my mouth but I could not drink water or sing.
The strips themselves are a little difficult to apply evenly over the teeth. (I scanned and posted a pouch containing a whitestrip.) I tried to get as much of their surface on the front and back as possible without getting too much on the gums. The consumer must realize that these strips are designed to only whiten the front of the teeth that are displayed when he/she smiles. The molars were not affected.
After only five days of using the strips, my teeth were noticeably whiter. Even a majority of the stain was gone from a crooked tooth in the center of my lower jaw. I was pleasantly surprised. At the end of ten days, on March 4th, my teeth appeared much whiter and brighter.
The only side effect I have experienced since using the Crest 3D White Whitestrips is some mild sensitivity. My teeth tingle when I drink cold or hot liquids. However, as the days pass, that seems to be dissipating.
I recommend using this product for whitening teeth prior to a very important social event where photographs will be taken such as a senior prom, wedding, class reunion, etc. I will definitely be using this product again. Maybe I'll use it before my next dental checkup in order to keep the hygienist from nagging me about drinking too much coffee and tea.
Joseph B. Hoyos