Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Yes, these really work...but keep a few things in mind, August 23, 2004
After very minimal and barely noticeable success with whitening toothpastes and gels, I finally decided to give Crest Premium Whitestrips a try. Previously, I had found the cost to be prohibitive, but the fact that $5 or $7 coupons are offered in our Sunday paper with some regularity made the price a bit easier to swallow.
Just like the commercials say, I definitely did begin to see some improvement after about three days. I would describe the effect as more of a lightening than a whitening per se: the darker yellow spots on my teeth began to fade and to become less apparent. Now, after using the product as prescribed for a week, the color of my teeth is clearly improved; I wouldn't say that my teeth are bright white, but they are definitely more of an ivory or a paler yellow color. According to the package insert, you can immediately begin a second course of treatment for even better whitening effects, but I haven't yet decided if I want to lay out another $30 in order to do this. Also, I should mention that the effect is not so dramatic thta anyone has noticed (UNLIKE in the commercials!).
Now for the caveats. First of all, I found these strips to be a bit difficult to use. It can be hard to remove the strips from the protective backing without them becoming mangled, and it is very easy to get the gel on your fingertips (which causes a temporary whitening effect). Also, the strips are not ideally shaped for your mouth, and I found that they covered my front eight teeth only. Finally, while the top strip adhered fairly well, I found that the bottom strip was more tricky and tended to slide around, especially if I moved my mouth at all. The only solution I found to this was to wear the strips while commuting to work, which luckily gave me a 30-minute period when I did not need to talk. Otherwise, it can be difficult to find a good time to wear the strips, as the insert information advises against wearing them immediately after you brush your teeth, while sleeping, and while you are eating/drinking.
Unlike other reviewers, I did not have a problem with the taste of the strips: I could not detect anything while wearing them, and after taking them off, I thought that the gooey paste left behind was virtually tasteless. I did experience some sensitivity in a lower tooth which I had capped over 20 years ago. Although this sensation went away in time, it was uncomforable enough to make me cut the lower strip to fit around this particular tooth.
In summary, I did see clear--although not miraculous--results from this product and I would be willing to try the strips again, especially if the price were to come down a bit. Ultimately, I would rate Crest Whitestrips three and a half stars, as there is definitely room for improvement.
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49 of 54 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
How white do you want? (worth reading if you're interested), April 16, 2004
I tell you what, these are better than sliced bread and the wheel combined. Why spend upward of (...) to get your teeth whitened at the dentist, when for about 1/10 the price you can just get these Whitestrips.I've thought for years that I would like to get my teeth whitened, but my vanity never quite got over the combined hurdle of my pride (I didn't want to go tell a dentist I wanted my teeth whitened) and my pocket book (I think you get it). This product solved both problems. Just smile a tight-lipped smile at the cashier or better yet, buy them online and never have anyone see your mother-of-pearl browns. And at a much lower cost than the dentist, I was sold from the first time I saw an ad in a magazine. My excuse of an occasion for trying them out was my wedding. I was getting married, and I wanted to have relatively white teeth for the pictures. I figured they would get a little whiter. I was wrong. They got a LOT whiter. This is basically a peroxide whitening treatment, similar to what your dentist would do. I've seen some warnings from other people who use the product that there may be some pain related to using the product. What I experienced was a minor achiness on days 3-5 that lasted from about 15 minutes into wearing the strip through 15 minutes after wearing the strip. The only thing I can compare it to is if you press kind of hard on your front teeth and you can feel some pressure. That's the basic feeling, except that you can't make it go away by letting go of your teeth. It was more annoying than painful. About wearing them, I had a little trouble with the bottom strip. The top one stayed on fine the whole time, but the bottom one is a little smaller on the part that wraps to the inside of your teeth. This means there's a little less to stick to your teeth. It liked to slip loose. Also, don't forget to wash your hands. Peroxide makes little white spots. *****Final Thoughts*****
This is a great product. They whiten just as well as they claim to, though I don't know how long it will last. Mine are just as good 2 months later. They are easy to use and comparatively inexpensive. They can be a little annoying, but I didn't find it enough to put me off the product, I'll probably use it again in the future. An hour a day for seven days to whiter teeth. That's about as close to instant as you can get.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Better than other brands, January 9, 2005
Let me preface by saying I've tried many methods and am very particular about my teeth. That said, this is one of the better brands of whitening out there.
How white? As with any brand or method you choose (including the dentist), just how white your teeth will get is dependent on just how stained they were before you started and how much coffee, tea, soda you drink and whether you smoke. I drink a fair amount of coffee and my denist tells me that if I didn't drink so much of it, the effect would be greater... c'est la vie.
I wont be giving up my coffee anytime soon.
Taste? Compared to other brands... leaps and bounds better! First of all, the gel doesn't go all over the place once it's in your mouth. That's a plus. Second, it appears they've attempted a hint of mint or something. I've tasted the oral b white strips, the rembrandt ones, and a few others... blech! Pure nastiness, mainly because you have to goop the stuff on thickly. Plus, you're probably going to wash your mouth out afterward anyhow.
Process? Fairly simple. Peel the strip from the back, stick it on, and fold it over your teeth. Fit is really going to depend on the wearer... my two front teeth are pretty big but then again, who's going to be looking at the back of my teeth??
You can talk a little with them in... put do pick a moment when you're not in company if possible. As for not brushing your teeth before hand, it's understandable... but if you do it in the morning or at night, it's pretty simple to just brush your teeth afterward... I have a toothbrush and toothpaste at work that I use after lunch... so i just wear my strips in the morning commute and brush my teeth when I walk in the door.
Comfort? They are certainly thinner and more comfortable than the Oral B strips, which make you look like Rocky Balboa ready for a prize fight. As for after pain, that, too, depends on the wearer and my denist has also told me that it's no different from the sensitivity you would feel after a professional treatment.. in fact, it's less pain.
All in all, the process is easier, faster, and as effective as most other treatments. What do you want? Flourescent teeth after 10 years of coffee and smokes?
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