Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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124 of 125 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An Advanced Solution That Works - But Still a Chore, March 24, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
As a person that consumes large amounts of coffee and tea, keeping my teeth white has been an ongoing struggle that has prompted me to buy just about every whitening product available. Every time Crest comes out with a new Whitestrips product I give it a try. Many have been disappointing, and all have proven to be a somewhat unpleasant chore to use. Now I understand that doing something to make your teeth whiter is worth some time and effort, but using the Crest Whitestrips is usually a messy, uncomfortable process that I have always dreaded. Still, I have always been able to get noticeable results so I continue to use them nonetheless. Until recently I was getting the best results from using the Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects 10-day System. However, those strips still tended to slide around on my teeth and required that I keep my mouth closed for the entire treatment.
In February I was given the opportunity to try the new Crest Advanced Seal Whitestrips kit. It is certainly a big improvement over the other Whitestrips products. The Advanced Seal kit only requires a 30 minute treatment once a day, whereas the rest of the Whitestrips product line requires two 30 minute treatments each day. The entire kit lasts for 14 days, but it promises that you will see results within 3 days. The kit contains 14 packets, each packet containing an upper and lower whitening strip. Each strip is coated with a peroxide-infused gel, which is claimed to mold and adhere to teeth better that any previous Whitestrips product. Crest also notes that this product will only work on natural teeth, and will NOT whiten caps, crowns, veneers, fillings, or dentures. These Whitestrips should not be used by anyone under the age of 12, and should not be used on teeth with braces. Crest even claims that you can drink water while whitening your teeth with this product.
Here is the 3-step method for using this product (taken directly from the Crest website):
1. Peel:
- For best results, do not brush teeth immediately before applying strips.
- Open foil pouch and remove.
- Peel strips from backing.
2. Apply:
- Apply gel side of strip to teeth. It will instantly mold and adhere to teeth.
- Align strips with gum line and press gently for good contact.
- Fold the rest of strip behind teeth to keep in place.
3. Reveal:
- Wear strips for 30 minutes once a day, remove and discard.
- Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal comes off cleanly.
After using this kit for the full 14 days, here is what I have personally experienced:
First of all, the claim by Crest that these strips hold much better to your teeth is true. In fact, when trying to remove these strips some may feel that they hold TOO good. I have found that removing them can be a somewhat difficult and messy task. After being in your mouth for 30 minutes the strips are rather slimy and slippery, so I have learned to pull one end loose and then use a tissue to pull the strip off my teeth. You really have to tug pretty hard in order to get these strips off from your teeth! Second, the strips still leave some unpleasant residue on your teeth, so you will want to make sure to brush right after removing the strips. Third, the strips are still a little bit of a pain to apply. It's hard to fold them over your teeth without getting creases in them. But, the fact that they hold strong is a great thing. They hold on tight for the full 30 minutes, and therefore don't slide around on your teeth like the previous Whitestrips did. I don't experience the excessive amount of saliva generated by the previous Whitestrips products either. Although some folks do experience a mild amount of increased sensitivity after repeated use of this product, I was able to complete the full 14 treatments (without skipping a day) without any discomfort whatsoever. These Advanced Seal Whitestrips are a great improvement in design, and they are ultimately much easier to use. I definitely notice that my teeth appear whiter within 2 to 3 treatments, and by the end of the 14-day treatment my teeth looked wonderfully bright.
Overall I am very pleased with the improved design and excellent results provided by the Crest Advanced Seal Whitestrips product. They're not completely perfect, and they are still a bit of a chore to apply, use, and remove. But when all is said and done these strips are definitely the best effort produced by Crest yet. If you are looking for whiter, brighter teeth, and don't mind a 30 (35 minutes including removal and brushing afterward) minute inconvenience for 14 days, I highly recommend the Advanced Seal Whitestrips system from Crest. Shop around though, because they can be found much cheaper on the Internet than in local retail stores. I have found them nearly twenty dollars cheaper on sites like Amazon than what they sell for in brick and mortar stores. In these tough economic times it is always good to save a few bucks whenever possible. After all, paying more for the same product is not going to get your teeth any whiter. =o)
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50 of 52 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Crests Latest Bleaching Product Strip Stays on Teeth, April 20, 2009
As a dentist, I am often asked by patients and friends where to start in terms of selecting a bleaching product. Since Crest produces some very good products, I generally steer them to Crest products. However, there are a multitude of Crest bleaching products to select from, so where does one begin? Here is my advice in selecting and using Crest Bleaching products:
First, let's begin with the Crest Whitestrips Advanced Seal. This product was introduced in February, 2009. It contains a 10% hydrogen peroxide gel that is attached to a clear strip (like a band-aid) that wraps around the teeth. The primary advantage to this system is that the strip adheres to the teeth better than all the previous whitestrip products. In fact, some users report that it can be somewhat difficult to remove. However, having a strip that adheres to the teeth allows the user to do other things (remain active) while they bleach - work-out, shop, drive, talk, even drink fluids. The previous versions instructed the user to bleach for 30 minutes while stationary so the strip would not be displaced. In terms of bleaching effectiveness, Advanced Seal is equivalent to Crest Premium, Premium-Plus, and Pro Effects (as they all have a 10% hydrogen peroxide gel).
A brief review of the other Crest bleaching products is in order to understand the options available. Crest White Strips come in as many as 7 different formulations. This can be very confusing for the consumer! Please remember the key difference in all these products is the strength of the hydrogen peroxide gel, and of course the price. The higher the dose of hydrogen peroxide, the faster the bleaching result, and the most costly as well. Here is a quick summary of the products:
1. Crest White Strips Classic (6% hydrogen peroxide, 14-day treatment). 2. Crest White Strips Premium (10% hydrogen peroxide, 7-day treatment). 3. Crest White Strips Premium Plus (10% hydrogen peroxide, and has 12 additional strips).
4. Crest Pro Effects (10% hydrogen peroxide, 10-day treatment).
5. Crest Advanced Seal (10% hydrogen peroxide, 10-day treatment).
6. Daily Whitening Multicare (6% hydrogen peroxide, 5-minutes/day, 6-week supply)
7. Daily Whitening with Tartar Protection (6% hydrogen peroxide, 5-minutes/day, has a chemical that discourages tartar from attaching to the teeth, 38 upper and lower strips)
In using any of the Crest bleaching products, please follow the specified instructions that come with each product.
1. For most products, the instructions will direct you to bleach twice a day for 30-minutes a time. The inner part of the strip has a chemical called hydrogen peroxide that causes the stains inside your teeth to be oxidized and turn white. Applying the strips has a small learning curve as you will probably bend or fold a couple of them before you get the technique down.
2. Leave the strips on for the time recommended in the instructions and do not overbleach your teeth, as this can lead to sensitivity. Crest bleaching products will generally work for most people, especially younger people and those with yellow stains.
Potential Disadvantages to Consider
1. Hydrogen Peroxide can "burn" your gums. If you notice a burning sensation when you use the product, it is the chemical oxidizing (or burning) your gums (it will turn them white with a minor chemical burn). Depending on how severe the burning is, it may cause you to want to stop the treatment. It is OK to stop the treatment for a day or two to let the gums heal. Once they are healed, resume treatment with the White Strips. Try to not get the strip too far up on your gums.
2. Your teeth may become senstiive during the treatment time. Try to tolerate the sensitivity if it is mild, but if more severe, take a day or two off to let the teeth settle down and then pick up where you left off. You may notice much more sensitivity to cold water, ice cream, etc. The peroxide causes a revesible inflamation of the inner pulp, or nerve center of the tooth and makes the teeth very sensitive to biting or cold drinks or foods. If your teeth become too sensitive, back off on the strips until the sensitivity is gone before resuming bleaching.
3. The strips only cover your front teeth, so only your front teeth will bleach. You may notice the distinct difference between the back (unbleached) teeth and the front (bleached) teeth. Since most people notice the front 6 teeth anyway, this is not a big deal. However, if you have a wide toothy smile, you may want to have a dentist make you a tray that will hold the chemical on the back teeth to whiten them too.
4. The bleaching effect works best on yellow stains. If your stains are due to tetracycline (brownish grey stains in a band on your teeth, your best bet is to have a dentist whiten your teeth in the office for two sessions and then use White Strips to continue the bleaching process.
Crest White Strips work for the vast majority of people. Younger people with yellow stains seem to respond better than older people or those with gray stains. If you have severely stained teeth, especially those with tetracycline (an antibiotic) stain, the strips may not work well for you.
If you are not satisfied with the results and still want whiter teeth, you can then see your dentist for a more concentrated in-office form of bleaching. Crest offers a product called "Crest Whitestrips Supreme" through dental offices that can be used at home. It is a 14% hydrogen peroxide gel in a thinner strip. It is used for 30 minutes once or twice a day for 3 weeks.
Jim "Konedog" Koenig, DDS
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35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dentist recommended!, March 9, 2009
Customer review from the Amazon Vine™ Program (What's this?)
Before using this product I wanted my dentist's honest opinion of Crest Whitestrips. He said: "The products used by dentists to white teeth that actually do something are identical to the solution used in Crest Whitestips. What makes one work and another not work is how well the product keeps the solution in contact with the teeth. The original Crest Whitestrips did not work well because they did not stick to the teeth well enough. If the Advanced Seal actually stick to the teeth - buy the Crest Whitestrips and don't spend the extra money paying a dentist to overcharge you."
I asked about whether they work on bonded and capped teeth and he stated very simply that all whitening products work only on natural enamel. My bonded front teeth would not get any whiter excepted for the parts where the enamel is exposed and then I might wind up with ugly bi-colored front teeth.
As for sensitivity - it is possible, with any whitener to experience temporary sensitivity. He recommended that if I experienced this problem to use the whitestrips once every three days and to use a good fluoride rinse on the two days in between. It will take longer to get results but you'll get the same results with less discomfort.
How long does the effect last? He said the whitening is mostly permanent - that the teeth will darken a little over time but will never go back to their original shade. If you're dissatisfied with the darkening over time, repeat the process. It is not harmful to your teeth.
My personal experience? The strips stick and stick pretty well. There are a couple of teeth that they start peeling off of before the 30 minutes is up but they're towards the back and don't show when I smile. My bonded front teeth are slightly lighter where the enamel is revealed but not enough to be obvious. The teeth that had no fillings, crowns or bonding are whitening. I've taken my dentists advice and am not using the strips every day. I skip a day or two between strips so I still have 4 days remaining. So far, I've not experienced any sensitivity.
Based on my personal results and my dentist's recommendation, if you are considering whitening your smile, try the Advanced Seal Crest Whitestrips. Not only do they work well, but mine came with a NICE coupon for the next round and an even whiter smile.
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