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Over the years while doing chair side teeth whitening procedures I had the pleasure of using 

the following teeth whitening kits:

 

 

Opalescence Teeth Whitening Gels, Opalescence Boost, Opalescence Go, Philips Zoom Night White,

Smile Anew, Luma White and Dash.

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I used Opalescence teeth whitening solutions most of the time. The results were fabulous

especially with the Opalescence Boost. As the cost of the procedures escalated my patients 

started asking  me about other  methods that they could use safely on their own and at their own

pace.

 

 

They wanted more affordable, effective and hassle free products to try. The products I found

could also be used by individuals who already had teeth whitening done but wanted a follow up 

or maintenance treatment (touch up done six months to a year after professional whitening).

 

 

 

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So I went ahead , did some research and discovered Efero, Rembrant, Crest 3D Whitestrips, Auraglow, Britenz and Cali White. All of these products can be used at home to whiten teeth.

 

A few of my patients were travelling overseas so I asked them to purchase 2 Crest 3D Whitestrips. 

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I tried one for myself and gave away the other to a patient as a gift of appreciation. My response as to what are the possible causes of teeth discoloration and teeth whitening products to use at home is as follows:

 

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Teeth Stains

 

Frequently consuming curry, turmeric, drinking coffee, red wine, some herbal tea,  cranberry juice and smoking can cause the teeth to become discolored over a period of time.  

 

Some dental or medical professionals may argue birth defects, trauma, pre-natal illness, medication, genetics, signs of aging , poor oral hygiene or too much smoking as contributing factors to badly discolored teeth.

 

In fact there are two main types of teeth discoloration or stains Intrinsic and Extrinsic / Superficial. The treatment for these  stains or discolorations depend on the origin. 

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For individuals who take a lot of photos especially selfies the photographic evidence of changes in teeth color is sometimes so appalling.

 

 

Introducing Crest 3D Whitestrips

                                 

Teeth Whitening At Home

 

So before the wedding, the prom, graduation, job interview or the next big event you have to get those teeth sparkling like diamonds with a touch of Crest 3D Whitestrips.

 

The percentage of peroxide in the Crest 3D Whitestrips kit is about 9.5%. If the instructions are followed carefully you should have a beautiful white smile in just a few days without any hiccups.

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The strips focus mainly on the smile zone and might not extend to molars depending on the size of the teeth.

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Try not to peel away the backing with the application strip after opening the kit always read the instructions first.

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If the strips shift from the teeth and come in contact with the gum for too long a little burning or tingling sensation may occur.

 

The gum may appear white for a few minutes due to the  formation of foam which forms when bubbles of a gas are trapped in a liquid or solid.

 

In this case oxygen is being generated when hydrogen peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water in contact with enzymes(special protein molecules that speed up chemical reactions) and gum tissue.

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Just remove the trays and rinse with water at room temperature. Feel free to pause the teeth whitening process until the gum looks or feels better.

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Some amount of sensitivity may occur if the strips are kept on the teeth beyond the recommended time frame.  If the strip comes in contact with teeth that has gum recession a little sensitivity may be observed.

 

If the teeth were  already sensitive even before using the teeth whitening kit they might become even more sensitive after, just for a few hours or days. At this point you should consider using the Crest  3D Whitestrips  Sensitive.  

 

 

Which Toothpaste Is Useful When Whitening Teeth At Home?

 

Additionally you could also purchase a sensodyne toothpaste so that you can massage it on to the teeth if sensitivity occurs.

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 Sensodyne toothpaste can be used as a pre treatment just a few days before  teeth whitening to minimize the occurrence of teeth sensitivity during teeth whitening with the Crest 3D whitestrips.

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It is definitely  not  a good idea to drink coffee or smoke while teeth whitening but if you must then it is highly recommended that you brush your teeth after with a whitening toothpaste ( colgate optic white) as an adjunct to your teeth whitening treatment.

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After using the Crest 3D whitestrips for a few days you may start noticing a difference in the shade of your teeth. A solid way to compare the appearance of the teeth is by taking before and after photos. 

 

You may also ask the people around you. If someone compliments you about the color of your teeth without you even disclosing that you were doing teeth whitening thatś fantastic.

 

You don´t have to use all the strips, you can stop using the Crest 3D Whitestrips as soon as your teeth have acquired the most desirable shade.

 

The results usually lasts for about six months or more depending on  oral hygiene practices, habits (smoking) and the frequency of consuming food or beverages with strong pigments.

 

You can always do touch ups (re-treatment) around six months to a year later.

 

Remember to monitor the expiry dates on the products. After expiration dates the teeth whitening products are less effective. 

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Maintaining proper oral hygiene is very important when whitening your teeth. There are certain food, beverages or habits that you may have to avoid in order to make your teeth whitening experience successful. 

 

It is also important to avoid  exposing  the teeth to extreme temperatures for example really hot or really cold food or beverages.

 

Based on clinical observation and general feedback from clients, friends and family it can be concluded that the Crest 3D  Whitestrips does work. However the results may vary from patient to patient because the teeth are different.

 

Majority of the patients exhibited drastic changes within 3 days of application. While others started to have noticeable change over a period of 1 week to 14 days and for some a bit longer. 

 

People with no open cavities or  gum recession had no  sensitivity.  The few with sensitivity stated that the sensitivity went away after a few hours or days with the use of sensodyne toothpaste or  orajel advanced tooth desensitizer.

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Using a teeth whitening toothpaste instead of your regular toothpaste does help to speed up the process a bit. Remember to switch back to your regular toothpaste when the  shade of the teeth becomes satisfactory after whitening.

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