Do Whitening Strips Work? Effectiveness, Results & Precautions

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Do Teeth Whitening Strips Work?

Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Daniel Yetman on February 4, 2021

How they work
Ingredients matter
How long before results
Precautions
Maintenance tips
Takeaway

Teeth whitening strips can lighten your teeth a shade or two. It may only take several days after treatment. Home teeth whitening products are best for mild discoloration.

If you visit your local pharmacy, you’ll likely see many products claiming to whiten your teeth. Home teeth whitening products first became available in the 1980s, and now they seem to be everywhere.

But do teeth whitening strips and other whitening products actually work?

The short answer is yes. Teeth whitening strips can whiten your teeth by a shade or two and can act in as little as a few days.

But home products aren’t usually as effective as in-office dental whitening techniques. They also come with some risks such as increased tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Keep reading to learn about how teeth whitening strips work and which types of products are most effective.

Yes, whitening strips can whiten teeth

Teeth whitening strips have the potential to whiten your teeth by bleaching stains with hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Carbamide peroxide is a molecule that breaks down into hydrogen peroxide when it comes into contact with water.

Peroxides in whitening strips penetrate the outer layer of your tooth called the enamel and enter the deeper dentin layer, where they bleach chromogens. Chromogens are pigmented molecules found inside and outside your tooth that cause staining.

Staining can be divided into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic staining.

Extrinsic staining

Extrinsic staining affects the outside of your tooth and is largely caused by environmental factors such as:

smoking
certain foods and drinks such as coffee, wine, dark berries
antibiotics
exposure to metals such as iron or copper

Intrinsic staining

Intrinsic staining affects the inside of your tooth. It’s caused by factors such as:

age-related enamel erosion
genetics
antibiotics
exposure to high levels of fluoride
tooth development disorders

Whitening strips target both extrinsic and intrinsic stains

Whitening strips can target both types of stains. Stains caused by aging, genetics, smoking, or coffee are generally the fastest to respond to bleaching. Yellowish aging stains also respond well.

Whitening strips may be best used when you’re trying to make a small touch-up to your tooth color.

For more significant changes, you may want to consider professional whitening from a dentist. A dentist can use stronger bleaches and give you a custom treatment best suited to your needs.

When it comes to effectiveness, ingredients matter

Home whitening strips generally contain hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach stains in your teeth. However, some strips, especially those used at some beauty salons or cruise ships, may contain chlorine dioxide.

Chlorine dioxide is touted to be a safer and more effective alternative, but its safety is debated. Chlorine dioxide may strip your tooth enamel. It may also make your teeth more prone to restaining and becoming extremely sensitive.

Here are some of the whitening strips we recommend that use hydrogen peroxide as their active ingredient. (You can purchase online by clicking the links.)

Crest 3D Whitestrips Glamorous White
Crest 3D Whitestrips Gentle Whitening Kit
Fairywill Teeth Whitening Strips for Sensitive Teeth

How long does it take before you see results

There are many types of whitening strips available on the market and instructions vary between brands.

Typically, you use whitening strips twice per day for 2 weeks. You usually leave them on for about 30 minutes at a time.

Tooth lightening can be seen in as little as several days and can lighten your teeth by a shade or two. Some products may only require you to apply them once per day but can deliver the same results.

Risks and precautions to be aware of

Teeth whitening strips are known to cause increased tooth sensitivity and gum irritation. Usually, these symptoms are mild.

Tooth sensitivity usually starts at the time of treatment and lasts for several days. Gum irritation may start within a day of treatment and also typically lasts for several days.

Your risk of developing these side effects increases with the concentration of peroxide in the whitener and the amount of time you leave them on.

Using high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide can potentially damage the structure of your teeth and make your teeth more susceptible to demineralization. Demineralization is the loss of calcium and other minerals from your teeth.

Studies have reported structural damage of the enamel from the application of 35 percent carbamine peroxide.

Also, keep in mind that teeth whitening won’t change the color of existing fillings, crowns, bridges, or implants. Only natural teeth can be whitened.

Tips for keeping teeth white

Following good oral hygiene habits and minimizing your consumption of certain foods can help you avoid staining and maximize your tooth health.

Here are some specific ways to keep your teeth white.

White teeth maintenance tips

Limit consumption of staining foods. Some foods and drinks such as coffee, red wine, dark berries, and sodas are notorious for staining teeth.
Use a straw. When consuming beverages that have the potential to stain, a straw can help avoid the beverage’s direct contact with your teeth.
Brush your teeth. Brushing your teeth shortly after consuming a staining food or drink can help limit their effect.
Follow good dental hygiene habits. Following good overall dental hygiene habits such as brushing your teeth twice a day and flossing can help you avoid tooth decay and other issues that may cause discoloration.
Eat plenty of calcium. Eating plenty of calcium can help you keep your teeth strong and reduce your chances of developing cavities.
Limit your sugar intake. Harmful bacteria in your body produce acid when they encounter sugar. This acid breaks down your teeth and can lead to tooth decay.
Avoid smoking and other forms of tobacco use. Nicotine found in tobacco products can give your teeth a yellowish stain. After chronic use, your teeth may begin to look brown.
Use whitening products as a touch-up treatment. You shouldn’t solely rely on whitening products to keep your teeth white. But they can be used to touch up mild discoloration.

Takeaway

Teeth whitening strips have the potential to lighten your teeth by a shade or two. You may be able to see results as soon as several days after treatment.

Home teeth whitening products are best used to touch up mild discoloration of your teeth. If you’re dealing with significant staining, you may want to visit your dentist for an in-office cleaning.

Before using any teeth whitening product, talk with your dentist and check to see if the product has the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Alqahtani MQ. (2014). Tooth-bleaching procedures and their controversial effects: A literature review.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4229680/
Carey CM. (2014). Tooth whitening: What we now know.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4058574/#__ffn_sectitle
Epple M, et al. (2019). A critical review of modern concepts for teeth whitening.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6784469
Li Y, et al. (2013). Safety issues of tooth whitening using peroxide-based materials. DOI:https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bdj.2013.629

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Medically reviewed by Christine Frank, DDS — Written by Daniel Yetman on February 4, 2021

Do Whitening Strips Work? Effectiveness, Results & Precautions

Yes, whitening strips can whiten teeth

Extrinsic staining

Intrinsic staining

Whitening strips target both extrinsic and intrinsic stains

When it comes to effectiveness, ingredients matter

How long does it take before you see results

Risks and precautions to be aware of

Tips for keeping teeth white

White teeth maintenance tips

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

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