Are Crest Whitening Strips Bad for Your Teeth? See Surprising Answer

“Should I buy these $45 strips, or should I invest in professional whitening at a dentist?” This is exactly the question that plagues Toronto residents as they look at the pharmacy aisle in their local drugstore. But are Crest whitening strips bad for your teeth?

Here’s the honest answer: Crest whitening strips aren’t inherently ‘bad’ for your teeth when used correctly. Notice we said “when used correctly.” They are recognized as “safe to use” by the Canadian Dental Association (CDA) and Health Canada and can whiten your teeth by 1-2 shades. However, they have their limitations, especially if you have heavy stains, tooth sensitivity, or seek long-lasting results.

Your smile is an investment in your status, lifestyle, and overall health. Like all investments, it deserves a strategic approach to get a good ROI. In this article, we’ll compare over-the-counter strips to professional teeth whitening. We’ll cover safety, effectiveness, cost-per-result, and what works best for your specific needs.

Should you use Crest whitening strips for your teeth?

Let’s see what the research shows about the safety of using whitening strips on your teeth. The CDA has approved Crest whitening strips as “safe to use,” meaning they are considered safe and effective when used as directed.

These whitening strips contain the same active ingredient (hydrogen peroxide, typically 5-14% concentration) or carbamide peroxide as the bleaching agents dentists use, just at lower concentrations.

Clinical studies also show that you can experience whitening up to 1-2 shades within 10-30 days of use. For most users who follow directions carefully, the risk of harm is low.

What are the common side effects of using Whitestrips?

However, research also reveals the common side effects that 20-30% of users experience:

1. Tooth sensitivity: Occurs when the chemical agent temporarily opens microscopic pores in the enamel, exposing the nerve endings. You’ll experience a sharp sensation when you take cold or hot liquids and foods. The discomfort usually resolves within a few days of stopping treatment.
2. Gum irritation: Occurs when the strips overlap on the gum tissues, leading to chemical burns, white patches, or tenderness. This is usually the result of the one-size-fits-all approach to making strips. So they do not conform perfectly to your teeth’s shape.
3. Uneven results happen because strips do not fit perfectly on curved tooth surfaces, leaving some parts of the tooth lighter than others.

There is also the risk of complicating underlying challenges due to the misuse of the strips. If you don’t follow instructions and use the strips longer than intended or apply them to teeth with existing damage, you can severely undermine your teeth’s health.

For those who love their coffee, Whitestrips present a new challenge. Coffee tannins re-stain teeth within weeks, so you’d be stuck in an endless cycle of whitening and re-staining, which means prolonged exposure of your teeth to the bleaching agents.

The bottom line: Whitestrips aren’t bad, but they are not the ideal solution if you want lasting results or if you have underlying teeth problems.

How Whitestrips compare to professional teeth whitening

Now, let’s look at the real difference between at-home whitening kits and in-office treatment. We can categorize them into three distinct features:

Effectiveness and results

1. Whitening power: Over-the-counter products usually contain lower concentrations of the bleaching agent (5-14%) compared with those used in the office (15-40% under controlled conditions). You can see this difference in the shades: Whitestrips brighten by 1-2 shades, whereas in-office treatment can brighten by up to 8 shades.
2. Duration of treatment: Whitestrips require 30 minutes daily for 10-30 days, depending on the product. Professional whitening completes treatment in 1-2 visits, each lasting 60-90 minutes. Many busy Toronto residents prefer two days at the chair over a month of repeated applications.
3. Longevity of results: Strip results typically last up to 3-6 months before you notice fading, especially if you do not change your habits (coffee, tobacco, or staining foods). On the other hand, professional whitening can last up to 1-2 years with proper maintenance.

Cost analysis from an ROI perspective

At first glance, whitening strips might seem like the obvious choice: $45 compared to $400-800 for in-office whitening. But let’s look at the compounding cost:

Whitening strips: $45 per kit provides 1-2 shades lighter for 3-6 months. You’ll need 2-4 kits per year to maintain results, for $90-$180 annually. Over five years, that’s $450-$900 with modest results.

Professional whitening: a one-time treatment costs $600 and provides 5-8 shades lighter for 1-2 years. Touch-ups every 1-2 years cost $150-$250. Over five years, you’re looking at an initial cost of $600, plus $300-$500 in touch-ups, for a total of $900-$1,100.

The difference amounts to $200-$400 over five years, but professional whitening delivers dramatically better results (8 shades versus 2), causes less sensitivity when used properly, and requires far less time investment (2-3 dental visits versus 300+ days of wearing strips).

Breaking it down monthly: Professional whitening costs about $31 per month over two years for dramatically whiter teeth. Strips cost about $15 per month for modest improvement that fades quickly with coffee consumption.

Customization and safety monitoring

One-size-fits-all versus personalized fit: Strips come in standard sizes that may not match your tooth and gum configuration. Professional whitening uses custom-fitted trays created from impressions of your actual teeth, so you can be sure of an even gel distribution and prevent gum contact.

Self-administered versus supervised treatment: With strips, you’re on your own to assess whether you’re a good candidate and to manage any problems that arise. Our dentist in Toronto includes an examination before whitening to identify cavities, gum disease, or enamel issues that would make whitening unsafe or ineffective.

Dental work considerations: Strips don’t whiten crowns, veneers, or fillings. If you have visible dental work on your front teeth, strips will create colour mismatches. Our Toronto dentist can assess whether existing work needs replacement to match your new shade.

Making an informed decision about your smile