Whitening Strips vs. LED Whitening Kits: What Is Better Whitening Strips Or Light?
In reviewing how whitening strips compare to LED whitening kits, it is important to realise that the classes of these treatments are not directly comparable. LED kits use a blue light when applied directly to the teeth, while White Strips do not add any light when applied. It is important to consider how effective each individual treatment will be in removing stains and achieving your desired results. Points of comparison include
- Effectiveness
- Ease of application
- Affordability of each treatment.
It is worthy of note that there are now product offerings where the crest whitening strips are combined with blue light.
Effectiveness
On the point of effectiveness, LED whitening kits are more effective than white strips. The blue light in LED whitening kits kills bacteria which are one of the main causes of stains on your teeth. In addition, the long-term effectiveness of LED whitening kits will be longer than the strips.
They are also very effective in removing stains for all types of teeth, including veneers and caps (teeth that have been fitted with crowns). White strips cannot compare to this degree because they can only work on natural tooth enamel. They are not able to penetrate through artificial surfaces like veneers or caps. Both treatments, however, can cause sensitivity when used. If you have sensitive teeth already, it is best to speak with your dentist before undergoing any treatment for teeth whitening so he/she can recommend the best option for you.
Ease of Application
When applied properly, both white strips and LED kits are easy to use. One advantage of using an LED kit is that some kits come with a tray to fit over your teeth for extra precision, which you cannot achieve on your own. This increased precision will allow the LED light to penetrate more deeply into your enamel. When using a strip, however, it is important that you keep the strip pressed firmly against all of your teeth for as long as possible in order to increase penetration.
With regard to ease of application, LED kits offer a clear advantage. Most kits come with applicators that make it easier to achieve even results and keep your hands free from the gel used in whitening products. However, if you prefer using products like Crest White Strips (which come as actual strips that you place over your teeth and leave for half an hour to an hour), then there is no disadvantage to using these strips instead of LED light treatment.
How to Use the Crest LED Accelerator Light Teeth Whitening Kit
The LED Accelerator Light of Crest whitening kits are designed to activate the Crest whitening gel. Ideally, you should insert the Accelerator Light in your mouth prior to brushing your teeth. You may brush afterwards or simply rinse afterwards, but it is recommended that you do not eat or drink for 30 minutes after application. They bring on the added benefit of polishing your teeth as well as deep cleaning hard to reach areas. There is a timer that can be set for 2 minutes, 4 minutes or 6 minutes depending on your preference and you may see up to 100% whiter teeth. The Crest LED Accelerator Light will help you to maintain the whiteness of your smile and works with any Crest 3D White and Multi-Protection toothpaste.
Step 1: Clear out an area in your bathroom where you can be alone for about 40 minutes with minimal distractions since this kit takes about 45-60 minute to complete
Step 2: Peel off the Protective Film by starting at one end and pulling it back onto itself allowing the adhesive on the underside to stick to the clear plastic sheet. Now repeat this process around all four edges of both strips until they are completely covered by protective film.
Step 3: When you are ready to begin applying the strips, remove one of the adhesive film protectors. Smooth onto teeth starting at front and working toward back. Press very firmly on both sides of teeth for maximum adhesion. Make sure the strip is applied tightly along the gum line, especially at the back of the mouth. Press down on all edges to ensure good contact with your lips and gums. Keep strips in place for 30 minutes .
Warning! Prolonged exposure to heat or direct sunlight may damage plastic. Take care when handling under these conditions.
Step 4: Remove retaining liner carefully by rolling it away from your skin taking care not to touch adhesive side since handle can cause lint transfer
Step 5: Rinse thoroughly with water .
Wait 24 hours before eating or drinking. It is OK to brush and floss normally. Avoid eating very hot foods, spicy food s , abrasive or scratchy foods that may irritate gum tissue, or hard/crunchy foods that could damage the strips during removal. Discard strips after 14 treatments even if they are not empty to avoid uneven whitening. Do not use this product for sensitivity unless advised by your dental care professional.
Do not apply pressure with fingers while teeth are in contact with strip as your gums may become irritated by direct contact of the strip to the gum tissue. If irritation persists beyond initial treatment period discontinue use until next 7 day interval .
If you notice an excessive redness or soreness, stop use of all strips and contact your dental care professional.
To avoid possible injury, do not scrape teeth with sharp objects while whitening product is on teeth , or during removal of the strip. Do not use stain removers or alcohol-based products before or after using this product.
If you are pregnant/nursing, consult a dentist prior to use. Keep out of reach of children.
Consult dental care professional if condition worsens or does not improve within seven days. If more than 14 applications are needed stop treatment temporarily until number of applications used reaches 14 then resume as previously instructed by a dentist.
Why isn’t a whitening toothpaste enough?
They may work to a certain extent, but the lack of oxygen in your mouth prevents them from reaching deep stains. Oxygen is the “secret” to get your teeth really clean. It is this oxygen that is obtained from hydrogen peroxide in Crest Whitestrips, which gives you visibly whiter teeth. (See all Crest Whitestrips here: https://eurowhite.co.uk/product-category/crest-3d-white/)
Teeth Whitening Strips vs. Other Treatments
How do teeth whitening strips compare to professional dental whitening?
Another helpful comparison is how teeth whitening strips compare to professional teeth whitening, performed in a dentist’s office. Reviewing how White Strips compare to professional treatments, it is important to recognize that these two treatments use extremely different methods of removing stains from teeth. Both treatments are designed to remove stains from the surface of the teeth, but they are not comparable because their purposes are different. While White Strips are meant for removing tooth stains caused by food and drinks only, offices perform more extensive cleaning procedures that also make use of lasers. Nevertheless, Crest now has remarkable product series with LED Accelerator Light that significantly increases the effectiveness of whitestrip products. It is important to consider your reasons for wanting whiter teeth before deciding which treatment you prefer.
The whitening strips (like this one: https://eurowhite.co.uk/product/crest-3d-white-luxe-professional-effects-teeth-whitening-strips/) are much cheaper and an easy way to brighten your smile. You can’t do it as often as dentist office treatments and the results for some of them aren’t as dramatic even though products like them come very close! But it’s a great alternative if you don’t want to spend hundreds of dollars for professional treatment.
Tired of waiting half an hour for Crest Whitestrips to work its magic? In as little as two days, you can have noticeably whiter teeth with Crest 3D White Vivid Whitestrips! Designed to be more effective than ever before, these new strips will brighten your smile by removing surface stains and deep cleaning below the enamel.
Professional Treatments
Professional teeth whitening is likely to offer consumers the most significant results, but it may also be the most expensive option available on the market. It is important to consider why you are interested in teeth whitening and how much time you have before your event or appointment. Many people find that an at-home kit provides adequate results, while others may need more dramatic changes for their purposes. A professional teeth whitening session can last up to 2 hours (or longer), and this will significantly increase the cost of treatment as well as travel costs if you do not live near a dental practice that offers these procedures.
Professional treatments include laser bleaching, in-office chemical peels or gels, and tray-based whiteners. These treatments are widely considered more effective than the Crest White Strip method for tooth-whitening because they use much stronger concentrations of bleach to remove stains from deeper within the tooth enamel. The process also often requires custom trays made by a dentist which
Typically administered by a dental hygienist or dentist, this procedure may involve some or all of these steps:
- cleansing the surfaces of the gums with a special solution
- applying a protective gel to the gums and/or teeth
- removing stains from the tooth surfaces with a laser or tool that emits a light beam
- polishing the tooth enamel with a brush-like instrument.
Compared to using White Strips at home, this treatment is more effective because it can clean deeper layers of porous enamel and rid your gums of plaque. In addition to brightening the color of your teeth by one shade or two, professionals may also boost their whiteness significantly. As such, you should not expect dramatic results from an in-office treatment if you have been using Crest Whitestrips for months already.
However, are several downsides associated with an in-office bleaching. First, the effects do not last, on average, for around six months only. Second, the process is quite expensive—it can cost anywhere from £200 to £400 per session. Third, it will probably take you at least four sessions to achieve the results you desire (one session per week). Fourth, some people experience tooth sensitivity during and after the treatment; though it usually subsides within 24 hours or less.
A dentist will put a protective covering over your gums and then either apply hydrogen peroxide gel or light up teeth with an LED light.
This treatment requires one visit to a dental office and can be rather costly even if done infrequently. Many people assume that dental hygienists have been extensively trained in the field of teeth whitening, but this isn’t true. In fact, their training often only goes as far as how to apply the solution before sending patients home with a custom-made tray. They may also talk about what makes an effective teeth whitener, but it’s important for patients who want any type of bleaching treatment to seek advice from a properly qualified dentist first.
References
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approach for restoration of the worn dentition
by direct composite resin, British Dental Journal | Volume 224 No. 5 | March 9, 2018. - Goodson JM, Tavares M, Sweeney M, Stultz J, Newman M, Smith V, Regan EO, Kent R. Tooth whitening: tooth color changes following treatment by peroxide and light. J Clin Dent. 2005;16(3) 78-82. PMID: 16305006.
- Zekonis, Ruta, et al. “Clinical Evaluation of in-Office and at-Home Bleaching Treatments.” Operative Dentistry, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2003.
- Bortolatto, Janaina F, et al. “Effects of LED–Laser Hybrid Light on Bleaching Effectiveness and Tooth Sensitivity: a Randomized Clinical Study.” Laser Physics Letters, vol. 10, no. 8, 2013, p. 085601.
- Bart Gottenbos, Christiane de Witz, Sophie Heintzmann, Matthias Born, Sandra Hötzl, Insights into blue light accelerated tooth whitening,
Heliyon, Volume 7, Issue 2, 2021, e05913, ISSN 2405-8440.