These Teeth Whitening Strips Left My Smile So Bright (2024)

Editor’s Note: We reviewed this article on September 19, 2023. As per our editorial policy, we are constantly updating our content, to make sure it reflects the best of the best when it comes to beauty, wellness, and fashion. We want to assure our readers that we still stand by our recommendations, which we do.

Growing up with a dentist for an uncle, proper dental care has pretty much been instilled in me since birth. I brush twice daily with an electric toothbrush at a minimum and have a pretty intense love affair with my Waterpik. Still, as an adult caffeine enthusiast who can’t function without at least three cups of black coffee each morning (and as someone who prefers red wine over white), my teeth have definitely lost their luster over the years. And I’m sure that many of you reading this can relate.

Needless to say, I was excited to test out Crest’s OG whitening system, the Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Whitestrips—a product beloved by Byrdie HQ that promises to remove up to 10 years’ worth of stains in just two weeks. I mean, when it comes to teeth whitening products, is there really a brand more respected than Crest? I took these strips for a spin to see if they were really worth all the hype. Ahead, check out my full review.

Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Whitestrips

Best for: Teeth

Uses: Teeth whitening, stain removal

Potential Allergens: None, but consult a doctor if you are in need of dental work, have dental work, or have staining from medication before using.

Active Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide

Price: Typically ranges from $33 to $46

About the Brand: Crest is an oral hygiene brand under the Proctor & Gamble umbrella known for its toothpaste, mouthwash, and at-home teeth whitening products.

About My Teeth: Slight staining

Having tested Byrdie’s pick for the best overall teeth whitening product, Crest’s 3D White Whitestrips with Light, about a year and a half ago, my teeth are still in relatively decent shape. However, still being the avid coffee drinker I was back in 2020, some of the yellowing has returned to my teeth and in the crevices between them. That said, I was excited to give whitening another go, especially with a product that’s much quicker and easier to use each day.

Over the course of about two weeks, I applied the strips to my top and bottom teeth, leaving them on for 30 minutes before peeling off and brushing. The 14 treatments are meant to be used every day consecutively, but since I experienced a little bit of sensitivity, I did take a one-day break during my testing period—but more on that later.

Ingredients: Hydrogen peroxide whitens and brightens

Crest's 3D White Whitestrips are powered by hydrogen peroxide to brighten the teeth and weaken stains, the same ingredient used in most professional treatments. While the exact concentration isn’t listed, most traditional over-the-counter whiteners use about 10% hydrogen peroxide, while professional treatments typically use about 35%. So, no, these won’t yield as powerful results as visiting your dentist, but they’re still proven to be quite effective. In fact, this is the only at-home kit to earn The American Dental Association's official seal of approval. Pretty impressive!

These Teeth Whitening Strips Left My Smile So Bright (1)

The Feel and Taste: Comfortable, but experienced slight tingling

Straight out of the package, the Whitestrips are dry to the touch. A gel-like substance forms around the teeth after they’re applied, but the no-slip grip technology pretty effectively keeps them in place. In my opinion, these are super comfortable to wear—relatively unnoticeable, even. Sure, you can tell you have a sticky film stuck to your teeth, but you can easily talk, smile, and go about your day with ease. Once you remove them, there will be some gunky residue left behind, which can easily be removed by brushing.

While I didn’t notice any of the formula leak from the strip while wearing them, my tongue did slightly tingle during each session, which I can only imagine was from some of the product seeping out from the back of the strip. My advice would be to try your best not to play with the strips with your tongue while you wear them to avoid this.

I wouldn’t say my teeth are now shockingly white, but there’s a pretty huge difference from when I first began.

The Whitestrips are unflavored, and subtle tingling aside, I didn’t notice any unpleasant taste while wearing them. The other strips I’ve used in the past tasted a tad gross, so I’m definitely pleased with these.

These Teeth Whitening Strips Left My Smile So Bright (2)

Brushing: Brush after treating, rather than before

While you might think it would be best to brush your teeth before applying the strips, Crest doesn’t recommend it because the treatment can cause gum irritation once the strips are on. However, you will want to gently brush your teeth post-treatment in order to remove any leftover gunk and residue. Because you’ll be removing any remaining treatment left on your teeth, this can also help decrease sensitivity.

Side Effects: Slight tooth sensitivity

Now, teeth whitening products are notorious for leaving your teeth sensitive to cold and hot, even slightly sore, and I definitely experienced that with this product. By day two, I began to notice some slight sensitivity. It wasn’t unbearable by any means, but throughout the testing period, I did notice slight aches here and there. After about seven or eight days, the sensitivity increased, and I decided to take a one-day break in order for it to calm down a bit. Again, it’s not awful, but it’s not the most pleasant feeling. Still, the promise of a refreshed, whitened smile was all the incentive I needed to keep going.

The Results: A much brighter, whiter smile

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t notice your not-so-pearly whites looking whiter after just one or two uses. In fact, it wasn’t until about a week into testing that I started to notice any changes taking place. My smile looked slightly brighter and continued to brighten more over the remaining week. By the end of the testing period, my smile was noticeably whiter. Now, I wouldn’t say my teeth are now shockingly white, but there’s a pretty huge difference from when I first began. The only caveat with strips is that the formula doesn’t really get into the deeper crevices of your teeth, so I still noticed slight yellowing in between my teeth (thanks, coffee). However, it was still a pretty noteworthy improvement overall.

In my opinion, these are super comfortable to wear—relatively unnoticeable, even.

Also, the sensitivity thing is real, and even two days after finishing my final treatment, I’m still noticing some sensitivity to hot and cold—but like the last time I whitened my teeth, I don’t expect this to last for more than a couple of days.

These Teeth Whitening Strips Left My Smile So Bright (3)

The Value: Totally worth it!

At less than $50 a box, these are so, so worth it. In terms of other at-home teeth whitening kits, these are considered to be moderately priced but considering that a professional teeth whitening session can set you back anywhere from $600 to upwards of a grand, these are definitely a much more wallet-friendly option. Do they yield as dramatic results? No, but I’m still pretty pleased with my newly whitened smile. They’re effective, they’re affordable, and trust, they’re way stronger than the average whitening toothpaste.

Similar Products: You’ve got options

Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light: My first and only other experience with at-home whitening strips was testing the Crest 3D White Whitestrips with Light ($101). They work similarly to the Glamorous White Whitestrips but have the added benefit of blue light technology to amp up the whitening effects. Each session takes a little over an hour, as opposed to the regular Whitestrip’s 30 minutes, and also requires holding the blue light device to your mouth for ten minutes (meaning you can’t really multitask during that time). However, the full treatment only takes ten days as opposed to 14. Overall, I had better results with this kit, but it costs more—around $100.

AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen: While I haven’t had the chance to test the AuraGlow Teeth Whitening Pen ($26) out myself, it’s earned the title of the best whitening pen by Byrdie editors. It’s a simple and easy carbamide peroxide-powered option that can be used on the go and only takes a quick 60 seconds to work. The fact that it’s in pen form with a flexible brush tip is a plus, meaning it can get into those crevices that strips just can’t reach. Plus, ringing in at just over $20, it’s a total steal, especially considering you get more than 20 applications out of it.

Final Verdict

In short, the Crest 3D White Luxe Glamorous White Whitestrips effectively whitened my smile. And while I still noticed some slight staining in between some of my teeth (and I’m dealing with a bit of sensitivity), I’d say that, overall, the 14-day treatment was a success.

These Teeth Whitening Strips Left My Smile So Bright (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you leave teeth whitening strips on too long? ›

Longer wear time can result in tooth sensitivity. If you are looking for faster whitening results, please try Crest 1 Hour Express + LED Light, See visible results in just 1 hour.

Why do my teeth look more yellow after using whitening strips? ›

Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.

What happens if I leave Opalescence on too long? ›

If you've left your teeth whitening gel on for too long and are worried that it might have caused damage to your teeth, try not to fret. You may notice some slight sensitivity of the teeth, white spots on the gum or white flecks on teeth, or numbness on the gumline.

How long does it take for teeth whitening strips to fade? ›

How long will the results last? With Oral-B 3D White Whitestrips, the results will last for up to 12 months. The length of time your teeth will stay whiter after using Whitestrips is influenced by how often you drink coffee, tea, fizzy drinks, red wine, or smoke.

What happens if you don t brush your teeth after whitening strips? ›

Should You Brush Your Teeth After Using Whitening Strips? The answer is yes – brushing your teeth after using teeth whitening strips is an essential part of the process. Brushing teeth after using teeth whitening strips helps to remove any excess whitening agent and also helps to reduce teeth sensitivity.

Can you damage your teeth with whitening strips? ›

For example, whitening strips that contain the ingredient chlorine dioxide can absolutely destroy tooth enamel and cause more harm than good. Once tooth enamel is worn down, it can't be restored. This may result in an increased risk of decay and other problems.

How many times should you whiten your teeth with strips? ›

How To Apply At Home Teeth Whitening. The strips are applied to upper and lower teeth, once a day, for up to 30 minutes. Depending on the specific Crest 3D White Whitestrips product chosen, strips should be applied daily for anywhere from 10 to 20 consecutive days.

How do you remove yellow tint from teeth? ›

1 part of 3% hydrogen peroxide mixed with 2 parts water makes an easy and affordable tooth-whitening mouthwash. Alternatively, create a paste using 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda and brush with this to remove yellow stains on teeth.

Do teeth go back to normal after whitening? ›

After the treatment, it is natural for teeth' color to regress somewhat over time. This is normal and should be gradual, but it can be accelerated by exposing the teeth to various staining agents, such as coffee, tea, tobacco, red wine, colas, citrus drinks, fruits, etc.

What happens if I don't refrigerate Opalescence? ›

As NON-refrigerated whitening products break down and degrade during storage and shipping, hydrogen ions are produced. Those hydrogen ions are acid (pH = potential of Hydrogen). Whitening gels therefore become more and more acidic as they break down, resulting in an ever increasing possibility of sensitivity and pain.

Can Opalescence damage enamel? ›

Conclusion: All 4 Opalescence products damaged enamel. Higher damage was done by the 10% carbamide peroxide and 20% carbamide peroxide products because of the much longer exposure period (112 hours in comparison to 7 hours).

How many days in a row should I use Opalescence go? ›

How long do I wear Opalescence Go whitening trays? Wear times for Opalescence Go whitening trays differ depending on whether you use 10% or 15% hydrogen peroxide gel and how dramatic you want your results to be. Trays are generally worn from 15 minutes to one hour per day for anywhere from five to 10 days.

Why do my teeth look darker after whitening? ›

Foods and drinks with strong pigments, such as coffee, tea, red wine, and some fruits like berries, can reverse the effects of teeth whitening by staining your teeth. Consuming these in moderation and practicing good oral hygiene can help maintain whitening results.

Should you brush your teeth before or after whitening strips? ›

Brushing before applying Whitestrips can help remove surface stains and improve product adherence. Yet, it's equally essential to follow up with a gentle post-treatment brushing to eliminate residual gel and maintain oral hygiene. The ideal sequence can vary depending on personal preferences and product instructions.

Can I skip a day of teeth whitening strips? ›

Some whitening treatments, such as whitening toothpaste or mouthwash, are designed for daily use and skipping a day may impact their effectiveness. Professional-grade whitening kits or treatments may have specific instructions regarding consecutive usage, and skipping a day could affect the desired results.

What happens if you leave whitening strips on longer than 30 minutes? ›

It's tempting to think that leaving them on longer will yield a more dazzling smile, but this isn't necessarily the case. Overextending the application time can lead to increased tooth sensitivity without delivering significant additional benefits.

Is it bad to leave whitening strips on longer than 30 minutes? ›

Leaving them on for too long can cause tooth sensitivity, gum irritation, and tooth damage. Your dentist can recommend the best whitening strips for your situation.

Is it safe to leave whitening strips on for an hour? ›

Time Per Application: How long should you wear the strips per application? This is likely to range from 5 minutes to 45 minutes, depending on the strength of the product. Read your teeth whitening instructions closely and follow the directions for best results.

Should I rinse my mouth after whitening strips? ›

After removing the whitening strips, it's crucial to rinse your mouth thoroughly to remove any residual gel. Take a moment to examine your teeth in the mirror, appreciating the initial results. It's common to notice an immediate improvement in the shade of your teeth, which can be quite satisfying.

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