How to use teeth whitening strips: instructions for use

Author of the article:

Soldatova Lyudmila Nikolaevna

Candidate of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Clinical Dentistry of the St. Petersburg Medical and Social Institute, Chief Physician of the Alfa-Dent Dental Clinic, St. Petersburg

Over time, teeth acquire an increasingly distinct yellow tint, which is not to everyone’s taste, because it is difficult to come up with something more bewitching and attractive than a snow-white smile. Unfortunately, achieving, and most importantly, maintaining it is not so easy - there are so many temptations around. Coffee, tea, wine, berries, lemonades and other products significantly affect the color of enamel. The situation is aggravated by smoking, as well as poor oral hygiene.

If you notice that your teeth have become darker and want to correct it, don’t despair. Today there are many convenient and affordable ways to solve this problem. One of the most popular options among home procedures is whitening using special strips. Their advantages are simplicity, safety, relatively low price and the ability to take everything you need for the procedures with you, for example, on a business trip.

But before you start whitening, you need to familiarize yourself with the rules for using strips. This will not only help you avoid common mistakes, but will also increase the effect of these funds.

We suggest you read some simple but important tips.

How to whiten teeth correctly?

Step one: read the instructions

Be sure to pay attention to what is written in the instructions, even if this is not your first time doing whitening. Most products have similar methods of use, but due to the difference in composition there may be some differences in use. Therefore, read the instructions to the very end, paying special attention to possible side effects.

Remember that improper use of any whitening products is dangerous to the health of your teeth. The fact is that the process itself causes weakening of the enamel, so you need to approach it carefully. The active substance applied to the strips may cause soft tissue irritation and other problems.
Different brands of strips have different instructions, so every time you use a product from a new manufacturer, read the manual carefully.

Step two: brush your teeth

Before you begin whitening, brush your teeth thoroughly, otherwise food debris and plaque will prevent you from achieving good results.

Important:

Do not whiten your teeth immediately after brushing them; do this at least half an hour after the procedure.

If you want to achieve maximum results, it is better to have the cleaning done by a dentist. There are several procedures that will help restore teeth to their natural color and get rid of hard and soft plaque. The most popular options: ultrasonic cleaning and cleaning using an Air Flow device. The first is necessary if you have tartar. The second is a more gentle procedure; food debris and soft plaque are removed using a special abrasive solution, which is released under pressure.

Step Three: Prepare the Strips

Before you fix the strips, make sure you are using them correctly. Some manufacturers produce strips of various shapes for the upper and lower teeth. In other cases, the products do not differ from each other. Be sure to figure this out when you decide to whiten.

After you understand how to properly fix the elements, prepare the strips. The composition contains an active substance, most often it is based on hydrogen peroxide. The principle of operation is simple - oxygen is gradually released from peroxide, which penetrates the enamel, discoloring the pigment.
The smooth side does not contain active gel; its main function is to make it convenient for you to stick the strips to your teeth.

Step Four: Apply the strips to your teeth

Apply the strip to the front surface of your teeth with the gel side so that it completely covers the teeth, then smooth out any irregularities.
In order to straighten the strip, it is convenient to use a toothbrush.
Make sure that the strip actually covers the entire row of teeth, if you, of course, want to get a uniform result.
Try not to get the gel on your gums, especially during the period of wisdom teeth eruption, otherwise perioronitis may occur; if necessary, remove it with a cotton swab, as long-term presence of the active substance on soft tissues can cause irritation.

Step Five: Wait

After both strips are attached to the teeth, all that remains is to wait a little. Do not touch the strip for the process to proceed correctly. The required time depends on the concentration of the active substance and other factors. Therefore, be sure to read the instructions carefully to correctly determine how long you will need to wait. Usually the session lasts about half an hour, after which you can remove the strips.

Step Six: Remove the Strips

After the waiting time has passed, you need to carefully remove the strips. Slowly peel them off the enamel surface and discard.
Carefully watch the clock so as not to overexpose the gel on your teeth. This can lead to damage to the enamel or irritation of the gums, and the delay can also increase tooth sensitivity.
Remember that if you leave the strips on longer, the effect will not become more noticeable.
Be sure to rinse your mouth after removing the whitening strips. After this, to completely remove any remaining gel, brush your teeth with a toothbrush.

Seventh step: repeat the procedure

Unlike in-office whitening, home remedies never provide instant results. Therefore, to make your teeth whiter, you will have to undergo several procedures. The gel that is applied to the strips has a small concentration of the active substance, which is why the lightening is not immediately noticeable. But this also has its advantages, since the process becomes less destructive to the enamel. Remember that quality whitening requires patience. To obtain a noticeable effect, you will need to carry out several procedures. They should be repeated in accordance with the rules written in the instructions.

In most cases, you will need to do the procedure for 30 minutes twice a day.
The minimum recommended period for using whitening strips is 14 days.
The results become noticeable approximately four months after you start the procedure.

Precautionary measures

Never swallow the gel. Most whitening strips are coated with a chemical composition in which the active ingredient is hydrogen peroxide. It is a highly toxic substance that can cause soft tissue irritation and other problems. Therefore, be careful not to swallow the gel while you are gluing or removing the strips. At the same time, if you accidentally swallowed a small amount of peroxide, do not panic, it will not cause serious consequences (in small quantities).
Stop the procedure if you feel pain or increased tooth sensitivity. The active substances contained in the whitening composition can cause discomfort in the teeth and gums. This usually happens if you use this whitening method too often or leave the strips on for too long. In addition, troubles can occur if you have caries or your teeth are hypersensitive to the substances that make up the gel. As soon as you notice something wrong, stop using the strips and contact your dentist for advice. A specialist will select more suitable procedures for you and help restore damaged enamel.
It is advisable that you consult your doctor before you decide to undergo whitening. This cosmetic procedure has a rather serious impact on dental health, which is why it is not suitable for everyone. You may be better off sticking with in-office teeth cleanings.
It is also advisable to consult a doctor if you decide to switch to strips from another manufacturer. Here you need to find out whether the new product is right for you.

Dental care

If you want your teeth to be healthy and the whitening effect to last as long as possible, take proper care of your entire oral cavity. This should be done as often as possible, spending sufficient time brushing your teeth.

Brush your teeth at least twice a day, for about two to three minutes.
It is important to clean carefully so as not to damage the gums and enamel.
To make the whitening effect more noticeable, use a special whitening paste, for example, ASEPTA PLUS GENTLE WHITENING. It not only cleanses the surface of pigment, but also prevents increased sensitivity of tooth enamel, and the calamus and eleutherococcus extracts included in the composition promote accelerated gum regeneration, prevent bleeding and inflammation.

In addition to regular brushing, use mouthwash; it has a good antiseptic effect, which significantly improves the condition of your gums and teeth. The solutions contain natural ingredients that prevent inflammation of soft tissues and reduce sensitivity

Rinse your teeth for at least 30 seconds, then spit out the liquid.
If you think the rinse aid is too concentrated, dilute it with water according to the instructions.
If you want to enhance the effect of the strips, use special whitening rinses.

Don't give up on flossing. With its help, you can better remove food debris from your teeth, which will reduce the accumulation of soft plaque and reduce the likelihood of tartar formation. The procedure is quite simple:

Tear off a piece of thread approximately the length of your arm.
Wrap the ends of the thread around the middle or index fingers of your left and right hands.
Gently lower the floss into the space between your teeth.
When it reaches the surface of the gum, wrap the floss around one of your teeth and gently rub it over the surface of the tooth, moving up and down.
Do this with each tooth.

Try to exclude coloring drinks and food from your diet during the procedures, otherwise you will not soon notice the effect. Or you risk not getting it at all. Eliminate the following foods from your diet:

Coffee, tea, wine;
Colored lemonades;
Berries: blueberries, blackberries, etc.
Chocolate;
Lemons and oranges, as well as other foods with high acidity.

Visit your dentist regularly.

Sources:

Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of toothpaste “ASEPTA PLUS” GENTLE WHITENING” Author: doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
Clinical and laboratory assessment of the influence of domestic therapeutic and prophylactic toothpaste based on plant extracts on the condition of the oral cavity in patients with simple marginal gingivitis. Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor Elovikova T.M.1, Candidate of Chemical Sciences, Associate Professor Ermishina E.Yu. 2, Doctor of Technical Sciences Associate Professor Belokonova N.A. 2 Department of Therapeutic Dentistry USMU1, Department of General Chemistry USMU2
Report on the determination/confirmation of the preventive properties of personal oral hygiene products “ASEPTA PLUS” Remineralization doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
Clinical studies of antisensitive toothpaste “Asepta Sensitive” (A.A. Leontyev, O.V. Kalinina, S.B. Ulitovsky) A.A. LEONTIEV, dentist O.V. KALININA, dentist S.B. ULITOVSKY, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Prof. Department of Therapeutic Dentistry, St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova
Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of toothpaste “ASEPTA PLUS” COFFEE and TOBACCO Author: doctor-researcher A.A. Leontyev, head Department of Preventive Dentistry, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor S.B. Ulitovsky. First St. Petersburg State Medical University named after. acad. I.P. Pavlova, Department of Preventive Dentistry
Report on determining/confirming the preventive properties of commercially produced personal oral hygiene products: Asepta toothpaste used in combination with Asepta mouthwash and Asepta gum balm Head. Department of PFS Doctor of Medical Sciences Professor S.B. Ulitovsky St. Petersburg State Medical University named after Academician I.P. Pavlova. Faculty of Dentistry. Department of Preventive Dentistry.

Properties

A whitening pencil is an effective way to brighten your smile by several shades. In contrast, not all at-home whitening systems produce noticeable results. In appearance, the pencil resembles a regular felt-tip pen. It is easy to use and approved for use even with enamel hypersensitivity.

Positive properties of the drug when lightening teeth:

strengthening the enamel, which creates additional protection for the enamel from caries and other destructive processes;
reducing the risk of gum injury;
Possibility of use in case of emergency.

Teeth whitening pencils are easy to hold in your hands and are no larger than a regular fountain pen. Some types of products are equipped with a built-in brush or applicator for applying whitening gel.

The effectiveness of a particular drug depends on the concentration of the bleaching agent in the gel. In the process of creating whitening pencils, 2 types of active substances are used:

Hydrogen peroxide. Comes into contact well with bacterial plaque and pigment on teeth. A small amount of peroxide is sufficient for the whitening procedure. It is possible to safely lighten teeth with gels that contain hydrogen peroxide in no more than 12% concentration. They do not injure the surface of the teeth, but contribute to effective lightening of their surface. Before using products that contain hydrogen peroxide, you must study the instructions for their use.
Carbamide peroxide. It is less effective than peroxide, but has a gentler effect on the surface of the teeth. Lightening of problem areas is carried out due to the urea contained in preparations with urea. Carbamide peroxide is usually found in pencils in no more than 15% concentration.