I was just wondering if anybody could recommend a successful tooth whitening product that you can buy over the counter. Do those whitening strips really work? Any recommendations would be appreciated!

Thanks!

It's a good idea to just eliminate or tone down whatever is staining your teeth in the first place. The tooth whiteners really are not good for your gums. I know of one vain girl who had her teeth whitened so much that when she opened her mouth it was so phony looking it was silly. She did say that her gums hurt her terribly from the procedure for weeks and months later but like an idiot she would keep going back every 6 months for more whitening. She was nuts by the way.

Skip the whitening strips by the way as they don't really work. They will temporarily lighten the color of the enamel and then after forking over $20 for one or two days of a few shades lighter, the teeth just get stained again.

Just use a non fluoride toothpaste that has natural whiteners. One I use and like is by Kiss My Face whitening paste. Made in Italy. Available in the US at most health food stores or online at most of the online drug stores. Costs about $6 a tube and works great if used twice a day. Makes my teeth slippery all day long and when I wake in the morning I don't have fuzzy teeth either.

Crest WhiteStrips do work if you are looking to whiten only the front 8 teeth. They are safe to use as there is nothing touching the gums when you place them properly. They will whiten your natural teeth but won't whiten any white fillings you have. I've had patients who used them and their teeth stayed white for 6 - 9 months depending on what their habits were (red wine, smoking, coffee, tea, colas, soya sauce cause the stains to return).

Crest makes a toothpaste called Vivid White which has stain removers and stain inhibitors in it. This paste is good to use once you are finished with the strips to maintain the whiteness.

Using a whitening product with carbamide peroxide will offer you longer lasting whiteness. The products with hydrogen peroxide (which most in office treatments are) are meant to whiten quickly but a take home kit with carbamide peroxide will continue the whitening process and extend the brightness.

You should brush with a desensitizing toothpaste for 2 weeks before you do any whitening as there is always a risk of tooth sensitivity. Continue using the desensitizing (Sensodyne-F) paste until you are finished whitening and then start using the Vivid White.

Try to avoid swallowing any of the whitening agent while you are doing it as the hydrogen peroxide is not good for the throat. If you are a smoker, it could increase the risk of pharyngeal cancer.

The dissolving type of whitening strips should be avoided. And from personal experience, I'd suggest you avoid the AquaFresh whitening trays as I found them difficult to use and they didn't get the gel to all of the tooth surfaces.

I hope this helps.

Just use a non flouride toothpaste that has natural whiteners.

I thought fluoride was good for your teeth and you are supposed to use it?

Fluoride is good for those who are cavity prone (children over 2 yrs of age especially). If you have a healthy mouth and few fillings it is not necessary to use fluoridated toothpaste.
If you suffer from sensitivity then fluoride or calcium phosphate would be indicated.