In this article, we may include products or services we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission to help fund our mission to create more healthy smiles. Here’s our process. Show
If you’re like the thousands of people who have used whitening strips to whiten your teeth, you probably wonder if I leave my strips on longer, will my teeth whiten faster? or How long can I leave white strips on my teeth? Here’s what you need to know: how long to keep whitening strips on your teeth depends on the concentration and type of gel in that specific line of product. It doesn’t matter which whitening brand it is. Every company, whether it’s BURST, Crest, Zoom, Opalescence, etc — has varying levels of whitening gel concentration. It’s extremely important that you follow the specific product’s instructions even if you’ve used a whitening strip under the same brand name in the past. They could be completely different. And if you don’t do it right, you’ll really regret it later. Time & Peroxide ConcentrationHow long can you leave whitening strips on your teeth? Does the duration of whitening strips time on teeth affect your results? Always follow manufacturer’s directions on each specific line of whitening strips you’re using. Even if it’s the same brand, the concentration of gel (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide) affects how long you can safely wear the strips. Wearing them too long or taking them off too soon can lead to significant side effects or poor results.[1] Over The Counter Whitening SystemsBURST Whitening Strips — 6% Hydrogen Peroxide. Available online or from your dental provider. Wear 10-15 minutes once a day. Colgate Optic White Professional Take-home Kit — Available for direct purchase through your dentist’s office or online. 9% Hydrogen Peroxide. Apply for 30 minutes once a day. Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening Pen — Purchase online or in stores. Apply the 3% Hydrogen Peroxide gel pen once nightly. Crest 3D White Whitestrips — Available online or in stores. Apply for 30 minutes once a day. Uses unknown Hydrogen Peroxide percentage.
Whitening Systems Available At Your Dentist’s OfficeOpalescence Whitening GelAvailable in Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide. Available for direct purchase through your dentist’s office.
Philips Zoom Whitening20-25% Hydrogen Peroxide. A same-day in-office teeth whitening treatment that’s completed in about an hour. Take-home Kits:Philips Zoom Whitening DayWhite ACP
Philips Zoom Whitening NiteWhite ACP
BURST Whitening StripsBURST is best known for its gentle electric toothbrush system and auto-refills on toothbrush heads that arrive straight to your mailbox every three months. But they also provide a tasty whitening strips system that’s packed with natural ingredients. Type of PeroxideHydrogen Peroxide is delivered in a set of one-week worth of whitening strips. Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on TeethBURST uses 6% Hydrogen Peroxide with a recommended whitening strips time on teeth of only 10 minutes per day (7 days total.) The shorter application time is quick enough to fit into anybody’s busy schedule! Colgate Whitening SystemsColgate Optic White Teeth Whitening Kit With LED Blue Light TrayRechargeable tray uses an LED teeth whitening light with blue light technology to activate hydrogen peroxide and remove up to 10 years of stains Type of Peroxide9% Hydrogen peroxide delivered via gel serum Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on TeethThe Colgate Optic White Advanced LED Whitening uses 9% Hydrogen Peroxide, using a LED light tray. The kit comes with a 10 day supply of whitening serums with refills available. Colgate Optic White Overnight Teeth Whitening PenAlways trying to remember how long you can leave white strips on your teeth? Don’t like using strips or trays at all? A whitening pen lets you directly apply the whitening gel to the teeth in your smile zone and then go straight to sleep. Type of PeroxideHydrogen peroxide delivered via a handheld, brush-tipped pen. Instead of wondering how long you can leave white strips on, the pen creates a thin film on your teeth that you can brush away the next morning. Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on TeethThe Colgate Optic White Overnight teeth whitening pen uses 3% Hydrogen Peroxide, making it safe enough to apply on your own and sleep with it on your teeth overnight. It’s meant to use nightly for up to one week. Crest Whitening SystemsCrest 3D WhitestripsCrest whitening systems do not disclose the concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide on their packaging materials. Available in lines like Glamorous White, Vivid White, and Brilliance White, Crest Whitestrips. Type of PeroxideHydrogen Peroxide is the key whitening ingredient in most standard Crest whitening strips. But how long you can leave white strips on and the whitening strips time on teeth will be what impact their efficacy the most. Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on Teeth
Crest 3D Whitestrips SensitiveIf you’re someone who tends to have fairly sensitive teeth, some teeth whitening gels can amplify the sensitivity. Plus, how long you can leave white strips on (which tends to be shorter) affects the outcome of your whitening experience. That’s why Crest 3D came out with specific product lines designed specifically for people who have sensitive teeth: Sensitive White, Vivid White Gentle, and Sensitive. Type of PeroxideThese sensitivity-formulated whitening strips use Hydrogen Peroxide, which tends to be one of the effective yet gentler types of gels for effective teeth whitening if used in lower concentrations. Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on Teeth
Crest Gentle whitening systems doesn’t disclose the concentration of Hydrogen Peroxide on their packaging materials. But since it’s the same type of peroxide and wear time compared to their mainstream strips, it’s safe to assume that a much lower strength of the gel is being used.[2] In-Office Teeth WhiteningOpalescence Whitening SystemsDon’t want to mess with whitening strips time on teeth? You can get professional whitening trays made by your dentist and use a concentrated gel called Opalescence (one of the more popular whitening gel brands.) Opalescence also makes a pre-loaded tray in lieu of messy strips, but you still have to buy it at your dentist’s office. They also have a same day teeth whitening system that you can complete in under an hour. Type of PeroxideOpalescence offers both Hydrogen Peroxide and Carbamide Peroxide whitening gels, allowing you to customize your experience to your lifestyle. Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on Teeth
Philips Zoom WhiteningZoom offers a line of whitening products (including take-home professional gel) but it’s best known for its same-day whitening treatment performed in the dental office. If you don’t want to mess with whitening strips time on teeth, then you can schedule an appointment with your dentist and walk out with instantly whiter teeth. Type of PeroxideZoom in-office uses Hydrogen Peroxide, as it responds best to the novel dental whitening lamp. The light-catalyzed peroxide gel provides ample oxidation, which safely breaks apart and lifts deep stain particles. Concentration Percentage and Length of Time on Teeth• Zoom 20-25% Hydrogen Peroxide is applied in 15-minute cycles for a recommended three cycles (45 minutes total.) The gel is rinsed away and reapplied for each cycle. Philips Zoom Whitening DayWhite & NightWhite KitsTake-home Kits: Philips Zoom Whitening DayWhite ACP
Philips Zoom Whitening NiteWhite ACP
Whitening Time & Concentration RecapWhitening your teeth is like baking cookies. Ok not really. But they’re the same in that different ingredients call for different timeframes. If you don’t follow the whitening strip time directions properly, you’re not going to get the desired results. Always follow the manufacturer’s directions on THAT specific line of whitening product, as they can significantly vary from one brand’s product to the next. Your dentist can give you the best recommendations on whitening strips based on your unique smile’s characteristics. Do Crest teeth whitening strips expire?The short answer: Yes. Crest 3DWhitestrips teeth whitening strips do expire. Check your product's box to find a "best if used by" date.
How long should you keep Crest White Strips in?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.
Can I use expired teeth whitening?Don'tUse Expired Products
Using expired whitening products means you won't get the results youwant. When they expire, the hydrogen peroxide in them breaks down and leavesonly water and oxygen, which won't brighten your teeth.
Do Crest White Strips stop working after 30 minutes?The maximum amount of time to keep the strips on your teeth is 30 minutes depending on which one you're using. Some kits are even less time than that.
|