FAQs - Frequently Asked QuestionsGeneralQUOTE
Q. What are the benefits of using Crest 3D White Whitestrips?
A. Every Crest 3D White Whitestrips teeth whitening system is guaranteed to whiten teeth by removing surface stains as well as set-in stains deep within the enamel.
Q. Are Crest 3D White Whitestrips harmful to teeth or can they damage the enamel?
A. No, this product is formulated to be safe and effective when used as directed. All our safety data indicate that 3D White Whitestrips are safe on tooth enamel. They contain the same whitening ingredient as the professional products dentists use to whiten teeth.
Q. How do Crest 3D White Whitestrips work?
A. Crest 3D White Whitestrips are thin, flexible strips that are coated with a tooth whitening gel containing peroxide. Designed to conform to the shape of your teeth, they work by keeping the whitening gel in place against your teeth to get at stain build-up on and below the tooth’s surface.
Q. When will I start to notice results with Crest 3D White Whitestrips?
A. Noticeable results vary by person, but most people start seeing results halfway through the regimen, with full results upon completion. If speed is a priority, try Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid or Professional Effects to start seeing results after 3 days.
Q. How long will whitening last?
A. The length of time your teeth will stay whiter is influenced by several factors, including how often you drink coffee, tea, dark colas, red wine or smoke. Advanced Vivid & Professional Effects keep your teeth whiter for 12 months.
Q. Can I wear the strips longer than the instructed wear time to get better whitening results?
A. We recommend following usage instructions for each product. Longer wear time can result in tooth sensitivity and/or gum discomfort.
Q. Sometimes I see white spots on my teeth immediately after I remove a strip. Will they go away?
A. Yes, the white spots are temporary. These spots are not harmful and will go away in a few hours.
Q. Will Crest 3D White Whitestrips affect my dental work?
A. CREST 3D WHITE WHITESTRIPS WILL ONLY WHITEN NATURAL TEETH. The strips will not whiten caps, crowns, veneers, fillings or dentures. Do not use with dental braces. If you are in need of dental work, have dental work or have staining from medication, ask your dentist to determine if whitening is appropriate. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid and Professional Effects are designed to hold well to teeth, do not use on loose teeth or temporary or loose restorations.
UsageQUOTE
Q. How do I use 3D White Whitestrips?
A. It is best if you do not brush your teeth immediately before applying strips. Open the pouch and remove the strip. Peel the strips from the backing liner and align with gum line. Press gently for good contact. Fold the rest of strip behind teeth to keep in place. Wear strips for required amount of time, then remove and discard.
Q. What happens if I skip an application?
A. You can skip or miss a couple of applications without affecting your whitening benefit.
Q. Can I switch strips (wear upper strip on bottom teeth and vice versa)?
A. No, We do not recommend switching strips. Although the strips would still work if switched, each upper strip is designed specifically to cover the area of your upper teeth while each lower strip is designed specifically to cover the area of your lower teeth. These shapes were designed to keep the strips in place while covering those teeth that show when you smile. Wearing a lower strip on your upper teeth will result in you covering less area on your upper smile teeth.
Q. What if I have trouble removing Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid or Professional Effects?
A. Crest 3D White Whitestrips Advanced Vivid and Professional Effects are uniquely designed to securely hold the whitening gel onto your teeth where it matters most. If it seems like you’re having trouble removing the strip, try peeling the strip off the back of your teeth to loosen the grip then peel the rest of strip off your teeth.
Q. Can I reuse a strip?
A. No, Using a strip over again will not provide any tooth whitening benefits. Even though there may be gel remaining on the strip when you take it off, most of the hydrogen peroxide has been depleted.
Q. I dropped a strip in the sink after pulling from the backing. Can I still use it?
A. No, It's not recommended. Start over with a new strip.
Q. Is it okay to use Crest 3D White Whitestrips on my back teeth?
A. No, it is not recommended. The strips provided for your upper and lower teeth are designed to fit the front teeth only. Using the strips on the back teeth may result in the strips coming loose and eventually falling off during the wear period.
Q. What happens if after using Whitestrips, I have white spots on my teeth?
A. The white spots are temporary. These spots are not harmful and will go away. The white spots are caused by a loss of water from the tooth enamel. This water loss is not harmful and will go away.
Q. What if I experience foaming or excessive saliva while using Whitestrips?
A. You're experiencing a natural reaction between your saliva and the hydrogen peroxide on our Whitestrips. Saliva increases whenever you place an object of any kind in your mouth. As saliva increases, it also reacts with the peroxide and together they make foam.
Q. How do I remove gel left on my teeth after using strips?
A. Since the left over gel isn’t harmful, you can do any of the following:
Rinse your mouth with water
Wipe the gel off your teeth
Brush it off
Leave it, as it will dissolve eventually
Q. Can I eat while wearing Whitestrips?
A. Eating while wearing a strip is not recommended. Doing so will affect whitening results.
Q. Can I wear Whitestrips overnight while I sleep?
A. No, do not wear Whitestrips overnight or while sleeping.
Q. Can I brush my teeth immediately before using Whitestrips?
A. Do NOT brush immediately BEFORE applying strips. To avoid gum irritation, allow for some time to pass after you have brushed your teeth to apply strips.
Q. Can I brush my teeth immediately after using Whitestrips?
A. Yes, after using Whitestrips, you can brush gently.
Q. Can I use Whitestrips after a professional cleaning from a dentist or hygienist?
A. You may want to wait a few days after a cleaning if your mouth is sensitive before using Crest 3D White Whitestrips, otherwise, you may have more discomfort. We recommend you discuss this with your dentist.
Q. My Crest 3D White Whitestrips is expired. Can I still use it?
A. Although Crest 3D White Whitestrips that have passed expiration date are still safe, we don’t recommend using them past their expiration date, as the whitening ingredient’s efficacy will be weakened.
Q. Can I smoke while using Whitestrips?
A. No, do not smoke while wearing a strip. Doing so could cause the strips to dislodge from the teeth, thus affecting the whitening results.
Q. Will Whitestrips remove smoking stains?
A. Yes, however, smoking stains can be difficult to remove and may take a little longer. If you continue to smoke after whitening, your teeth may discolor faster. We recommend that you use Crest 3D White Whitestrips Stain Shield daily to help remove surface stains caused by tobacco.
Q. Can I use Whitestrips while I am outside in the sun?
A. Yes, however do not store the strips in the sun or heat.
Q. Can I cut the Whitestrips into smaller pieces to fit them into different spots in my mouth?
A. No. If cut into smaller pieces, the strips could dislodge from the teeth and have the potential to become aspirated or swallowed.
Q. Can I add additional peroxide to the strip before applying it to my teeth?
A. No, this is not recommended. No data is available on the safety of effectiveness of adding additional peroxide to Crest 3D White Whitestrips. Adding anything to the strip will affect its ability to stick to the tooth surface, thus affecting whitening results.
Q. What should I do if I have skin irritation from getting gel on my skin?
A. Prolonged contact with your skin may cause small, white spots on your skin. These white spots are not harmful and will disappear. Be sure to rinse off any gel that gets on your skin.
SafetyQUOTE
Q. Are Whitestrips safe on tooth enamel?
A. Yes. Crest 3D White Whitestrips contains hydrogen peroxide, the same enamel-safe ingredient dentists use for tooth whitening. Extensive testing has shown the product to be safe when used as directed.
Q. Can I use more than 2 sets of Whitestrips a day?
A. Extensive clinical and consumer testing was done to establish the safety and efficacy of Crest 3D White Whitestrips. However, based on the results of that work we do not recommend using more than 2 upper strips and 2 lower strips in a day.
Q. What happens if I swallow some of the gel from the strip?
A. No adverse effects will result from ingesting the peroxide gel. However, swallowing large amounts of peroxide can cause nausea and stomach irritation.
SensitivityQUOTE
Q. What should I do if Whitestrips irritate my gums or cause my teeth to be sensitive?
A. As with any teeth whitening system that contains peroxide, teeth/gum sensitivity may temporarily develop when using Crest 3D White Whitestrips. Some people may experience tooth sensitivity or gum discomfort when using this or other whitening products. If significant tooth sensitivity or gum discomfort develops, try using the strips every other day. If the problem persists, discontinue use.
Using a teeth whitening system on teeth that are already sensitive may increase the level of discomfort that you normally experience.
Other factors that may contribute to discomfort are 1) brushing too hard and or more than twice a day, 2) using a hard to medium bristled toothbrush after whitening your teeth.
Special ConditionsQUOTE
Q. Can I use Whitestrips if I have a cavity?
A. If you have an unfilled cavity, we do not recommend using Crest 3D White Whitestrips. Check with your dental professional before using a whitening product if you are in need of dental work.
Q. Can I use Whitestrips if I have braces?
A. Crest 3D White Whitestrips should not be applied to teeth with braces because Crest 3D White Whitestrips will whiten only the portion of the teeth with which the whitening gel comes in contact.
Because braces cover some areas of the tooth surface only parts of the tooth will whiten, leaving unevenly colored teeth when the braces are removed. In addition, metal in the braces could oxidize and change color.
Q. Can I use Whitestrips if I am pregnant or nursing?
A. While there is no evidence that Crest 3D White Whitestrips is harmful when used by women who are pregnant or nursing, we recommend you check with your doctor before using Crest 3D White Whitestrips.
Q. Will Whitestrips remove tetracycline stains?
A. Most teeth with these types of stains will not whiten as well as teeth with yellow stains. This is because most dark or blue-gray stains are caused by certain types of medication taken during tooth development. These types of stains are deep within the tooth as well as at the enamel surface. We recommend you discuss this with your dentist.
Q. Can I use Whitestrips if I have crowns, caps, fillings, veneers, partials, gold, laminates, composite bonding, or other restorations?
A. Crest 3D White Whitestrips will not harm or whiten these types of dental work. Crest 3D White Whitestrips will whiten only natural teeth so if you have any of these on your front teeth, there may be noticeable color differences between the dental work and your whiter teeth. Crest 3D White Whitestrips is designed to whiten only the teeth that show when you smile. So, if you have these types of dental work on your back teeth, color differences may not be noticeable.
This post has been edited by Fuyukaze: Jan 4 2013, 04:01 AM