Getting pearly whites with ease

The latest addition to the teeth-whitening arsenal is Crest Whitestrips.
Whitestrips are sticky strips of plastic impregnated with a whitening agent that the consumer places over the front teeth for a set period of time. They cost about $40 for a month's supply, but can be found for less.
Dental professionals recommend them for patients who want a light and inexpensive whitening treatment.
Dr. Pam Barkett reports her patients like Whitestrips. "I've just found out from two patients that those actually work. But do they give the same results as an in-office treatment? No. They're not the same strength as the products we use in the office. They wouldn't affect tetracycline stain, for instance. I've heard they slide off real easily, but they work for some people. I tell patients that if they want to just brighten their teeth, or boost a whitening treatment they had in the past, these will work fine."
Easy to use: Hygienist Debbie Woytek likes the ease of Whitestrips. "I've seen teens and older people use these. You just wear the strips for an hour in the morning and an hour at night. It's not like wearing a cumbersome tray."
Besides Whitestrips, several other bleaching gels and toothpastes are available over the counter. These products, Woytek cautions, don't list the percentage of carbamide peroxide, or whitening ingredient, they contain.
"None of them actually tell you the percentage. You could be buying just five or six percent carbamide peroxide and not realize it. Then you could bleach forever and ever and not get a good result. You may not see the change you want to see. A professional kit from a dental office, by comparison, will reliably whiten your teeth three shades in just a few weeks."
For anyone who would like to try an over-the-counter whitening product, Woytek recommends waiting for a sale. "As long as the expiration date is OK and the package is sealed, go ahead and save the money."