What are teeth whitening strips and how are they used?

Teeth whitening strips are thin, flexible pieces of plastic (polyethylene) that have been coated on one side with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide bleaching agent. Unlike other whitening systems where a whitener is placed in a tray, the strip itself is the delivery system for the whitener.

When used whitening strips are positioned across the user's teeth and then gently pressed into place so to insure maximum contact between the whitener and the surface of each tooth that will receive treatment. Whitening strips kits contain two different shapes of strips. Half of the kit's strips are designed to fit across the user's upper teeth and the other half are shaped to fit across their lower teeth.

How often and for how long are teeth whitening strips worn?

Teeth whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The number of strips contained in each whitening kit varies depending on the concentration of the whitener that has been applied to them. Whitening strips that have been coated with a 6% hydrogen peroxide whitener are intended to be worn over a course of 14 days. Strips coated with 10% whitener are intended for a treatment period of 7 days. Of course if a person has achieved the whitening results they desired before using the entire contents of the whitening strips kit they can terminate treatments at any time.

How are whitening strips different from tray teeth whitening systems?

Teeth whitening strips have been designed so to provide an alternative to tray-based at-home teeth whitening systems. With tray bleaching products a whitening gel is placed into a rigid plastic bleaching tray that is then in turn slipped over the user's teeth and worn for some hours per day or else overnight.