I've been trying to get my teeth a bit brighter lately, and honestly, dentist whitening prices are no joke. So I decided to give those drugstore whitening strips a shot first. Here's what I've been doing: brush teeth normally, dry them off a bit (heard somewhere it helps the strips stick better?), slap on the strips carefully so they're not sliding around everywhere, wait the recommended 30 mins or whatever while watching Netflix, then peel off and rinse. I've done this consistently for about two weeks now.
Results? Um... they're okayish? Definitely see some improvement but not like blindingly white or anything. Plus, my teeth feel kinda sensitive now, especially when drinking cold water or ice cream. Wondering if the dentist treatment would be faster or less painful—or just overall better results.
Anyone tried both methods before? Curious if there's a trick I'm missing here with these strips or if I should just bite the bullet and go pro already.
"Plus, my teeth feel kinda sensitive now, especially when drinking cold water or ice cream."
Yeah, sensitivity was a big issue for me too when I tried those strips. I remember my dentist mentioning something about professional treatments being quicker and involving some kind of gel or something that helps reduce sensitivity... but honestly, I never went through with it because of the price tag. My daughter recently got whitening done at the dentist though (teenagers and their selfies, lol), and she said the sensitivity wasn't too bad—just lasted a day or two. Her results were definitely better than mine, but she also started out with pretty white teeth anyway.
Have you tried using a toothpaste specifically for sensitive teeth while doing the strips? I heard that helps, but never tried it myself. Wondering if that might make things more comfortable for you.
"Have you tried using a toothpaste specifically for sensitive teeth while doing the strips?"
I actually did try that combo, but honestly, it didn't make much difference for me. Maybe my teeth are just extra sensitive or something. My dentist mentioned that sensitivity can vary a lot from person to person, so I'm wondering if professional whitening might still be worth it—even with the higher cost—if it means less discomfort overall. Has anyone else found the dentist treatments noticeably gentler?
I totally get where you're coming from—my teeth are pretty sensitive too, and those strips were rough on me. I ended up going for the dentist whitening, and honestly, it was way more comfortable. They put this gel stuff on my gums to protect them, and the whole thing felt more controlled. Yeah, it cost more, but for me, it was worth it just to avoid that sharp sensitivity pain afterward. Everyone's different though, so trust your gut on this one.
I had a similar experience with the strips—got some decent results but the sensitivity was pretty annoying. Eventually, I tried the dentist route and found it way more effective overall. They used a stronger whitening gel and did something to protect my gums, which helped a lot with the discomfort. Still felt sensitive afterward, but it faded quicker than with the strips. It's pricier for sure, but if you're after noticeable results without weeks of hassle, it might be worth considering.