Wait to lift the strip from the liner until you’re fully ready to stick it on your teeth. Wait at least 30 minutes after brushing your teeth to apply White Strips. They’ll stick better if your teeth aren’t glossy and smooth after a brush. [2] X Research source If you need to brush beforehand to remove food particles, use a wet toothbrush with no toothpaste or use a fluoride-free toothpaste. [3] X Research source Floss beforehand to make sure the strips stick to your teeth and not food particles or plaque. [4] X Research source
Inhale through your teeth a few times or dab them with a clean tissue to dry them (the strips stick better to dry teeth).
The whitening ingredients on the strip can irritate your gums’ soft tissue. [7] X Research source To help center the strip, pinch it at the middle to create a small crease, then pull the strip flat again. Center the crease on your front teeth.
Use your fingernail to press the strip into the crevices between your teeth for the most even coverage. [9] X Research source Apply the second strip the same way after you’ve secured the first one to your teeth. A strong stick keeps the whitening agents trapped against your teeth.
Sit back and relax while the strips are in. There’s no recommended time of day to wear them, so go about your regular routine until it’s time to take them out. If you’re wearing high-adhesive strips like Classic Vivid or Professional Effects, you can drink water without loosening the strips or swallowing the whitening gel. Do not wear the strips for longer than the recommended time in the instructions. Overexposure to the bleaching agents could cause sensitivity or tooth damage.
If your treatment did not come with an LED light, skip this step and remove your strips. The light only works for a certain number of uses, depending on the strips you bought. You’ll have to buy a new light to use it in the future.
Do not reuse White Strips. The strips are strong and should come off in one piece without tearing or breaking.
Wait a few hours to eat or drink anything that may stain your teeth, like coffee or red wine. Your teeth are more prone to staining after a whitening treatment. [14] X Research source
White Strips are meant to be used every day for the best results. [16] X Expert Source Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFELicensed Dentist Expert Interview. 3 June 2021. You’ll start seeing results after 2-3 days, even if the full whitening isn’t complete until after the treatment is finished. It’s OK if you miss a day—the impact on your results will be small as long as you’re wearing the strips consistently afterwards.
Only double up on strips if you want to cut down the number of days you have to wear them. Your chances of side effects, like tooth and gum sensitivity, increase when you wear strips more than once per day. Do not wear more than 2 sets of White Strips per day.
Products that are safe to use twice a year include 3D White Classic Vivid, Glamorous White, 1 Hour Express, Gentle Routine, Shimmer White, Professional Effects, and 3D White Whitestrips with Light strips. Practice good dental hygiene and use products like whitening toothpaste or baking soda to keep your teeth white between White Strip treatments. Prevent tooth stains by limiting dark drinks and foods, avoiding citrus after whitening treatments, and quitting smoking.
