You brush twice—sometimes three—times a day, you've slapped on a few Crest Whitestrips, and you opt for white wine instead of red at parties. And yet, your teeth are still not nearly as white and bright as they could be. That's probably because you're making one of these three common mistakes. Don't worry, though, we got you covered. Here's how to fix them. Show
1. You rely on a whitening toothpaste. Toothpastes can claim to be whitening without actually containing any bleaching ingredients. That's because they often just contain silica, a scrubby ingredient that removes the stains on the surface of your teeth but not the ones in the enamel. Meaning you won't do any damage to those decade-old coffee stains. One exception? The new Luster Premium Power White Deep Stain Eraser Toothpaste, which contains 2 percent stabilized hydrogen peroxide. "It should work better than other whitening toothpastes," says cosmetic chemist Ni'Kita Wilson. 2. You always brush your teeth with toothpaste before using whitening strips. We get it: Bleach strips don't exactly taste good, and you don't want to walk around with an unbrushed mouth. But brushing your teeth before you whiten can do more harm than good (heck, they even tell you not to on the box). If you insist: "Don't use fluoride toothpaste, since it sticks to teeth and blocks peroxide from getting in," says Michael Apa, a dentist in New York City. Instead, get that minty freshness with an all-natural, fluoride-free toothpaste. You should, however, floss before whitening. It dislodges plaque, which also prevents bleach from penetrating. 3. You bleach right before a boozy party. You've got some downtime before a boozy wine-and-grub party, so it's the perfect time to slap on a whitening strip, right? Wrong: "Be careful with wine, coffee, tea, and berries while you're whitening, since peroxide makes teeth more porous and prone to stains for 72 hours," says Kevin B. Sands, a dentist in Los Angeles. And while we're at it, you're not entirely in the clear drinking white wine, either. It's super-acidic and removes a microlayer of your teeth, making them more susceptible to staining. The best move? Chase each glass of wine with a glass of water, and only whiten when you know you can avoid potential stains for a few days. Find more teeth-whitening tricks in our September issue, on newsstands August 26. RELATED LINKS: • 3 Easy Ways to Get Whiter Teeth • Insiders' Guide: How to Get Really Clean Teeth • [The Truth About Teeth: How to Get a Brighter, Whiter Smile ](http://www.allure.com/beauty-trends/blogs/daily-beauty-reporter/2013/02/how-to-get-healthy-white-smile.html) “Certain foods that are high in tannins, such as red wine, are potential causes of yellow teeth,” notes Crest. Other teeth-staining foods include coffee, citrus fruits and juices, soft drinks, teas, berries, tomato-based sauces, curry, balsamic vinegar, and soy sauce. How do dentists make yellow teeth white?Your cosmetic dentist can provide treatment that penetrates deep into the enamel and removes years of stains with a powerful bleaching agent. In fact, these solutions have been known to brighten teeth by as many as ten shades!How many times does it take for whitening strips to work?Whitening strips usually start to make a difference within just 3-4 days. Only you'll want to keep wearing them to continue the improvement, even out the whitening overall, and get the brightest end results.How long does it take for yellow teeth to turn white?For about two to six weeks, you can use dentist-recommended whitening toothpaste and brush twice a day. You can use a certified whitening mouthwash which usually takes about three months to produce visible results. Whitening strips are the most compelling in-house treatments that last up to six months.Why aren t whitening strips working?The Whitening Agent's Concentration is NOT Strong EnoughWhen it comes to whitening your teeth, the concentration of the whitening agent makes all the difference. Whitening strips, for example, do not have a high enough concentration to penetrate deep into the enamel and are unable to whiten many deeper stains. Do you brush your teeth after whitening strips? The short answer is that you don't have to, and if you do, make sure to do so gently. That's because your teeth may still be sensitive after whitening with white strips.  If you'd like to know more about best practices when it comes to getting the most out of your whitening strips, then this article is for you! Keep reading to find out:
We hope this information helps you get the biggest bang for your buck and the whiter smile you're after. Table of contents
Do you brush your teeth after whitening strips?The general advice is that you can brush your teeth after whitening strips, but it's not obligatory. If you do brush your teeth right after taking the white strips off, try to do so gently. If you have one on hand, use a brush with soft bristles. Making sure to brush your teeth gently will help you to avoid gum and tooth irritation, especially if you suffer from sensitive teeth, even when you aren't undergoing a tooth whitening treatment. Do you brush your teeth before whitening strips?You can brush your teeth before using white strips as well, although there is some mixed information out there, and ultimately you should follow the instructions from the manufacturer. Some will say that you should brush your teeth before using whitening strips, because that way you get off any plaque that will keep the whitening strips from sticking properly. However, others will say that white strips will stick better if you don't brush your teeth, or more importantly, you may feel more sensitivity during the whitening process if you brush your teeth directly before treatment. Other advice says that if you do want to brush your teeth before using whitening strips, do so gently and wait for at least 30 seconds after you finish brushing before you apply the strips. The thinking is that if you apply the white strips right after brushing, without waiting 30 seconds, then you risk increased irritation. Whitening strips aren't bad for teeth, but they can cause some temporary sensitivity. Advice according to different brandsIt's possible that different whitening strips will have different instructions or advice on whether or not you should brush your teeth after you use whitening strips, or even if you should brush them before you whiten teeth with strips. Let's have a look at what some of the most popular brands have to say: SnowSnow Magic Strips are whitening strips that feature a refreshing mint and lavender flavor. Snow helpfully lists a question about toothbrushing and whitening strips in their list of FAQs. The question is:
Snow's answer is:
With Snow, you aren't supposed to brush your teeth right after you use the whitening strips. That's because these strips actually dissolve right on your teeth in just 15 minutes, leaving behind no gooey mess, and no reason to brush your teeth. You are, however, supposed to wait 15 to 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything. Crest WhiteStripsCrest, one of the top names for over-the-counter whitening strips, recommends brushing your teeth gently after taking the Whitestrips off. According to Crest, you should not brush your teeth immediately before using the Whitestrips. You should wait for some time to go by before you apply the strips, after brushing your teeth. This is mainly to avoid gum irritation. ZimbaZimba is a natural and enamel-safe whitening strip brand targeted towards those looking for a budget option. Their advice on whether or not you should brush your teeth after using their whitening strips? Thankfully, on the Amazon page, one customer asked that exact question, and Zimba responded. The customer asked:
Zimba answered:
How do I get whitening gel off of my teeth?If you have sensitive teeth and gums, you may be hesitant to brush your teeth right after whitening them. But most whitening strips tend to leave behind quite a bit of whitening gel. So how do you get this off if you don't want to brush right away? You can start by rinsing your mouth, making sure to give the water some good swishes around your mouth. That will get a lot of the gel off, but there may still be some stubborn bits stuck on there, especially in the cracks between teeth. If that's the case, you can gently wipe the gel off with your fingers if you're still not ready to brush gently with a toothbrush. Whitening toothbrushes to complement your routineSpeaking of whether or not you should brush your teeth after you use whitening strips, you may want to complement your tooth whitening routine with an electric toothbrush that is optimized for both cleaning and whitening teeth. Let's take a look at some of the best toothbrushes to use after you use whitening strips. SnowSnow is famous for its at-home whitening kit that delivers professional results, as well as the Magic Strips which we mentioned above. They now also make an innovative LED electric toothbrush. This is one of the only toothbrushes currently available on the market that combines LED technology with sonic technology for better cleaning and optimized whitening. Along with LED for whitening support, this brush also includes all of the handy features we now come to expect with our electric toothbrushes, including:
CariPROThe cariPRO Ultrasonic toothbrush is made by the same company that makes the Smile Brilliant professional whitening system — a professional teeth whitening treatment with custom-made trays that you can use at home, and this toothbrush is the perfect complement. It features 40,000 vibrations per minute, and 5 brush modes: clean, white, massage, gum care, and sensitive. With a 60-day trial, you can really get a feel for it before you commit. Philips SonicareSonicare offers a wide range of electric toothbrushes, from budget to luxe, in particular, the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart. It's the Tesla of electric toothbrushes and it has everything you need to ensure an optimized clean and the whitest smile. You can choose between 5 modes — clean, white plus, gum health, deep clean plus, and tongue care. With the 3D mouth map on the Sonicare app, you'll never miss a spot. There's also a pressure sensor so you can take extra care, and a stylish charging glass — if you want your brush to look good. ConclusionShould you brush your teeth after using whitening strips? You certainly can, but make sure to do so gently. If you are able to get all of the leftover whitening gel off of your teeth by rinsing your mouth or wiping it with a finger, then there may be no need for brushing at all. Before using whitening strips, different manufacturers will recommend different things, some say that brushing your teeth before will help ensure the strips stick properly, while others say that you will experience more gum irritation and sensitivity if you do so. So it's best to follow the instructions on the specific white strips you have. Rate this article Contributors:
Natalie Asmussen Natalie used to work as a Community Health Worker and Health Insurance Navigator. She continues to follow her passion for connecting people with the healthcare they need by writing informative content about dentistry and medicine. Dentaly.org Sign up to receive the latest news and offers from Dentaly.org Thank you, for signing up for Dentaly.org newsletter! You will receive a confirmation email. Oops error, Something has happened when you tried to send us your data. Please try later. Check the data you entered. What happens if you use whitening strips after brushing teeth?Always brush your teeth before you use whitening strips, otherwise plaque and bacteria will be trapped between the strip and your teeth. This makes it more likely that you will experience tooth decay or other dental problems.
Should I brush my teeth before or after whitening strips?Before you apply white strips, it is critical that you brush your teeth with a wet toothbrush (without fluoridated toothpaste, or without toothpaste at all). This will allow the pores in your teeth to open, thereby making them more receptive to the whitening agent in the whitening strips.
Should I brush my teeth before using Crest White Strips?Brush Your Teeth Prior to Application
The whitening agent is essential to beautifying your teeth. Once you brush your teeth, be sure to rinse out your mouth with water. Such brushing and rinsing help open pores in the teeth that must prove accessible in order for whitening to occur.
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Can i use whitening strips after brushing teeth
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