Brush before or after crest white strips
Use whitening strips on clean, dry teeth according to their label, and avoid brushing immediately before application if your gums are sensitive.
The short answer
Apply Crest Whitestrips to clean, dry teeth as directed, but avoid brushing immediately beforehand if brushing makes your gums bleed or feel irritated.
Should I brush before applying whitening strips?
Brush at another time with fluoride toothpaste, and never leave the strips on longer than the product instructions say.
How does peroxide gel whiten the tooth surface?
Whitening strips use a peroxide gel held against the enamel by a flexible strip. The peroxide can pass through enamel and oxidize some molecules that cause internal tooth discoloration.
Brushing hard just before treatment can irritate the gingival margin, while plaque or saliva on the teeth can make placement less even.
How should I apply the strips after brushing?
Follow the package sequence, dry the tooth surfaces lightly if instructed, press the strip onto the front teeth, and remove it at the stated time.
Do not use strips over untreated cavities, cracked teeth, inflamed gums, or dental restorations without an examination.
When should I stop using whitening strips and seek care?
See a dentist for sharp or lasting sensitivity, gum burns, bleeding, tooth pain, or uneven color that does not settle after stopping the strips.
An examination is also appropriate before whitening when fillings, crowns, veneers, decay, or gum recession are present.
What could be causing uneven colour after whitening?
Ask whether the discoloration is surface stain, internal tooth color, decay, or a change in an existing restoration.
Ask which whitening method and concentration fit your enamel, gums, restorations, and sensitivity history.
Frequently asked questions
Should I brush after removing whitening strips?
Rinse away gel and brush at your usual time with a soft brush; follow the product directions if they specify a different step.
Why do strips make teeth sensitive?
Peroxide can temporarily irritate the tooth nerve through enamel and dentin, especially when teeth already have exposed dentin or cracks.
Who wrote this page
This library is published by Dental Nation, a licensed dental group practising in the United Arab Emirates. Pages are written and overseen by the same clinical team that treats patients in our clinics, and are held to a fixed editorial standard for safety and accuracy.
This page is patient education, not medical advice, and cannot replace an examination. Anything urgent — facial swelling, trauma, uncontrolled bleeding or severe pain — needs a dentist or emergency care now.