Crest brilliance white strips

These are peroxide whitening strips that contact the front tooth surfaces to lighten some types of tooth discoloration.

The product is an over-the-counter tooth-whitening system made from flexible strips coated with a peroxide gel. The gel oxidizes some color molecules within enamel, while stains caused by decay or a restoration require a different dental solution.

Read the package directions, apply the strip to clean dry teeth for the stated contact time, and avoid letting gel sit on the gum margin. Stop if marked sensitivity or gum irritation develops, and have untreated cavities, cracked teeth, or leaking restorations examined before whitening.

See a dentist if discoloration is limited to one tooth, follows trauma, or comes with pain, because the pulp or enamel may be involved. Dental advice is also appropriate when sensitivity persists after stopping the strips or when existing restorations will make the shade uneven.

Ask whether the color change is an external stain, an enamel change, or an internal tooth problem, and whether whitening can match your restorations. Ask which peroxide concentration and contact time fit your enamel, gums, and history of sensitivity.