Crest pro strips
Whitening strips use peroxide gel to lighten some surface and internal tooth stains, but results depend on the cause and tooth condition.
The short answer
Whitening strips use a peroxide gel to lighten some surface and internal tooth stains, but they cannot change the colour of fillings, crowns, or veneers.
How does peroxide gel affect tooth stains and gums?
These are flexible plastic strips coated with a peroxide whitening gel. The gel oxidises some colour molecules within enamel and dentine, while uneven contact can leave patchy colour or irritate gums.
What should you do before using whitening strips?
Use the product only as its label directs, keep the gel off the gums, and stop if marked sensitivity or soft-tissue irritation develops. A dental examination is useful before whitening when teeth are painful, damaged, or heavily restored.
When do whitening strips require dental assessment?
See a dentist before using strips for untreated decay, cracks, gum disease, severe sensitivity, or a single dark tooth. Seek prompt care for swelling, spontaneous pain, or pain that persists after the strip is removed.
What should you ask about whitening strips and restorations?
Ask whether the discolouration is on the surface or inside the tooth, whether peroxide whitening is suitable, and how existing restorations will affect the final shade.
Frequently asked questions
Can strips whiten one filling?
No. They lighten natural tooth structure, so a restoration may need colour matching after whitening.
Why are my teeth uneven after strips?
Uneven contact, different enamel thickness, or mixed natural and restored surfaces can produce uneven colour.
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.