Flash white strips
Whitening strips can lighten natural tooth enamel when their peroxide gel contacts the tooth for the instructed time, but they do not change fillings, crow
The short answer
Whitening strips can lighten natural tooth enamel when their peroxide gel contacts the tooth for the instructed time, but they do not change fillings, crowns, or veneers. The strips are flexible plastic carriers coated with a gel containing a peroxide compound. The peroxide enters the enamel and oxidizes colored molecules, while poor fit or prolonged contact can irritate the gums or trigger tooth sensitivity.
How does the peroxide gel sit on the tooth surface?
The strips are flexible plastic carriers coated with a gel containing a peroxide compound. The peroxide enters the enamel and oxidizes colored molecules, while poor fit or prolonged contact can irritate the gums or trigger tooth sensitivity. Check the ingredient and concentration, follow the package wear time, and keep the gel on the tooth rather than the gum. Do not stack whitening products or use strips over untreated decay, cracked teeth, or inflamed gums.
What should you check before applying whitening strips?
Check the ingredient and concentration, follow the package wear time, and keep the gel on the tooth rather than the gum. Do not stack whitening products or use strips over untreated decay, cracked teeth, or inflamed gums. Stop and arrange dental care if pain is severe or persists after stopping, if the gum turns white and remains sore, or if a tooth has a cavity, crack, swelling, or marked sensitivity. A dentist can examine the enamel and existing restorations before whitening.
When should you stop strips and arrange dental care?
Stop and arrange dental care if pain is severe or persists after stopping, if the gum turns white and remains sore, or if a tooth has a cavity, crack, swelling, or marked sensitivity. A dentist can examine the enamel and existing restorations before whitening. Ask whether the discoloration is on the surface or within the tooth, whether any cavities or gum inflammation need treatment first, and which product and wear schedule fit your restorations and sensitivity history.
What should you ask about whitening and existing restorations?
Ask whether the discoloration is on the surface or within the tooth, whether any cavities or gum inflammation need treatment first, and which product and wear schedule fit your restorations and sensitivity history.
Frequently asked questions
Can strips whiten a filling?
No. They can lighten surrounding natural enamel, but a filling keeps its original shade.
Why do my teeth hurt after strips?
Peroxide can temporarily increase sensitivity by moving through enamel and dentine toward the pulp. Stop use and seek advice if it is strong or does not settle.
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.