Procter and Gamble revolutionized the process of whitening teeth when it introduced Crest Whitening strips to the public. These strips have been successful because they are less expensive than a whitening session at a dentist's office and can be easier to use than other whitening products.
History
Paul Sagel, an Engineer at Procter and Gamble, invented Crest Whitestrips in 1997. On a Monday morning, Paul walked into a meeting to demonstrate his new invention. He had whitened his teeth with Crest Whitestrips a day before the meeting and he smiled brightly at the people in the room. His sparkling white teeth stood out against his new tan. This demonstration convinced Procter and Gamble of the possibility of success with Crest Whitestrips. Sagel has received several awards for his inventions.
Significance
Before the creation of whitening strips, teeth whitening products were limited to gels, washes and toothpaste. Some of these applications were not on the teeth long enough to achieve the desired results. Paul Sagel designed Crest Whitestrips to stick to the surface of the front teeth and remain there long enough for the whitening ingredients to attack the stains beneath the surface of the teeth.
Types
The Crest Whitestrips line consists of Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects, Crest Whitestrips Premium, Crest Whitestrips Classic, Crest Whitestrips Daily Whitening Multicare and Crest Whitestrips Daily Whitening + Tartar. The first three whitening systems are meant for intensive whitening, while the last two are for users who either have sensitive teeth or are short on time. Each whitening system contains a different number of strips.
Time Frame
Each whitening system in the intensive whitening category has a different time frame in which users can expect to see results. Crest Whitestrips Classic requires 14 days, Crest Whitestrips Premium takes 7 days, and Crest Whitestrips Pro Effects promises results in 10 days. Users of Crest Whitestrips Daily Whitening Multicare and Crest Whitestrips Daily Whitening + Tartar have to wear the strips everyday for five minutes.
Considerations
Teeth whitening may work for some but keep in mind that the results will vary based on the condition of the teeth, the type of whitening system used and the duration of use. Also, it is not a permanent solution. Whitened teeth that are exposed to food and liquid that stain the teeth will usually start to become discolored again after one month. For a lasting effect, users will need to apply their whitening products at regular intervals. Users of Crest Whitestrips can expect to do this at least once every six months. Some users may need to use two boxes of Crest Whitestrips at the beginning of the whitening process to achieve the desired effect.
Misconceptions
There is a general belief that whitening products will work for everyone. Unfortunately, over-the-counter teeth whitening products will produce visible results only for people with yellow teeth. The effects are not noticeable on gray teeth. Regardless of the type of teeth whitening system used, the process works best on healthy teeth that do not have fillings.
Tags: Crest Whitestrips, whitening products, Crest Whitestrips Daily, Daily Whitening, whitening system