I've been using Crest strips for over ten years, my teeth look great. LOL The early ones had to be kept on for 30 minutes, you peeled them off like a bandaid and applied it to your teeth. The new ones only require five minutes so I switched to those.

What about crowns? Would there be a noticeable difference between teeth and crowns? One would not want to have patchwork teeth, some light, some not.

Get a Sonicare toothbrush if you don't have one already. They work better than a regular toothbrush and will keep your teeth whiter for longer.

I use the 2-week Crest strips@ $40-50 a treatment,. The strips only cover front teeth but I don't notice any mismatch. Routine cleaning at dentist and elec toothbrush take care of the rest. Highly recommend. I have noticed temperature sensitivity of food too cold or too hot but it goes away about 2 wks after doing treatment. My teeth are white and hubby's are also despite being a 3-4 cup coffee drinker

Brings to mind Friends episode where Ross had teeth whitened to fluorescent white, ha. Mine are not like that.

Crowns can be made in any shade of white. I had crowns put on my three front teeth because they were thin and full of fillings. I had the rest whitened and have to retreat every six months to keep them that way. My smile is so much better now. I"m glad I spent the money.

A friend of mine with crooked teeth tried to do it herself. The teeth whitened only in the center of each tooth, but not where they overlapped each other. She had to go to the dentist to have him even out the color, but since the center of each tooth was already white, he had to really bleach them so that her teeth looked quite unnatural, almost as if they were plastic.

Overly whitened teeth (and too often true when done at home) remind me of yesteryear when some men wore toupees. It's obvious to anyone looking that the appearance is not natural and the result is unattractive solely for that reason. Dentists are usually careful not to go too far unless the patient insists, be careful if doing it yourself

I just tried the 20 day Crest White Strps.,Although there is an improvement , I don't feel that my teeth are really white. I'm not sure if I'm going to try to do something else.

I like the Crest White Strips too, in 3D(?). Expensive but easy, and I like the results alot. I brush with Crest Vivid White toothpaste too. It's probably not good for your teeth, but mine are so improved in appearance. Actually it's been awhile since I used the strips, I try to buy them when I find coupons.

I have worked as a chairside dental assistant for 50 years. Most of the time crowns with facings on them will not lighten up to match your natural teeth. Crowns will stain the same as the enamel on your teeth. Most stain comes from smoking, red wine and sometimes medication. Bleach will remove stain. But the tooth colored part of a crown can change color from wear from brushing and stains that occur as the material becomes more porous with age. Some crowns will not lighten and be more apparent because of the color contrast.

Over bleached teeth can be very unattractive, some take on a bluish translucent color. Not a natural look. Usually this happens when patient uses bleach plus whitening toothpaste daily. At home bleach kits have improved in many ways over the years. Works for most people, used as directions indicate.

I have used Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel for over 10 years. I smoke and drink a lot of coffee.

How much is this dependent upon the natural whiteness of your teeth? Mine were never bright white -- even when they were *brand new* -- when is that, about age nine? At least my gums have been healthy. (I have a friend with the proverbial "teeth like pearls", but she has terrible problems with her gums.)

I have terrible teeth, resulting in a lot of crowns -- which were matched to the natural color of my teeth -- NOT white. I'd love to have whiter teeth, but haven't tried the strips, thinking I'd look worse with a 'checkerboard' smile.

How long might I have that 'checkerboard' effect before the teeth that did whiten went back to 'normal'? (I can only keep my mouth shut for a certain length of time!)

chisue, unless you have natural teeth with crowns on random teeth in the 6-8 upper front teeth, which means first bicuspid to first bicuspid you will not notice color differences further back. YOU will if staring in the bathroom mirror, but other people would never pick up on the difference further back. When you smile your lower teeth are covered by you lip. No way to tell how long it would take to change back. Start out slowly and see how much contrast you notice. If real apparent don't continue. The lightening takes days of application before it is very noticeable for most people

Thanks, Marcopolo5. I have a three-tooth bridge (right front tooth and back). All my lower front teeth are 'mine'. Orthodontist pulled my four 'corners' in the old, dark days when they did that sort of thing. (Consequence being teeth tilting as I age.) I also have three of my four wisdom teeth. (Fourth never came through and is not visible on X-ray.) Then there are the gold inlays, onlays, etc. I've been a 'gold mine' for dentists over my almost-75 years, but I can still *chew*.

I see two 'brands' mentioned here: Crest and Plus White. May I presume to ask further free advice about what to try?

I use a tray made by the dentist and this tooth whitening gel

It's much less expensive from Amazon than buying it from the dentist. One time I ordered the 35% bleach and it even bleached my gums white! Very weird, but the color came back in a half hour or so.

Has anyone ever tried "oil pulling" with virgin coconut oil to rid the body of toxins and also to whiten teeth? Anyone ever tried the Neem toothpaste or the Neem Bark powder as tooth powder? You would get this at a health food store. I just ordered a bag of the powder. If you have I'd love to hear your results.

I also got trays from the dentist after trying the strips- less expensive in the long run and got better results. I oil pull every morning. My dentist said it can't hurt but that there wasn't yet credible scientific evidence supported by the dental community that it makes a difference. I notice that my mouth feels fresher all day, my teeth feel cleaner, and my teeth are a bit shinier maybe whiter.

The dentist I work for recomends Crest White strips. Our office does offer bleach treatments. dedtired, the white on your gum was a bleach burn. Strong bleach must be used carefully. People tend to think, "more is better". Bleach should not fill the tray. Just apply it in a thin line on the inside that will touch the front of your teeth. It will flow in the tray to cover the area to be bleached. If it is squishing out you are wasting bleach, and risking sore gums.

The advertisements for these products show the "after" with very FAKE white look. That alone is enough to tell me people will be laughing behind my back if I tried them. The teeth sensitivity is another caution. I already have sensitivity issues, no way would I compound them and the dentist agreed. When fitting my latest crown he did ask if I were planning whitening--so he could get the crown to blend better. Teeth are one area that really show age, so I understand the temptation but still just not going to tempt fate.

Thanks, marcopolo5. I guess if I see a great 'deal' on Crest White Strips I'll give them a try.

Marcopolo, thank you for the tips. I have cut back to a 20 percent solution. The 35 percent was too strong. This reminds me that I need a touchup. How often do you bleach your teeth?

I have crowns and laminates on all teeth. I really do not need bleach. I did not pick neon white for the Hoĺlywood smile. :)