How to use teeth whitening strips

A beautiful smile attracts the interlocutor and attracts the attention of others. Manufacturers offer many products designed for teeth whitening.

Not the least important among them are inoPro whitening strips, which help lighten enamel at home in a short period of time.

General information about the product

Whitening strips or strips (from English strips) are products for home teeth whitening. They consist of two parts of dense material (film), between which there is a layer of gel with active brightening components - hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. Each row of teeth has its own strip. It will not be possible to whiten all teeth with such means, since the structural features of the human dental system do not allow making long stripes, covering the entire row. Otherwise, the risk of burning the mucous membranes or swallowing the active gel increases many times over. Therefore, they are glued only in the “smile zone” - on the 6-8 front teeth.

On a note! Most manufacturers package 2 strips per use in a sachet (small sealed bag). The long strip is intended for the upper row of teeth, it is marked as “upper”, the short strip is for the lower row, it is marked “lower”.

The whitening course is designed for a certain number of days - 7, 10, 14, or 28. It all depends on the effect of the strips - extra-strong ones are used for fewer days, and gentle ones are designed for 2-4 weeks. As a rule, 1 box of strips is 1 course, i.e. the box will contain the required number of sachets. Manufacturers themselves, as well as dentists, do not recommend repeating whitening courses more than 1-2 times a year.

Features, release form

inoPro strips are an innovative product designed for teeth whitening at home.
The use of innovative technologies ensures a gentle, effective and painless effect. Modern equipment is used to produce products. The process takes place in compliance with the Good Manufacturing Practice quality standard.

The strip is a piece of polyethylene that takes the shape of your teeth. It is glued to the front teeth. The top layer is covered with a gel that has a whitening effect.

This whitening method is based on US patented technology. Natural active ingredients provide gentle and gentle whitening. Upon contact with the wet surface of the teeth, an oxidative reaction occurs, which leads to the destruction of plaque.

The first positive result will be noticeable within 5–7 days.

How whitening strips work

Whitening strips[1] work on a chemical principle and are one of the most common methods of whitening at home and in dentistry. The bottom line is that after gluing the strips, the active components of the bleach - hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide - begin to interact with the air, saliva in the mouth, soft plaque and pigments on the enamel. The oxidation process starts, as a result of which the darkened areas lighten. Moreover, the active substances work not only on the surface of the teeth, but also penetrate the enamel, whitening it by 2-5 tones. This is the advantage of strips over whitening toothpastes with a high RDA (abrasiveness) index - the latter can whiten teeth only on the surface.

How to use inoPro strips

To make the use of inoPro whitening strips safe and achieve the desired effect, it is important to follow the instructions for use.

1. Open the package immediately before use. When the active substance comes into contact with oxygen, it is activated.
2. Apply the strip to the upper and lower teeth along the gum line.
3. The strips should remain on the teeth for 30 minutes. It is during this time that the active substance, oxidizing, removes plaque. The substance also has the ability to penetrate the enamel, which helps eliminate age spots.
4. After the required time has passed, remove the product and rinse the mouth.

The time during which a positive result can be seen depends on the individual characteristics of the person, including the initial shade of plaque and the presence of pathologies on the dental surface.

Rules for use at home

How to use teeth whitening strips? The use of whitening strips is carried out only at home, and there must be a supply of clean water (at least 1 glass), it will be needed after using the bleaching agent. Each manufacturer provides their products with detailed instructions, which you must read before use. The features of using different strips differ little from each other and include the following steps:

• brushing your teeth 60-30 minutes before the procedure: it is better not to use a brush immediately before use, because you can scratch your gums a little, and then peroxide will get into the wound and cause irritation,
• you need to take the top strip and peel off the film on one side: this will reveal the inner layer of the whitening gel,
• the strip is applied to the dentition flush with the gum and pressed tightly, with the side with the gel facing the enamel (be careful),
• the free lower part of the strip is folded onto the back side of the dentition and is also pressed tightly,
• the next strip (short) is glued to the bottom row by analogy: the order of gluing may be different - first the bottom, then the top, as indicated by the manufacturer,
• you need to wait a while for the active substances to act,
• remove the strips and rinse your mouth several times with clean water, brush your teeth with a soft-bristled brush.

Gluing is best done with clean, dry hands in a well-lit room. The presence of a mirror is mandatory for the first 3-4 uses.

Advantages and disadvantages, limitations

The indication for using inoPro is the presence of a yellow coating.

The popularity of whitening strips among users is due to a number of advantages inherent in them. Among the most significant are the following:

1. A positive effect is achieved within a week. During this time, the color becomes lighter by 3-4 tones.
2. Availability and ease of use. It is enough to apply the strips to the tooth surface and remove after 30 minutes.
3. Safety. The use of whitening components in a minimally concentrated form guarantees the safety of using the product.

Just 30 minutes a day for 7 days and your teeth will become at least 2-3 shades whiter.

The safety of the method does not exclude the presence of some contraindications. For example:

• pregnancy and lactation;
• age under 18 years;
• presence of oral diseases, caries;
• fillings or enamel defects.

Before starting to use the strips, it is recommended to study all contraindications and consult a dentist.

Waiting time on teeth

How long should I keep teeth whitening strips on? This information should also be reflected in the instructions. Because even within one brand there are several types of strips - some need to be kept for 15-30 minutes (for example, Crest 3D White), others for 60 minutes (for example, Blend-a-med 3D White Luxe). You can reduce the exposure time if unpleasant sensations appear, but you absolutely cannot increase it - this can ruin your teeth.

“I read a lot of good reviews on some popular dental strips. Well, I decided to try it, because the pastes didn’t help much. I ordered some of the most expensive ones so that it would definitely work. And I kept it for an hour, as it was written on the package. But the result turned out to be like paste. Overall, I wasn't impressed. I went to the dentist, thinking maybe the clinic would help. But the doctor said that my teeth are naturally yellow and no amount of whitening will really help.”

Victor, review from gidpozubam.ru

Price, manufacturer

The product is produced under the inoPro brand, China.

The price of inoPro depends on the set:

• 1 set (course for whitening 2-3 tones) - from 1000 rubles;
• 2 sets (whitening course for 5-6 tones) - from 2000 rubles;
• 3 sets (for 8-9 tones) - from 3000 rub.

You can buy them on the official website.

Important application details

Remember that, firstly, the whitening gel contains an aggressive chemical - hydrogen peroxide (albeit in a small concentration), and secondly, after the procedure, the teeth lose part of their natural protective film and they need time to recover. Given these features, the following rules must be observed:

• after brushing your teeth and before the whitening procedure, you can’t eat anything, you can only drink plain water,
• throughout the course you need to switch to a “white diet”: exclude brightly colored foods and drinks, black coffee, strong tea, berries,

• quit smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes to a minimum, because the enamel may darken again,
• do not expose your teeth to extreme temperatures, and also avoid combinations of hot and cold: for example, do not drink ice cream with a hot drink,
• It is not recommended to use bright lip cosmetics or toothpaste with dyes with an abrasiveness higher than 70-100 RDA,
• when the strips are glued to the teeth, it is not recommended to drink, eat, or talk a lot to prevent ingestion of the whitening component: although some manufacturers indicate that all these actions are allowed with their strips, dentists do not consider them completely safe,
• After the procedure, you can drink water, you cannot eat for 2 hours,
• strips are used once, after which they must be thrown away,
• Do not leave sachets or used strips within reach of children or pets.

You should not swap stripes – i.e. do not stick a short one on the top row and a long one on the bottom row. And the point is not at all that the whitening gel will be poorly distributed, but that the strips will stick much worse. After all, they are made taking into account the curves and height of the dentition.

Good to know! Before whitening, it is recommended to undergo professional oral hygiene to remove accumulated stone and plaque. Otherwise, the teeth may whiten unevenly (there will still be dark areas and “growths” of stone near the gums). If your teeth hurt after whitening strips, then you definitely need to undergo remotherapy - strengthening the enamel. In general, remineralization should be carried out in every good clinic after professional hygiene.

Tips after the procedure

To consolidate whitening, it is not recommended to eat foods with an aggressive reaction to enamel, for example:

• strong tea and coffee;
• wine;
• borsch;
• seasonings and tomato.

You should also not smoke or drink alcoholic beverages.

Otherwise, the achieved result will be lost and the enamel will become dark again.

How many times a day can you use the strips?

As a rule, strips are used once a day. Moreover, most manufacturers recommend whitening in the evening - for example, an hour after dinner. So that the active components remaining in the enamel layer have a better effect. And try to carry out the procedure in the following days at a certain time of day. Some strips are suitable for twice daily use – morning and evening. In this case, manufacturers must indicate this information in the instructions.

Answers to popular questions

Are inoPro strips safe for teeth?

Based on the research conducted by the Central Research Institute, it can be concluded that the product is safe to use (subject to the instructions and recommendations). The enamel is not damaged (exposure time to the active substance is 30 minutes). If you have high tooth sensitivity, the procedure time can be reduced to 20 minutes.

Can they be used with crowns, fillings and veneers?

This whitening option can be used by those who have crowns, veneers or fillings installed. The strips have the ability to restore the original color of artificial surfaces.

Can it be used during pregnancy and breastfeeding?

Despite the fact that there is no confirmed data on the negative impact of the product on the condition of the fetus or mother, experts do not recommend teeth whitening using the inoPro method for pregnant and lactating women. If a decision has been made to use flat pads, it is necessary to consult a dentist and gynecologist.

Do I need to brush my teeth before the procedure?

You can brush with toothpaste no earlier than an hour before whitening. Immediately before applying the product, it is recommended to rinse the mouth with warm water. The best time for the procedure is considered to be the evening, after dinner.

What to do if white spots appear on the enamel

Often, after the procedure is completed, small white spots may appear on the enamel. This is a temporary phenomenon that will go away on its own in a couple of days. It is not recommended to interrupt the whitening course using the inoPro method.