If I Have White Spots on Teeth and I Use Crest White Strips, Will the Spots Get Whiter Permanently?

Question

I have two light white spots on my front teeth barely noticeable. Not sure if I've always had them. I started using Crest white strips (the 14 day pack at a half hour each day). On the 5th day, I did things differently and I brushed my teeth first with Crest vivid whitening toothpaste before using the strips. After using my 5th strip, I'm noticing that one of the white spots seems more noticeable and whiter. I'm upset that it may remain this way. What can I do?? Did it strip my enamel too?

Lance Timmerman, DMD, MAGD · Answer

The white strips MIGHT work, but would only make the general tooth structure whiter as it makes the white spots whiter as well.  It would only make the difference in color less, but still not a match.

	 

	ALL bleaching is temporary.  Porcelain veneers are the only "permanent" option.  Nothing in dentistry is permanent, but some things take much longer to fail.

Leonard Tau, DMD · Answer

The white spots will get whiter and the regular teeth will get lighter as well.  Neither of them will be permanent.  No whitening is permanent that is currently available and probably will never be.

Jay Neuhaus, DDS · Answer

The Whitestrips will make both the white spots whiter and the "yellow" teeth whiter. neither of which will be permanent.

If I Have White Spots on Teeth and I Use Crest White Strips, Will the Spots Get Whiter Permanently?

Answers (3)