Review of Crest White Strips Vs. Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse

For most of us, when we smile we want others to see beautiful white teeth. A nice smile makes us feel more confident. Things that yellow our teeth over time are age, tobacco, and a couple of the biggest culprits, tea and coffee. I, for one, will not give up my coffee habit unless it becomes life threatening and even then it's iffy. Since whitening at the dentist office is quite expensive and, from what my dental hygienist told me, very harsh for those of us with sensitive teeth and gums, there are two products I tried to enhance the sparkle in my smile.

I bought Crest White Strips at a pharmacy to brighten my smile. They cost in the ball park of around $25 - $35. If you have sensitive gums, this will not be the product for you. I used it once a day and had to reduce use to every other day after only two days due to a problem with sensitivity. They do whiten teeth though. What I found to be inconvenient with these was that 30 minutes of these wrapped around my teeth seemed like a long time. The presence of something in your mouth causes an increase in saliva production and it leaves you feeling a bit drooly. I guess they have 5 minute white strips now too but they cost about $40.00.

On the market now are whitening mouthwashes/rinses. I purchased Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse in Clean Mint. It costs about $5 - $6 but is a little cheaper than that at Wal-mart. This is a better choice than the white strips if you are very sensitive. I am able to use it twice a day with little sensitivity. Results are expected after 12 weeks, but I noticed whiter teeth in only a couple of weeks. Unlike the strips, this wash leaves my whole mouth feeling cleaner and fresher. I have not tried the other flavors, but I found the Clean Mint to be pleasing and breath freshening. Rinsing for only 60 seconds instead of taking 30 minutes to work is a great bonus too. I noticed a kind of strange numbing sensation in my mouth and on my tongue after use but I've either gotten used to it or it fades off after a while because it does not bother me after using this product for several weeks now.

After using both products I choose Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse over Crest White Strips. It's quicker and easier, the foaming action leaves the mouth clean and fresh after use, and it whitens effectively. It's a cheaper alternative and I give it a thumbs-up.