How to Apply Crest 3D White Strips: Step-by-Step Instructions for a Radiant Smile (with or without LED Light)

Getting a dazzling smile with Crest 3D White Strips is a cheap alternative to professional whitening treatments, but how do you do it safely and correctly? If you follow the instructions closely, applying the strips is a breeze—just stick them on, wait 30 minutes, and peel them off for a brighter smile. In this article, we’ll walk you through the best way to apply Crest 3D White Strips and dive into how often you can wear them for the best results. If you’re ready to smile with confidence, keep reading!

How to Use a Crest 3D Whitestrips Dental Whitening Kit

  1. Press the strips to your teeth so they’re lined up with your gums.
  2. Fold the excess behind your teeth and press to the backside.
  3. Leave the strips on for 30 minutes.
  4. Peel the strips off and rinse out your mouth or brush your teeth.
  5. Wear 1 set of strips daily for 10-14 days per treatment.
  6. Read the instructions for your specific product to see when you can use them again.
1

Peel one strip off the plastic sleeve.

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  1. You’ll see 2 White Strips stuck to a clear plastic sleeve—a short strip for your lower teeth and a longer strip for your top teeth. Pull either one off first (you’ll come back for the other one later). [1]
    • Wait to lift the strip from the liner until you’re fully ready to stick it on your teeth.
    • Wait at least 30 minutes after brushing your teeth to apply White Strips. They’ll stick better if your teeth aren’t glossy and smooth after a brush. [2]
    • If you need to brush beforehand to remove food particles, use a wet toothbrush with no toothpaste or use a fluoride-free toothpaste . [3]
    • Floss beforehand to make sure the strips stick to your teeth and not food particles or plaque. [4]
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2

Face the sticky side of the strip toward your teeth.

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  1. Stand in front of a mirror to help you guide the strip to the right spot. The sticky gel side that goes on your teeth is the same side that was stuck to the plastic sleeve and contains the whitening agents. [5]
    • Inhale through your teeth a few times or dab them with a clean tissue to dry them (the strips stick better to dry teeth).
3

Align the edge of the strip with your gum line.

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  1. Hold the ends of the strip and raise or lower the strip so the top edge is at or slightly away from your gum line. Make sure the center of the strip is right over the space between your front two teeth. [6]
    • The whitening ingredients on the strip can irritate your gums’ soft tissue. [7]
    • To help center the strip, pinch it at the middle to create a small crease, then pull the strip flat again. Center the crease on your front teeth.
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4

Press down and fold the strip around your teeth.

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  1. Start in the center of the strip, then press the ends to make sure the strip is secure. Fold the excess over your teeth and press it against the back of your teeth. Press firmly to create a strong bond between the strip and your teeth. [8]
    • Use your fingernail to press the strip into the crevices between your teeth for the most even coverage. [9]
    • Apply the second strip the same way after you’ve secured the first one to your teeth.
    • A strong stick keeps the whitening agents trapped against your teeth.
5

Leave the strips on for up to 30 minutes.

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  1. Some strips for sensitive teeth might have a shorter application time, while products like the Supreme FlexFit strips go on for 60 minutes. Wait to smoke, eat, or drink until after you’ve removed the strips. [10]
    • Sit back and relax while the strips are in. There’s no recommended time of day to wear them, so go about your regular routine until it’s time to take them out.
    • If you’re wearing high-adhesive strips like Classic Vivid or Professional Effects, you can drink water without loosening the strips or swallowing the whitening gel.
    • Do not wear the strips for longer than the recommended time in the instructions. Overexposure to the bleaching agents could cause sensitivity or tooth damage.
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6

Use the LED light if your kit came with one.

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  1. Turn on your LED light after 30 minutes if your product came with one. Place it in your mouth and grip the curved groove gently with your teeth. After 10 minutes, remove the light and turn it off (some models will beep to let you know when it’s time). [11]
    • If your treatment did not come with an LED light, skip this step and remove your strips.
    • The light only works for a certain number of uses, depending on the strips you bought. You’ll have to buy a new light to use it in the future.
7

Pull the strips off your teeth and toss them.

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  1. Toss them in the garbage—they might still have a little bleaching agent on them that could stain clothing or irritate your skin. Wash your hands afterward to get any traces of bleaching residue off your fingers.
    • Do not reuse White Strips.
    • The strips are strong and should come off in one piece without tearing or breaking.
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8

Rinse or brush your teeth to remove the sticky residue.

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  1. Use lukewarm water in case you’re experiencing some slight tooth or gum sensitivity. If you’re on the go or don’t have time to brush, leave the gel on your teeth—it’s nontoxic and will come off quickly.
    • Wait a few hours to eat or drink anything that may stain your teeth, like coffee or red wine. Your teeth are more prone to staining after a whitening treatment. [12]
9

Apply the strips daily to complete the treatment.

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  1. For example, Classic Vivid White comes with 10 sets of strips, whereas the Glamorous White comes with 14. Don’t worry about counting the days—if you’re wearing 1 set daily, you’ll know the treatment is done when you run out of strips. [13]
    • White Strips are meant to be used every day for the best results. [14]
    • You’ll start seeing results after 2-3 days, even if the full whitening isn’t complete until after the treatment is finished.
    • It’s OK if you miss a day—the impact on your results will be small as long as you’re wearing the strips consistently afterwards.
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10

Apply White Strips twice a day for faster whitening.

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  1. Wear the strips for the full 30 minutes (or other recommended time) both times. Check the instructions on the box for how frequently you are able to use the strips. If you're unsure, once a day is plenty. [15]
    • Only double up on strips if you want to cut down the number of days you have to wear them.
    • Your chances of side effects, like tooth and gum sensitivity, increase when you wear strips more than once per day.
    • Do not wear more than 2 sets of White Strips per day.
11

Do a full whitening treatment up to twice a year.

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  1. Almost all Crest strips are safe to use 2 times a year, either back-to-back or separated by a few months. If you’re using the Supreme Flexfit White Strips, only use 1 box per year. [16]
    • Products that are safe to use twice a year include 3D White Classic Vivid, Glamorous White, 1 Hour Express, Gentle Routine, Shimmer White, Professional Effects, and 3D White Whitestrips with Light strips.
    • Practice good dental hygiene and use products like whitening toothpaste or baking soda to keep your teeth white between White Strip treatments.
    • Prevent tooth stains by limiting dark drinks and foods, avoiding citrus after whitening treatments, and quitting smoking .
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    Am I supposed to brush my teeth after using Crest White Strips?
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated top of his class with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive training program at the Bronx VA Medical Center and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and management. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York Academy of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Conduct Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Expert Answer
    Read the instructions on the box. If it mentions you can brush your teeth, you can. If not, I'd skip it. The big mistake that people make with whitening strips is not following the instructions down to the letter. These things really won't work if you don't follow the steps.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
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    Not Helpful 11 Helpful 11
  • Question
    How often should I use Crest 3D White Strips?
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated top of his class with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive training program at the Bronx VA Medical Center and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and management. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York Academy of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Conduct Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Expert Answer
    From what I've seen, most of my clients have had the best results when using them twice a day.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 5 Helpful 21
  • Question
    Why do my whitening strips always slide off of my teeth?
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Dr. Lewis Chen is a licensed Dentist in both New York and New Jersey, specializing in providing high-quality oral care in the form of preventative care. He holds an Economics degree from New York University. Dr. Chen earned his doctorate at Columbia University College of Dental Medicine. He graduated top of his class with the highest honors and distinction and was nominated and inducted into the only renowned, national dental honor society, Omicron Kappa Upsilon (OKU). He then completed a comprehensive training program at the Bronx VA Medical Center and, shortly after, decided to pursue multiple practice ownership and management. Dr. Chen has acquired numerous accolades over the years, including New York Academy of Dentistry Exemplary Professional Conduct Award, Academy of General Dentistry Outstanding General Practitioner Award, American Academy of Implant Dentistry Award, and Pierre Fauchard Foundation Award.
    Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE
    Licensed Dentist
    Expert Answer
    Your teeth probably aren't totally dry. You really need totally dry teeth to get the whitening strips to adhere properly.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
    Yes No
    Not Helpful 8 Helpful 15
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      Tips

      • Store your Crest White Strips in a dry, cool place. [17]
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      • White Strips are not effective on dental work, like fillings or caps, or fake teeth.
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      • Always read the instructions for your specific product thoroughly. The exact directions vary based on the type of strip and the concentration of whitening agents on them.
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      Warnings

      • Do not wear White Strips for more than the recommended number of minutes per treatment.
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      • Do not overuse White Strips. Overuse might result in the erosion of your protective enamel layer, which could cause tooth loss. [18]
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search/a065e000007A36zAAC/crest-3d-white-whitestrips
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXL94H9WtY
      3. ↑ https://www.tucsonazdentistry.com/blog/6-tips-when-using-teeth-whitening-strips/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXL94H9WtY
      5. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search/a065e000007A36zAAC/crest-3d-white-whitestrips
      6. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search/a065e000007A36zAAC/crest-3d-white-whitestrips
      7. ↑ https://www.tucsonazdentistry.com/blog/6-tips-when-using-teeth-whitening-strips/
      8. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search/a065e000007A36zAAC/crest-3d-white-whitestrips
      9. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXL94H9WtY
      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXL94H9WtY
      2. ↑ https://smileprep.com/crest-3d-whitestrips-light-review/
      3. ↑ https://www.baskingridgedentist.com/5-tips-for-using-teeth-whitening-strips-what-you-need-to-know/
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJXL94H9WtY
      5. ↑ Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE. Licensed Dentist. Expert Interview. 3 June 2021.
      6. ↑ Lewis Chen, DDS, FICOI, FIADFE. Licensed Dentist. Expert Interview. 3 June 2021.
      7. ↑ https://www.animated-teeth.com/whitening_strips/extended-whitestrips-treatment.htm
      8. ↑ https://www.ada.org/resources/research/science-and-research-institute/ada-seal-of-acceptance/product-search/a065e000007A36zAAC/crest-3d-white-whitestrips
      9. ↑ https://www.tucsonazdentistry.com/blog/6-tips-when-using-teeth-whitening-strips/

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