Nonperoxide whitening strips may whiten teeth as well as peroxide-containing formulations, but the nonperoxide strips left teeth more lustrous. The research was presented at the International Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (IADR) General Session & Exhibition.
Additionally, patients who use the nonperoxide-containing strips may be significantly less likely to experience tooth sensitivity and pain compared to those who used the ones with peroxide, according to a research poster that Dr. Petra Wilder-Smith of the University of California, Irvine Beckman Laser Institute, presented at IADR, which was held in New Orleans in March.
"Whitening strips with non-peroxide formulations can provide an effective alternative to conventional peroxide-based formulations and may have fewer side effects," Wilder-Smith wrote.
To explore the efficacy and related side effects of different whitening strips, a controlled, double-blinded study was conducted in 120 people. For 14 days, patients were asked to use placebo strips, those with peroxide, or those with nonperoxide daily.
Tooth color was measured on 12 anterior teeth using a digital colorimeter on days zero, seven, and 14. Also, tooth luster was recorded, oral tissues were examined, the Schiff Sensitivity test was implemented, and digital images were taken.
Each patient completed a questionnaire daily and at the end of the study. Researchers calculated and analyzed each time point using repeated measures analysis of variance models to determine the mean color change.
After a week, there was no significant difference in the whitening effect observed in the nonperoxide patients compared to the peroxide patients. Both products left teeth four to five shades lighter. After two weeks, both types of strips left teeth eight to 9.5 shades lighter, the authors wrote.
However, teeth that were treated with the nonperoxide strips became significantly more lustrous, while peroxide-treated teeth became considerably less lustrous, they wrote.
In the group that used strips with peroxide, more people developed tooth sensitivity, soreness, and burning. Additionally, four people who were using the peroxide strips quit the study during the second week due to dental pain, Wilder-Smith wrote.
