we test ithome tooth-whitening kits

							we test it: home tooth-whitening kits




 PRODUCT        Colgate Simply          Crest Night Effects     Crest Whitestrips     GoSmile Tooth            Rembrandt               Rembrandt             Rite Aid Whitening    Supersmile              Swab Plus
                White Night             Nighttime               Premium               Whitening                2-Hour White            Whitening Wand        Wrap Arounds          Professional Dual       Advanced Dental
                                        Whitening System                              On the Go                                                                                    Whitening System        Whitening System

 CLAIM          “Noticeably             “Whiter smile in        “Visible whitening    “Easy to use;            “Whitens teeth in       “Instantly            “Noticeably whiter    “Powerfully             “Whitens and
                whiter teeth in         14 nights. You’ll       in 7 days.Removes     works in a               2 hours; reduces        brightens and         teeth in 14 days”     whitens natural         polishes in min-
                14 days”                notice the effects in   up to 14 years of     minimum of               the effects of          adds shine,                                 teeth, bonded           utes a day; notice-
                                        2 days.”                stain build-up.”      2 weeks”                 9 years of aging”       freshens breath”                            teeth, and              ably whiter teeth
                                                                                                                                                                                   veneers”                in 6 days”

 R E S U LT S   Smile and Frown         Smile                   Smile                 Smile                    Smile and Frown         Smile                 Smile                 Smile                   Big Smile
 (SMILE OR      Several testers         This gel formula        Four testers used     The gel comes in         Teeth were notice-      Testers were skep-    “My teeth were        One tester              Three testers loved
 FROWN)         tried this paint-on     delivered for all       Crest’s newest        ampules, with a          ably whiter, but        tical of “instant”    whiter before the     reported that a         this two-part sys-
                clear gel that you      three of our            flexible strips,      case and mirror          there’s a hassle        claims, but           14 days were up!”     store clerk com-        tem—a swab filled
                apply once at night.    testers. “I did         which are almost      that fit in a purse so   factor with this kit,   thought their teeth   said one tester       mented “nice            with “activator”
                Some loved it—          notice whitening        like bandages, and    you can whiten           which includes          did look brighter.    about these larger-   teeth” after she        that is then dipped
                “My teeth are still     on the second           were surprised by     anytime. Testers         bleaching gel,          “Maybe it’s the       than-average          used this two-step      into whitening
                yellow, but lighter,”   day,” said one.         their good results.   had lighter teeth in     syringes for            placebo effect,”      flexible strips.      product for             powder. They
                said one—but                                    “And they’re          a week and loved         applying, and           said one.                                   2 weeks.                found it was easy
                two others saw                                  not messy!”           the convenience.         mouth guards.                                                                               to use and removed
                no difference.                                  reported one.                                                                                                                              stains quickly.

 HASSLES        One disappointed        Not easy to apply;      One tester            None, but testers        Gums of two out         None                  Strips “had the       Testers complained      None
                tester didn’t like      afterward, mouth        experienced           said price would         of three testers                              look, feel, and       about having to mix
                the fact that her       tastes “chalky.”        gum irritation        be an object.            turned white. “Felt                           taste of wax lips,”   two products on a
                gums and tongue                                 and bleeding.                                  like Clorox in my                             but “wearing them     toothbrush: “It’s
                weren’t protected                                                                              mouth!” said one.                             was a good way to     a pain in the neck to
                from the gel.                                                                                                                                curb my appetite      apply.” One tester
                                                                                                                                                             at night,” one        had gum irritation.
                                                                                                                                                             tester said.


 COST           $14.99                  $14.99                  $34.99                $75                      $19.99                  $14.99                $19.99                $30                     $14.99