Do you brush your teeth after using teeth whitening strips? The short answer is that you don't have to. If you do though, make sure you brush them gently because they may feel sensitive after whitening with white strips.
If you'd like to know more about best practices when it comes to getting the most out of your whitening strips, then this article is for you! Keep reading to find out:
- Why you don't need to brush your teeth after whitening strips
- If you should brush your teeth before whitening strips
- And everything else you need to know!
We hope this information helps you get the biggest bang for your buck and the whiter smile you're after.
If you're looking for a whitening method with long-lasting results, we do also recommend checking out the SmileWhite teeth whitening kit. Get further information in our Smile White teeth whitening review.
Table of contents
Do you brush your teeth after whitening strips?
The general advice is that it's ok to brush your teeth after whitening strips. If you do brush your teeth right after taking the white strips off, try to do so gently and use a brush with soft bristles.
Making sure to brush your teeth gently will help you to avoid gum and tooth irritation, especially if you suffer from sensitive teeth. This applies even when you aren't undergoing a teeth whitening treatment.
Do you brush your teeth before whitening strips?
You can brush your teeth before using white strips, although there is some mixed information out there. Ultimately, you should follow the instructions from the manufacturer.
Some will say that you should brush your teeth before using whitening strips to remove any plaque that will keep the whitening strips from sticking properly.
Others say that white strips will stick better if you don't brush your teeth. More importantly, you may feel more sensitivity during the whitening process if you brush your teeth directly before treatment.
Some sources of advice suggest that if you want to brush your teeth before applying whitening strips, you should do so gently and wait at least 30 seconds after brushing before applying the strips.
The theory is that if you apply the white strips right after brushing (without waiting 30 seconds) then you risk increased irritation. Whitening strips aren't bad for your teeth, but they can cause some temporary sensitivity.
Advice according to different brands
It's possible that different whitening strips will have different instructions or advice on whether or not you should brush your teeth after use. Some might even differ if you should brush them before whitening teeth with strips.
Brand | Brush teeth before or after | |
 | It's clarified in the FAQs on the Snow website that you don't have to brush your teeth, but doing so may remove excess build-up before the treatment. | |
 | The Hismile's website gives no instructions to whether or not you should brush your teeth before or after using their whitening strips. However, they do recommend rinsing your teeth and mouth with water after use. | |
 | Crest recommends brushing your teeth gently after taking the white strips off. They also warn not to brush your teeth immediately before using their white strips and wait for a while. |
Let's have a look at what some of the most popular brands have to say:
Snow
Snow Magic Strips are whitening strips that feature a refreshing mint and lavender flavour. Snow helpfully lists a question about toothbrushing and whitening strips in their list of FAQs. The question is:
“Do I have to brush my teeth before using the Magic Strips?”
Snow's answer is:
“You do not have to brush your teeth but doing so may remove excess buildup before the treatment.”
With Snow, you aren't supposed to brush your teeth right after you use the whitening strips. That's because these strips actually dissolve right on your teeth in just 15 minutes, leaving behind no gooey mess, and no reason to brush your teeth. You are, however, supposed to wait 15 to 30 minutes before eating or drinking anything.
Crest Whitestrips
Crest, one of the top names for over-the-counter whitening strips, recommends brushing your teeth gently after taking the white strips off.
They also recommend not brushing your teeth immediately before using their white strips. In fact, you should wait before applying the strips if you have recently brushed your teeth to avoid gum irritation.
You can read more about Crest Whitestrips in our full review article here.
Hismile
Hismile is a peroxide-free and enamel-safe whitening strip brand that uses its patented PAP+ formula to whiten teeth. These whitening strips should not cause any sensitivity, and they include ingredients that help remineralise enamel and resolve any pre-existing teeth sensitivity.
So, should you brush your teeth after whitening strips?
There is no clarification on Hismile's website or product instructions as to whether or not you should brush your teeth before or after using their whitening strips. However, they do recommend rinsing your teeth and mouth with water after use.
Although there is no information regarding brushing your teeth before or after using Hismile's whitening strips, there is advice on brushing when it comes to using their whitening gels. They note that it's important to maintain your regular oral hygiene routine even when using any whitening kit. It is recommended that you brush your teeth at night before using a whitening kit.
How do I get whitening gel off my teeth?
If you have sensitive teeth and gums, you may be hesitant to brush your teeth right after whitening them. But most whitening strips tend to leave behind quite a bit of whitening gel. So how do you get this off if you don't want to brush right away?
You can start by rinsing your mouth, making sure to give the water some good swishes around your mouth. That will get a lot of the gel off, but there may still be some stubborn bits stuck on there, especially in the cracks between teeth.
If that's the case, you can gently wipe the gel off with your fingers if you're still not ready to brush gently with a toothbrush.
Whitening toothbrushes to complement your routine
Speaking of whether or not you should brush your teeth after you use whitening strips, you may want to complement your tooth whitening routine with an electric toothbrush that is optimised for both cleaning and whitening teeth. Let's take a look at some of the best toothbrushes to use after you use whitening strips.
maximise whitening results
Snow
Snow is famous for its at-home whitening kit that delivers professional results, as well as the Magic Strips which we mentioned above. They now also make an innovative LED electric toothbrush.
This is one of the only toothbrushes currently available on the market that combines LED technology with sonic technology for better cleaning and optimized whitening.
Along with LED for whitening support, this brush also includes all of the handy features we now come to expect with our electric toothbrushes, including:
- 2-minute timer with a 30-second quadrant alert
- 4 brushing modes — clean, whiten, polish, sensitive
- Long-lasting battery
Learn more about the Snow LED toothbrush here.
FOREO
The FOREO ISSA toothbrush is an electric silicone toothbrush perfect for sensitive teeth. It has silicone bristles which are extremely soft and gentle on teeth, and they even have a sensitive set for those that really struggle with sensitive teeth.
It features 11,000 sonic vibrations a minute, bacteria-resistant, medical-grade silicone and PBT polymer bristles and 16 intensity levels. The ISSA also has a 2-year Limited Warranty and a 10-year Quality Guarantee. Read more about this toothbrush in our full review.
Philips Sonicare
Sonicare offers a wide range of electric toothbrushes, from budget to luxe, in particular, the Philips Sonicare DiamondClean Smart. It's the Tesla of electric toothbrushes, and it has everything you need to ensure an optimised clean and the whitest smile.
You can choose between 5 modes — clean, white plus, gum health, deep clean plus, and tongue care. With the 3D mouth map on the Sonicare app, you'll never miss a spot.
There's also a pressure sensor so you can take extra care, and a stylish charging glass — if you want your brush to look good.
Conclusion
Should you brush your teeth after using whitening strips? You certainly can, but make sure to do so gently. If you are able to get all of the leftover whitening gel off of your teeth by rinsing your mouth or wiping it with a finger, then there may be no need for brushing at all.
Before using whitening strips, different manufacturers will recommend different things, some say that brushing your teeth before will help ensure the strips stick properly, while others say that you will experience more gum irritation and sensitivity if you do so. So it's best to follow the instructions on the specific white strips you have.