Diet Food Reviews

CVS Dissolving Whitening Strips

By: Tanya Patrice | Jun 13, 2005

teeth I have taken an unscheduled break from reviewing healthy diet foods to bring you a review of something which - although not a food, it is edible since it will end up going down your throat eventually. I bring to you today CVS Dissolving Teeth Whitening Strips also known as the 'CVS knock off version of Crest Whitestrips' but with a twist! These strips will dissolve away after you put them on! No rinsing, no removing the strips - just put on and abra-ca-dabra they dissolve away.

Let me say that this sounded like a good idea in theory. Who wouldn't want to put on these strips and go about your business, and then in 15 minutes or so, they just melt away ... Like I said, good idea in theory, and since I am theoretically inclined (and since they were the cheapest thing I could find) I went ahead and used these things and let me tell you - BAD IDEA IN PRACTICE!!! The thing is, they go on fine - no problems there, but when they are dissolving, you get some ooey gooey blobs sticking all over your teeth, to your tongue and to the top and bottom of your lips. It is not a pleasant feeling. I'll give CVS a little credit though. If you can stand the 'globs of blobs' in your mouth for a little bit, they eventually do dissolve and you have no residue or aftertaste. However, it is the period in between when they are dissolving that leaves you wanting to spit this mess out.

I see now why they were $5.00 off the regular price (of $19.99 - which is also the price of the CVS strips that do not dissolve). It really is the cheapest toothe whitening solution that I saw. The box says you will have whiter teeth in 7 days and there are 56 strips - 28 for the top and 28 for the bottom. The package further says that you can use the strips up to 4 times a day. (4 times for 7 days = 28 strips). In practice - who the hell has time to put on tooth whitening strips 4 times a day - since you really can't talk to people with them in, I would guess, somebody who has no job or kids probably could do it. However, I have seen an improvement in the 'whitening' of my teeth. All the coffee drinking while I'm studying for comprehensive exams stained my teeth a bit and now after about 4 days, I think they do look different.

Overall, if I knew then what I know now, I would not buy this product. I will however, continue to use these strips until the last one, but that's only because I already paid for them. There is a money back guarantee I'm thinking about using if I can find my receipt. According to the CVS website, "All CVS brand products and all cosmetics are 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. If you are dissatisfied for any reason, you can return the CVS brand or cosmetic product (opened or unopened) along with your receipt or invoice. We will refund the full purchase price--no questions asked!"

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