Are YOU using your teeth whitening strips all WRONG? Dentist reveals the biggest mistakes people make with the at-home treatment - as she shares brilliant hacks for ensuring your pearly whites are at their most dazzling

Are you whitening your teeth all wrong? 

Orange County-based cosmetic dentist Joyce Kahng, who makes videos as Joyce the Dentist, showed her 451,000 followers how to 'make the most of your Crest Whitestrips with these hacks.' 

The dentist explained she was 'refusing to gatekeep these Crest whitening hacks,' and explained her followers were 'probably not using these right.' 

If you regularly use tooth whitening strips, here are a few helpful tips to guarantee you're getting the most bang for your buck - and not damaging your pearly whites. 

Orange County-based cosmetic dentist Joyce Kahng showed her 451,000 followers how to 'make the most of your Crest Whitestrips with these hacks'

The dentist explained she was 'refusing to gatekeep these Crest whitening hacks,' and explained her followers were 'probably not using these right'

'I see a lot of mistakes being made,' Dr. Kahng announced at the beginning of the easy tutorial. 

Her first tip is to cut the strips 'hot dog style' to get more bang for your buck. 

That way, you'll double your strips, and won't waste the whitener by using it on the back of your teeth. 

Then, people should only place the strip on the front of the teeth and avoid the backs. 

Dr. Kahng promised the whitening formula does disperse 'even if there's no direct contact on the back.' 

Her patients will also put the whitening strips directly over dental restorations, like a crown or veneer, but it's best to avoid those spots completely. 

'You actually need to cut the strip,' Dr. Kahng said, 'so there's no direct contact.' 

Whitening strips are slightly acidic, so direct contact could lead 'the glaze on a crown [to] disintegrate over a period of time and it may not look as nice in a couple of years.' 

The third and final tip is to buy a pack of silicone cheek retractors to use with the strips, which minimize the saliva's contact with the strips, which can 'deactivate the active ingredient'

Dr. Kahng reminded people to only use a maximum of two boxes per year, otherwise the chemicals can be too harsh

There's no need for expensive whitening sessions in a dentist's office with these helpful tips from Dr. Kahng

The third and final tip is to buy a pack of silicone cheek retractors to use with the strips, which minimize the saliva's contact with the strips, which can 'deactivate the active ingredient.' 

The retractor mimics what's done in a professional office and makes the strips much more potent. 

Dr. Kahng reminded people to only use a maximum of two boxes per year.  

Some commenters had questions about her techniques, with one person asking, 'If it disperses throughout the tooth, does it not make it half as effective to cut it in half?' 

Dr. Kahng responded, 'No. Even in professional teeth whitening we only apply it to the front of the tooth.' 

Dr. Kahng told DailyMail.com the Crest Supreme Whitestrips had 'the highest concentration of hydrogen peroxide per cost of strip,' while the sensitive version was 'the worst bang for your buck.' 

If you do have sensitive teeth, try the strips with higher concentrations of hydrogen peroxide. 

The dentist recommended shortening the time per session but increasing frequency, and promised: 'Consistency is what will win the game.'

Dr. Kahng told DailyMail.com the Crest Supreme Whitestrips have 'the highest concentration of hydrogen peroxide per cost of strip'

She said the sensitive version was 'the worst bang for your buck.' Instead, the dentist recommended shortening the time per session but increasing frequency

For sensitive teeth, Dr. Kahng recommended using a product with potassium nitrate, such as Sensodyne, at least 2 weeks before whitening

For sensitive teeth, Dr. Kahng recommended using a product with potassium nitrate, such as Sensodyne, which creates a barrier over the nerves in your teeth, at least two weeks before whitening.

While people might be tempted by whitening strips that come with an LED light, Dr. Kahng thinks it's better to buy more strips instead because the light 'doesn't do very much and isn't worth paying double the price for.' 

Dr. Kahng also clarified that it was possible to whiten with bonding, just be aware that it won't change colors.

Tend's chief dental officer Dr. Chris Salierno agreed that Crest Whitestrips were the way to go when it came to at-home whitening. 

'They deliver excellent results while still being gentle for folks with sensitive teeth,' Dr. Salierno told DailyMail.com. 

He prefers strips to pens, 'as a strip can hold the whitening material close against your teeth and protect it from being washed away by saliva.' 

'For the best results, use within a few weeks of a professional cleaning at your dental office,' Dr. Salierno added. 

After all, 'you want to whiten your teeth, not the plaque that's sitting on top!'

Meanwhile Puneet Nanda, who founded the ayurvedic teeth whitening brand Guru Nanda, told DailyMail.com, 'If you're young and have no sensitivity issues, the best thing you can do is use whitening strips.' 

He suggested cutting his brand's strips in half to save money, which would make teeth seven to eight shades lighter. 

However, if you are sensitive, he says it's better to opt for a whitening mouthwash three to five times a week, with baking soda and hydrogen peroxide to take off stains. 

Nanda also suggested adding mouthwash to your water flosser to whiten between the teeth.