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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dentisit should receomend a whitening treatment as hers are whiter than white

59 replies

hettyGreek · 13/04/2016 14:45

I really want bright white teeth. I know I know. My teeth are all healthy and nothing wrong with them. But they do have some stains at the bottom that a scale and polish does not remove.

My dentist just says point blank she doesn't recommend any teeth whitening.

She obviously uses something her self seeing how white they are.

Its but funny eh?

OP posts:
MatildaTheCat · 13/04/2016 14:50

Well she may well be right because it probably isn't that good for your teeth to be smothered in bleach. Some people are terribly sensitive and its excruciating for them.

I've done the lot including Zoom laser and can report that dentist made trays with strong strength peroxide gives the best results. Hope that helps. Smile

TimeToMuskUp · 13/04/2016 14:51

Some people's teeth really are naturally whiter than others.

I agree with her that whitening teeth can really do damage if not done correctly. Use whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes but don't order stuff online from dodgy places and hope for the best. It really isn't worth it.

MaisieDotes · 13/04/2016 14:55

She might not. My stepfather's teeth are super-white and he barely brushes them, let alone gets whitening treatment.

Some people just have whiter teeth.

Ladycrazycat · 13/04/2016 14:56

Technically they aren't allowed to recommend something for you to do at home anymore so maybe that's why, if that was what you were looking for.

You can go for treatment with a dentist but they can't send you away with instructions to do it yourself. Some feel that in order for it to be successful, bleaching treatment at home needs to happen as well so I imagine some maybe don't want to do it anymore if they don't feel it will work without you treating yourself.

Original poster
hettyGreek · 13/04/2016 14:59

Ah I guess she could have super white teeth naturally.

I was hoping to get the dentist made trays to sleep in, but its not a service she does apparently. Could it be because im NHS and not private?

OP posts:
Ladycrazycat · 13/04/2016 15:02

hetty I believe this Isn't allowed anymore.

FirstWeTakeManhattan · 13/04/2016 15:07

My neighbour has regular whitening treatments. She goes before every holiday and in the days afterward, her teeth look virtually blue. It's an odd look, but she obviously likes it. Grin

Original poster
hettyGreek · 13/04/2016 15:21

Lady - do you mean dentists offering these bleaching trays has been banned?

Manhat - there are blechoreics that end up with blue tinged teeth. I don't want this or the American look. Just a few shades lighter with no stains.

OP posts:
hollinhurst84 · 13/04/2016 15:27

I can recommend white glo smokers toothpaste for stain removal. Whitens a tiny bit but is mainly good at shifting stains

MadisonMontgomery · 13/04/2016 15:37

They won't do any whitening on the NHS, only as a private treatment. If you want to do at home Crest Whitestrips are good.

Original poster
hettyGreek · 13/04/2016 15:39

Oh no I wouldn't for a second expect anything cosmetic on the NHS!

I thought strips like that were a bit like vanish - they work by dyeing a bit blue?

OP posts:
Ladycrazycat · 13/04/2016 15:57

hetty They can do whitening treatments themselves but can't give it to you to take away any more if I remember correctly. I think some say it is less effective because of that.

MillyMollyMardy · 13/04/2016 16:10

Whitening trays for home use can still be supplied but have to be fitted by the dentist in order to be legal.
The best results come from whitening trays used regularly over several days. Hetty is there another dentist in the practice that does whitening?

Woobeedoo · 13/04/2016 16:16

I also recommend White Glo toothpaste - you can only buy it in Boots though and I've found that the Tea and Coffee formula works best. It's fab, about £4 but it comes with a toothbrush and a pack of those little interdental brushes too.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 13/04/2016 16:34

My cousin has super bright white teeth, I'm memorised by them when I see her lucky thing as they're naturally white.

A dentist won't recommend home bleaching kits,they can do damage.

Original poster
hettyGreek · 13/04/2016 16:44

Ah so you have to go to see them, they put the bleach in the trays fit them and then you go home to sleep in?

I'll try that toothpaste, do you use an electric toothbrush with it?

I like cleaning my teach with bicarb of soda once a month with my electric toothbrush, that makes them feel really clean. I always use the white function on my sonic toothbrush too.

OP posts:
hollinhurst84 · 13/04/2016 16:46

You can use any brush with it, works equally well. I actually did photos before and after one use

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 13/04/2016 16:57

I had my teeth whitened last year with an NHS dentist, cost was £200. £100 for custom trays and £100 for 10 syringes of bleach.

They have to do a mould so that it fits your teeth perfectly ( I think that's what the PP meant by fitted by the dentist ) and then you do the bleaching yourself at home. The good thing is if you do it and next year they look a bit dull, you can just go to the dentist and buy another syringe of bleach for £10 (one syringe does 2 treatments) to top up.

One word of caution - it makes your teeth really, really sensitive so you'll need to use a sensitive toothpaste while you're doing it. If your teeth are generally ok and you just want some minor surface stains lifting then an air abrasion would do the job - costs £40 at my dentist but might vary.

NuggetofPurestGreen · 13/04/2016 17:01

Well my dentist tells me not to smoke but I have seen him smoking plenty of times in the street. Do as they say not as they do Wink

I had the trays last year and they worked a treat. They didn't make my teeth really sensitive (a tiny bit more than usual) so maybe that depends? I did use Sensodyne while I was using them though,

NuggetofPurestGreen · 13/04/2016 17:02

I think I only used 3 syringes over two/three weeks too.

TheWeeBabySeamus1 · 13/04/2016 17:04

My teeth were in a bit of a state Blush so I think that's why I found it painful.

Out2pasture · 13/04/2016 17:10

The dentist may have naturally blue white teeth rather than yellow white.
She may also have veneers.

TheEmmaDilemma · 13/04/2016 17:14

I have a feeling you can buy self moulding trays online if you hunt around. I top up mine using bleach I buy online (Opalescence).

I would say don't get too high a % if you plan on sleeping in them. Generally they recommend a couple of hours tops I believe.

I need to redo mine. And watch out for sensitivity if you plan to sleep in them daily for a while, again not really recommended.

(I have zoom and just trays before that.)

Mrsmorton · 13/04/2016 17:15

I'm a dentist and no one has told me that we're not allowed to give people home whitening kits any more Confused

I recommend the trays that babyseamus describes, in fact that post is almost identical to what I would write except I haven't whitened my teeth.

Op, bear in mind that your dentist is unlikely to sue herself. Dentists in the UK are more likely to be sued than dentists anywhere else in the world... The no win no fee thing has made us all practise incredibly defensively which may be why she wouldn't recommend.