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

[hettyGreek]

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?

[CheersMedea]

i think you need to have your natural teeth ground down to a tiny peg

No you don't. That is one way of fixing veneers and crowns but not the only way for cosmetic purposes.

There is another kind that is surface bonded. I'm not a dentist but I'm sure googling will tell you what they are called.

Basically they "sand paper" the front of the tooth (so you lose some enamel) and then bond a false front on to the tooth.

[NuggetofPurestGreen]

I have veneers and crowns (damaged my teeth in an accident drunk) and they matched them to my teeth colour post whitening. They don't have to be super white!

[hettyGreek]

Oh gosh i don't want them that white! Veneers look awful imo and i think you need to have your natural teeth ground down to a tiny peg

[CheersMedea]

Apparently you can only get "super-white" teeth (sort of Cheryl Cole/Katie Price type white) with veneers or whatever -basically a fake tooth or tooth front of some sort. Natural enamel even if bleached to high heaven will never be that "super-white" that kind of glow in the dark white - just white-er.

It maybe your dentist has veneers.

[hettyGreek]

Thanks TD, sounds like it wouldn't work.

I've heard lazer stuff can go very wrong very quickly

[Nepotism]

My dentist does laser whitening, has anyone tried this?

[TeacupDrama]

I wouldn't recommend it with a toothbrush as for it to work properly it needs to be in contact with teeth for a couple of hours without being diluted by saliva, you needs moulds and specials thin gum shield type trays to hold it next to teeth

[hettyGreek]

thanks TeacupDrama - i've got good grade h2o2 3% - is this ok to use with an eletric toothbrush to whiten my teeth?

[TeacupDrama]

I'm a dentist, the max strength of hydrogen peroxide a dentist can use is 6%in all of EU, the max strength available in cosmetics ie toothpaste is 0.05% ie 100x less it is so little it does nothing
Crest white strips are not legal in EU
a dentist can make special trays show you how to use them and then send you home with the solution a syringe should last a while , the comment above that said they last twice is using way too much solution
about 50% of people experience some sensitivity , for 10% it is too sore to continue
I would not recommend it for people with already sensitive teeth, if you can't drink milk /water straight from fridge don't think about it
some teeth whiten easier than others, greyish teeth especially grey teeth after trauma are hardest to whiten ( these are best treated with internal bleaching of that specific tooth)

you also need to avoid foods that stain while doing the treatment ie black tea/coffee, smoking, red wine, heavily coloured curries etc

average professional prices are £250 upwards mostly

[whatevva]

Peroxide makes me itch.

I have no idea if it would make my gums and teeth itch, but I wouldn't be trying it.

[hettyGreek]

Thanks I wasn't keen on the strips.

Looks like hygienist is the next stop. They did seem to do the scale and polish very quickly.

Im never sure why peroxide is such a bad thing, its h2o2 and lots of people in health circles recommend it in small amounts instead of toothpaste.

[doubleginplease]

Don't use crest whitening strips. Ive seen them burn gums and fingers.

Nothing is going to whiten teeth unless its got peroxide.

A hygienist trip isn't the same as a 'scale and polish'. Your NHS Dentist will generally do them half heartedly if asked but in my experience will generally move on. If are seeing someone private then they will tell you to go and see a Hygienist as generally its cheaper for you to do so as the hourly labour rate is cheaper.

[hettyGreek]

Are the ones on amazon the same? Lots of strips there.

Ebay do ones but they seem too cheap.

I dont trust any of them as they all say professional, when clearly a diy kit is not!

[andadietcoke]

I worried too, but they're literally sold in every pharmacy and supermarket in the US. I think it's something to do with the EU's rules on the strength of the bleach allowed.

[hettyGreek]

Suggesting that whitening is bad for teeth produces bleats and screams from MN. It's one of the things you can't say even if it is true...

Ah i see!

I do worry if these crest white strips aren't legal over here if they are safe!

[andadietcoke]

I highly recommend Crest Whitestrips if you know anyone going to the states. I think you can also buy them online here. After 5 treatments I could see w noticeable difference. You get 20 treatments in the box.

[MyNameIsAlexDrake]

I start my whitening treatment in two weeks. I have an NHS dentist but obviously whitening is private only so it's costing £250 but done via my dentist. The impression for the trays was taken a few days ago and when I go back in two weeks time I'll be given the trays and the solution. I've been told to wear the trays for 2 hours a day, my dentist recommended before bedtime rather than overnight and that it could take up to two weeks to complete the treatment.

I'm a bit nervous now after reading some of the other posts on this thread but will give it a go. My dentist has said if my teeth start to feel sensitive then to put sensodine toothpaste in the trays for 1/2 hour.

I can't wait to have a brighter smile. It's my little reward to myself for giving up smoking and an incentive not to take up the habit again!

[xinchao]

I just tried whitening after finishing my Invisalign. The dentist gave me trays with 15% zoom to use at home. OH MY GOODNESS. Agony. I had to discontinue. He told me that whitening is just too painful for some. I was in pain 36 hours later...

[RhiWrites]

My private dentist has provided me with a dentist made moguls and whitening treatments to use overnight. It's ouchy though so I don't do it often.

Have you tried chewing whitening gum? I think that does have an effect.

[Wombat87]

A hygienist I thought is different. Or all mine have been!!

There's a new Oral B dual paste thing I'm trying. It's a whitening toothpaste, and then you clean your teeth with the second paste to help. So far it does seem to be working. But my teeth are ever so slightly creamy naturally...so without bleach I don't think I'd ever get them white white.

[SquinkiesRule]

I used Crest white strips years ago and they do work, they took out the tea/coffee stains and made my teeth look noticeably whiter. Can you even buy them in the UK?

[specialsubject]

ooh, you are braver than I am! Suggesting that whitening is bad for teeth produces bleats and screams from MN. It's one of the things you can't say even if it is true...

[cleaty]

All whitening treatments can damage teeth. It may jeopardise her licence if she recommends something that damages your teeth. What she does with her own teeth is a different issue.

[hettyGreek]

Ah I asked them to see a hygienist - they said the hygienist would just do the same as the descale and polish that they have done.

Is is bad to see a hygienist shortly after having a descale and a polish?

[Wombat87]

I had a badly stained front tooth where they were over crowded. Before I had braces fitted I went the hygienist who went to town on them. Pay for a private appointment elsewhere and they make a massive difference. My teeth never looked so white. I brush twice daily and ensure i use a whitening toothpaste. The dentist scale and polish doesn't do much - let the woman with the drill and pick have a go! My hygienist was private and it was £90, but was better than my NHS one as she really took her time. I feel NHS ones often go quickly and just do the worst so that they can move you out sooner