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Original poster

Teeth Whitening

32 replies

cyrilsneer · 08/04/2011 08:05

Mrs CB mentioned, on the Botox thread, that she would like to get her teeth whitened.

I've had it done and am happy to share my experience and thoughts and would love to hear everyone else's ideas.

I started by buying a kit - over the Internet - from The Smile Place. For £99 they sent me some plasticine-y stuff and some plastic cups to put it in and bite into. You post this off and they send you back custom made "trays" for your teeth and some whitening gel (16%).

I tried to use this every day for two hours but the unbearably sensitivity and -frankly- pain was dreadful. I gave up after about a week. My teeth were a bit whiter but not much. Really disappointing experience.

A couple of years later, I decided to have the one off Zoom whitening at the dentist. £450. The whole experience was horrible and mega sensitive but my teeth were whiter although not THAT white! After spending £450! The dentist said that some people have the treatment repeated... Well Ibwasn't going to spend another £450.

We're now about two years on from that and I have dug out my old trays. I came across an old Daily Mail article online that said that Whiter Than White was the best company to get gel from so I ordered four tubes for about £27 including P and P. I ran out, however, and had to order another four. I'd have been better off going for the ten-tube pack for (I think) £49. They do 16% or 11%. I decided to go for 16%, even though my teeth are sensitive, because I want good and fast results.

I'm really, really impressed - I used it for forty minutes, twice a day (seems to be much easier for me than once a day for two hours) with good effects. Best news is that I have had very little sensitivity with this one!

A friend of mine maintains the whiteness of his teeth by -about once a month - putting the gel/ trays in overnight. I think the gel is supposed to oxidise or stop working after two days but he swears he gets a better result from doing it overnight than just two hours during the day.

One last point - you are supposed to avoid tea/coffe/curry etc while you are going through the process and for a few days after, but I didn't.. Stupid really, but I can't live without a few cups of PG in the morning.

For anyone starting out with this, from my experiences, I'd recommend buying the whitening kit from Whiter than White. Get a competent friend to help you take the impressions and then do it religiously for two weeks - forty minutes, twice a day, and avoid tea/coffee etc.

Anyone got any thoughts on my friend's "once a month overnight to maintain the whiteness" approach?

Also, I really hope there's no long-term damage to tooth enamel from all of this... Anyone know?

OP posts:
Karbea · 08/04/2011 08:14

Hello, I use crest whitening strips, the first month I used them everyday and now I just use them when I remember or am doing something nice, I think they are pretty good.

grumpypants · 08/04/2011 08:19

Blanx instant whitening - has removed all stains from teeth, and they look really nice. don't trust home gel kits.

TracyK · 08/04/2011 08:28

My hairdresser swears by Blanx - her teeth aren't uber white - but is a smoker and I think they are fairly ok for a smoker.

I got the dentist impressions done 5 or 6 years ago and the gel etc. Think about £250 all in. Was happy with it - although teeth ended up being sore during the treatment from sensitivity.

I'm just doing my 3rd round of (once every 2 years) - of doing topup whitening. Just get the gel from a dentist (£50 for four syringes).

Dentist told me to rinse with Fluoriguard twice a day in the 2 weeks leading up to the whitening - strengthens teeth ready for the bleach and minimises sensitivity. If you get sore teeth during process - put sensodyne toothpaste in the trays and pop in for a few hours.

I wouldn't recommend doing it any more than once every 2 years. The bleach softens the enamel to allow the stains to be lifted out - and it will take a while after treatment to harden up again (using Fluoriguard will help). So all that softening and hardening once a month - surely - must damage your enamel??

WhatsWrongWithYou · 08/04/2011 08:35

I also had trays a few years ago (cost £200 from a smile clinic), and they did give some improvement but, like the op, the agony was too much to bear and I could only do it for 3 consecutive days before it got too painful. Then I melted the trays when I put them in the Aga to sterilise and forgot about them Blush.

But I've just bought the Whiter Than White kit and am thrilled to see what the OP says about it. Have had it for 3 weeks now and haven't had the nerve to send off the impressions. Will do so today.

One thing they recommended was a re-mineralisation gel for the sensitivity, which you use in the tray either before or after a session, can't remember which, but I'm hoping this will help avoid the zingers.

Original poster
cyrilsneer · 08/04/2011 09:45

WWWY - honestly, I was climbing the walls when I originally tried to whiten my teeth and during the Zoom business but the 16% gel from Whiter Than White really hasn't caused me a fraction of the problem. Good luck with it!

OP posts:
DollyTwat · 08/04/2011 09:50

I've had mine layered by a cOmpany called all your life
It was £89 for the first 2 then it's £50 after.

I had 3 lots, takes 15 mins each time and is just a bit uncomfortable. I'm a smoker and my teeth are lovely now, not super White but really nice.

Def recommend if you can't be bothered with the trays

DollyTwat · 08/04/2011 09:51

*lasered sorry

LovelyDaffs · 08/04/2011 10:16

I ordered crest whitening strips and this thread has reminded me to start using them. I'll report back on the results.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 08/04/2011 10:46

Thanks cyril - I actually got the 11% strength as they recommended that for sensitive teeth. Will take the impressions today! >

TobyLerone · 08/04/2011 10:49

There is definitely damage to your enamel from tooth whitening. It's also not strictly legal, even for dentists to perform.

ebbandflow · 08/04/2011 10:50

I am worried that whitening might weaken my teeth-is this true?

ebbandflow · 08/04/2011 10:51

Toby I think you read my mind. Grin

WhatsWrongWithYou · 08/04/2011 11:12

Is it still not licensed then, Toby? I assumed it was now as it's so ubiquitous. When I first had it done 10 years ago the license had been withdrawn but certain cosmetic dentistry clinics would do the procedure.

I was told by a dentistry helpline (can't remember the name of it) that it had been withdrawn on a technicality, something to do with it having been developed in America but not having been passed by the EU I think.

The girl did say she'd have it done herself if she had the money so I took that as a green light!

TobyLerone · 08/04/2011 11:29

It's technically illegal. It is an offence under EU laws to supply products with more than 0.1% hydrogen peroxide in them. It's the dentist/supplier who is breaking the law, not the patient.

Also, tooth whitening products are usually very low pH. This can cause demineralisation of the teeth and increased likelihood of decay.

TracyK · 08/04/2011 13:50

Boots doing 3 for 2 on all tooth products - so if you wanted to try the Blanx....
I just got some Fluoriguard and some Blanx and some sensodine. All set for whitened teeth now.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 08/04/2011 18:19

Do you know, that's amazed e, Toby. I genuinely assumed that, since every dentist and his dog supplies the stuff now, it must be legal.

I guess it's been a case of 'if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.'

WhatsWrongWithYou · 08/04/2011 18:21

Found www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/oyb/healthcare/teeth_whitening.shtmlthis, among other articles on the subject.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 08/04/2011 18:24

[[http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/oyb/healthcare/teeth_whitening.shtml

this]] I mean.

cabbageroses · 08/04/2011 18:32

Not much to add really- had mine done at dentists for around £400. Very expensive- they have done it for 50% off this year!

anyway- I used the trays they gave me at home for about 2 weeks- 1 hr a day. got reasonably good results- teeth were at least 50% whiter.

that was 18 months back and since I have bought NiteWhite online- 3 tubes for £25. it is the same strength as the dentists- 22%. I do not leave it on overnight. I get some sensitivity if I use it for more than 4 days in a row, so i tend to do it for a few days then leave it.

I never had white teeth- always creamy- but I am pleased with the results.

When you get older ( I am 50s) yellow teeth really do age you.

One tip from the dentist was- you don't have to do every tooth all the time- I concentrate on my front teeth and don't always do the back ones.

I would not recommend anyone goes for DIY without seeing a dentist first- they need to check your teeth and gums to make sure you are okay. Mine included 2 follow up appts after I had used it at home.

TracyK · 10/04/2011 18:53

22% - wow - I got 10% from my dentist and that makes my teeth sensitive after a couple of days use - eek!

Original poster
cyrilsneer · 10/04/2011 19:24

[http://www.blanxuk.com/product-range/Which BlanX product?]]

Which BlanX product, specifically, is the recommended one, grumpypants and TracyK?

OP posts:
TheVisitor · 10/04/2011 19:28

I packed in smoking and a year later, using normal toothpaste, I have lovely, white, clean teeth. Whitening stuff will damage your tooth enamel.

TracyK · 10/04/2011 22:08

I got the classic - however I haven't started using it yet as I'm using my gel. I'm guessing my hairdresser had the intensive stain removal one as she is a smoker.

So I guess if you have stains then go for intensive - or if you have had your teeth gelled recently - use the classic as more of a maintenance toothpaste.

WhatsWrongWithYou · 10/04/2011 22:13

Thevisitor, if all it took to get teeth white was normal toothpaste we'd all have pearlywhites, wouldn't we? My teeth came through yellow, they're not cigarette- or tea-and-coffee-stained. They were yellow when I was 7 and they're slightly less yellow now thanks to the last (painful) course of whitening I carried out a few years ago.
I could brush them until I was blue in the face and they'd still be yellow.
Thanks for the handy hint, though Hmm.

Indaba · 10/04/2011 22:24

my dentist said to use the toothpaste for sensitive teeth a few days before you star to use the trays and throughout the process

he is v worried about people using home trays as too many people go mad and start using them all the time and damage the enamel

he said basically you can only lighten your teeth by home methods by 2-3 shades or so (he showed me the colour charts and its abit like the Dulux white & creams paint charts...starts off bright white and fades to smokers cream Grin...so if you have naturally fairly yellowy teeth naturally its unlikely you'll get pearly whites

and yes, no red wine or teas and coffees.....but he said you can sip through a straw if you are addicted!