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Original poster

Home teeth-whitening recommendations?

20 replies

Trills · 10/06/2013 14:43

Have you used any do-it-yourself tooth-whitening kits?

Would you recommend them?

(I realise it's funny to start this thread when there's one on Active saying that some people have overdone the whitening - I'm not looking for tippex-coloured teeth!)

OP posts:
SLallu · 11/06/2013 05:18

hi - I'd recommend seeing a dentist to get it done properly

Madamecastafiore · 11/06/2013 05:26

Was told by my hygienist last week that the strength of peroxide dentists use has been cut to that of what you can use for home bleaching so she said just do it at home.

You can get the gel and a tray made from your dentist.

Pusspuss1 · 11/06/2013 06:27

Crest whitestrips work well - you can get them online. I like the Professional Effects version.

bigTillyMint · 11/06/2013 08:01

Interesting, MmeC - I am about to get mine whitened at the dentist....

mervynmouse · 11/06/2013 08:13

Yes, Crest White Strips. They're great. About £20 for a weeks worth, you just stick the gel covered strips on top and bottom teeth for half an hour a day. Really easy and my teeth looked much whiter after 3 days than they did after laser at the dentist and at a fraction of price.

I suspect they are not great for your teeth and gums though...

Original poster
Trills · 11/06/2013 08:17

Morning!

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 11/06/2013 08:18

Yes Tilly. I had asked because had paid for whitening then became pregnant and have to wait. I am sure she said regulations had changed and it wasn't just my dentist.

bigTillyMint · 11/06/2013 08:27

Oh God. The dentist is currently making trays for £££Sad

MrsMorton · 11/06/2013 17:29

Your hygienist was talking total bollocks.

Get it done at the dentist, trays are the best and safest way to do this. I would love to know where your hygienist sucked that information from madam

Recently it has been made law that ONLY dentists can provide dental bleach containing the therapeutic concentration of carbamide peroxide, previously this was ambiguous and even dentists couldn't legally provide it.

littlemissnormal · 11/06/2013 18:02

I had mine done through my dentist. Was £300 but they made the moulds and I had loads of appointments before, during and after.

I put the bleach on myself so I could control how white they went and I'm really happy with them now.

MrsMorton · 11/06/2013 18:11

Yes, what littlemiss said. That's why it's a good idea.

bigTillyMint · 11/06/2013 18:11

OK that's much more reassuring! Thanks MrsM and littlemiss!

Original poster
Trills · 11/06/2013 19:58

That's nice for you, glad my thread gave you good news, even though that's not what it was supposed to be about. :)

I just want to know if there is anything that I can do myself at home that will have an effect.

I am not going to go to the dentist.

OP posts:
Madamecastafiore · 11/06/2013 20:06

The hygienist said they sell the gel and I can put it in my normal retainer.

She works in a very good private practice with my dentist.

Said cant use higher strength in the chair than they can sell me only difference is he uses the light thing on them!

cocolepew · 11/06/2013 20:13

I've been using Pearl Drops toothpaste the last few weeks and have noticed a difference already, it's slightly abrasive, I got a home kit with a thing you put over your teeth for half an hour after putting gel on but it made me gag.

sparklingportrait · 11/06/2013 21:04

I bleached my teeth with trays and tubes from the dentist about 5 years ago, it was so so sore and the peroxide strength was 22 per cent. However I went recently to buy another set of tubes from the dentist and the regulations have changed and the legal strength is now 16 per cent....So not sure if that is what is available on the high street though I would doubt it!

MrsMorton · 11/06/2013 21:17

You can't put it in a retainer Bleaching trays have a special reservoir that holds the gel against the teeth; a retainer will at best do nothing and at worst give you chemical burns on your gums. I'm Hmm about your hygienist, if she worked for me I would certainly be looking at some CPD for her.

Trills there is nothing you can do that is not destructive to your teeth without seeing your dentist. Hope that helps. Pearl drops is extremely abrasive and will wear the enamel off your teeth fairly rapidly.

bigTillyMint · 12/06/2013 06:58

Trills, sorry, didn't mean to hijack your thread.

dopeysheep · 12/06/2013 07:07

I put some ebay bought gel in my retainer it worked fine only prob is my top teeth are much whiter than the bottom. Can't do the boil and bite trays to save my life.
Don't know what the strength of the gel was though. I put it in overnight for a few days at a time and stopped when my teeth got sensitive.

Probably not advised but it did work.

MrsMorton · 12/06/2013 14:36

Gives up giving professional advice and goes back to threads about painted fences.

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