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Style and beauty

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Original poster

How to make my teeth whiter

43 replies

jjwhite · 28/04/2015 15:25

Any ideas on how best to whiten teeth?

I suppose in the long run I might save up and get a proper whitening treatment at the dentist (anyone know how much this might cost?) but in the short term I'm wondering if anyone has tried anything that works...

I have some whitening gel stuff but no trays (I did have some but they were rubbish so I threw them away). I also heard baking powder is good...

Have you found any whitening toothpastes that work?

What foods/drinks should I be avoiding?

All advice appreciated!

OP posts:

KissyBoo · 28/04/2015 15:37

Lipstick works. It has to be be cool toned though.

Nabootique · 28/04/2015 15:39

I really want to try this but I'm hoping someone who has tried it will come along and recommend it before I shell out £50.

Gobbolinothewitchscat · 28/04/2015 15:45

My DH is a dentist

He advises not wearing any kind of lipstick with orange tones as it makes your teeth look yellower. It's amazing when you try out lip glosses on the back of your hand how orangey even pinky ones can be.

EssexMummy123 · 28/04/2015 15:46

The beverley hills toothpaste is the best i've found.

DurhamDurham · 28/04/2015 15:50

I use 6% hydrogen peroxide which you can buy off the shelf in Sainsburys. I put a capful in my mouth every morning while I shower and then brush my teeth straight after. I drink a lot of strong black coffee and my teeth were looking very yellow. Now they look much whiter, not Hollywood actor white but people have noticed so it must be doing its job.
My dentist said he couldn't condone what I was doing but that he knew lots of people did it and it was no worse than those kits people buy off the internet and a fraction of the cost. A bottle of hydrogen peroxide costs £1.06.

Original poster

jjwhite · 28/04/2015 15:56

Thanks for all the suggestions!

DurhamDurham this sounds like a great (and cheap!) way to bleach your teeth... My only reservation is why the dentist says he wouldn't recommend it? What's bad about it? And what section of the supermarket do you get it from?!

I have tried the whole blue-toned pink lipstick thing but for some reason whenever I wear pink (rather than red) my teeth just seem to look worse! Or at least lipstick always draws attention to your teeth and perhaps makes them more prominent... Maybe I just haven't found the right shade yet... The hunt goes on!

I have been trying to cut down on black coffee - is the green tea/mint tea that I'm replacing it with also staining?

OP posts:

nilbyname · 28/04/2015 15:59

Watching with interest, good thread op

KoalaDownUnder · 28/04/2015 16:00

I bought a system called 'Zoom!' A few years ago. I had the trays custom-made by a dentist, then you buy syringes full of hydrogen carbamide gel, and wear the tray overnight.

It worked very well, as it was fitted to the contour of my teeth, but god it was unpleasant. I absolutely loathed the taste of the gel, hated all the saliva it made me produce, and I had horrible achy gums 24/7 while I was using it. I'd love to brighten up my teeth, but not going through that again.

(Has anyone used Crest Whitestrips? Any good?)

Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 16:07

Crest White strips

Amazing!

Lj8893 · 28/04/2015 16:11

Durham, so you just use it as a kind of mouthwash? Once or twice a day?
I bought some having heard it was good for teeth whitening but have been too scared to try it!

noddyholder · 28/04/2015 16:12

I use hydrogen peroxide too as a mouthwash but after brushing and diluted 1 in 5

KoalaDownUnder · 28/04/2015 16:15

Ooh, U2, tell us more (like, did they make your gums ache like fuck?)

DurhamDurham · 28/04/2015 16:27

I use it like a mouth wash but leave it in my mouth while I shower, so for about 5 mins or so. I then spit it out and brush my teeth with regular toothpaste. I think people are scared when they hear the word peroxide but I promise you it hasn't ever been painful for me, doesn't even tingle and it is taste/smell free so it's not an unpleasant task.

vjg13 · 28/04/2015 16:29

Crest white strips gave me a horrible jangly tooth pain. I use Ultradex mouthwash pre brushing and think it has had a whitening effect.

DurhamDurham · 28/04/2015 16:30

In some shops you have to purchase it from the pharmacy section but at Sainsbury's you just pick it off the shelf in the section which has the TSP etc.

My dentist said he couldn't recommend it incase something went wrong or I had a reaction to it, however he wasn't remotely surprised when I 'admitted' I did it, it must be more common than I thought. I just shrugged and said it was better for me than the kits you buy that cost a fortune.

I have been doing it for about 16 months now and no side effects yet....I will report back if all my teeth suddenly fall out

Lj8893 · 28/04/2015 16:41

Right, I have my bottle out the cupboard and will try it tonight! Will report back!

Marmaladybird · 28/04/2015 16:48

I have White Strips but my teeth were painful after the first go so i haven't used since.

Glitterfairys · 28/04/2015 16:57

Crest White Strips have worked brilliantly for me . I hated showing my teeth as they were stained from drinking too much coffee / tea but now it really don't bother me and I feel more confident showing my teething teas of trying to cover them up.

Glitterfairys · 28/04/2015 16:58

instead of

afink · 28/04/2015 17:06

Rapid White strips! I've just finished a course of them and am really really impressed. They haven't made my teeth properly white, but they are definitely at least the promised 4 shades white and look so much nicer, cleaner and just...less yellow. They're easy to use. They do taste a bit grim and make you dribble like a teething baby, but they're only in for 5 minutes, so it's not a problem.

www.boots.com/en/Rapid-White-2-Week-Tooth-Whitening-System_2483/

Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 17:19

Nope, mine didn't hurt.

I used the ones that you put on for 30 minutes a day. I would not start with the ones you put on for an hour or two though as they are super strong.

I did two days in a row and then skipped a day. Before you use them get some sensitive toothpaste and rub them on your gums for a week and while using it and don't put the strips on the gum if you have any receded. I have two receded gums at the bottom so had to place the strips up a bit higher.

You can find them on eBay for pretty cheap.

I got these ones

www.3dwhite.com/crest-products/3D-white-whitestrips-professional-effects.aspx

But you can get them on eBay for cheaper, but you have a chance of them being fake.

Sallystyle · 28/04/2015 17:21

You can also get ones you only put on for five minutes called 'Gentle Routine' if you have sensitive teeth. It will take a lot longer to get the results though.

KoalaDownUnder · 28/04/2015 17:38

Thank you - v useful to know!

DurhamDurham · 28/04/2015 17:50

Good Luck

Bakeoffcake · 28/04/2015 18:10

U2 I fancy trying some of those strips, can you get them in the UK?
I followed your link above, that took me to USA Amazon but it wouldn't let me but them as I'm in the Uk.

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