Boutique Whitening Gel - How Long for Results?

[BeretRaspberry]

Hi,

I’ve been using Boutique Whitening Gel (6%) for 4 weeks now. My teeth are definitely less yellow/more white, but I don’t feel they’re actually white.

Does anyone know if this is normal? I’ve asked the dentist to make sure I’m applying right/using the right amount and I am. The problem I have is I didn’t have the ‘full package’ from the dentist because I already had my trays so they basically just did a check up, gave me the gels, told me how to use and sent me on my way. For info: I had the trays from a previous time but didn’t end up using the gels at that time due to a long term illness.

I’m nearly at the end of my 3rd syringe and I suspect I might need more but the dentist only ok’d 3 so I’ll need to ask again.

Thank you!

I have the overnight carbamide peroxide gel but don't feel like it did very much. I do have some enamel erosion on my teeth though, and I think that if you have that then whitening doesn't have much of an effect beyond removing stains.

agreed. with enamel erosion theres not much that can be done since the enamel is yellowish in colour.

Is it 6% or 16% ? If 6% that's really low. I use 10% for overnight and a 16% occasionally for a top up and only fo an overnight every 6 months and a two hour top up every two months.

Thanks for the replies.

@CanYouSeeMeNow it’s definitely only 6%, which might explain it. I do have slight enamel erosion which also might be a factor, though I’d have hoped the dentist might have mentioned this might be an issue and they didn’t.

As I say, they definitely look less yellow and more ‘clean’ but not white yet.

Also, do you get yours from your normal dentist? Mine said they only do the ‘day’ one which is the one I have. I’d consider going elsewhere (as in another dentist in the area that sells it) but I doubt they’d sell me it without the full package of new trays etc.

I have been so underwhelmed with my Boutique experience and I had the full package. I'm 50, but not much enamel erosion that I'm aware of.

Even the private dentist seemed underwhelmed and said he expected them to be a shade or two whiter! When he put the before and after pics together the only difference seemed to be that they looked cleaner and brighter, but not whiter!

They went up by about one shade. They looked cleaner and a brighter shade of yellow.

I used 16% overnight. Dentist persuaded me to get some mini vials to top up so i did that for two weeks, same. I have, however, discovered that I am a night teeth grinder and wish I'd had the day time version. I feel I've gnashed at the moulds and possibly distorted them. Had I had to only wear them an hour a day I mighf have fared better.

When I went to my NHS dentist yesterday we had to give up mid clean due to insensitivity that I've never had before, clearly caused by the gel.

Overall, I just couldn't recommend such an expensive treatment.

I do get it from my dentist yes, however, I did once buy it from a more local dentist without being a patient. That was ten years or do ago though.
Might be worth calling and asking another in case.

The 6% will be hydrogen peroxide , 16% is carbamine peroxide which breaks down to form hydrogen peroxide and tends to be used overnight but is no stronger , it breaks down to give same amount of hydrogen peroxide.

Tooth whitening will never give you a Simon Cowell whiteness (those are crowns/veneers) it will brighten teeth up . You cannot predict by how much and in some people it takes weeks to do so.

unfortunately if you have enamel erosion the yellow of denting underneath shoes through and this may well affect your final results. Do make sure you have addressed the cause of your erosion ie diet, tooth brushing , acidic drinks , whitening powders/toothpastes , gastric problems.

Should say dentine not denting!

Oh also, I didn't get the expensive trays from my dentist, I bought the mould your own diy type, and that was after my friend who is a dental nurse recommended them instead of the dentist ones.

There's your problem. Whitening trays are made in a special way with a reservoir to hold the whitening gel. You cant use any old trays and particularly ones that are moulded yourself. All they will do is squeeze gel onto your gums possibly resulting in burns. Stop immediately and get proper trays.

Also looking at your whitening regime you are topping up way too often , should only need once a year at most. This is not a great thing for your teeth/gums.

Unfortunately teeth grinding (bruxing) makes your teeth very resistant to whitening. It may take months and even then may be unsatisfactory. Boutique and others like enlighten do a guaranteed shade system which refunds your money if not sucessful.

Thanks again all. It seems I’m not the only one to be disheartened. I don’t think the dentist was too concerned about the erosion but then again, maybe she wasn’t being as thorough as she could be. I do clench at night (I have TMJ disorder) which probably doesn’t help the erosion, though I don’t think I actually grind my teeth. I also suffer with ‘regular’ reflux but only now and then (usually hormonal times) so just use Gaviscon when needed.

I’m now wondering if it would have been better to get the in chair option for whitening. I mean, I understand that the results may not have been any better if my erosion was affecting it but would I be naive to think the dentist offering that would have been more inclined to tell me straight?

@Lollygaggle my trays haven’t got a reservoir. They are official (but old) ones. The dentist did check they fitted correctly still though.

Have you had your reflux investigated by gp? That is a priority as it can have nasty consequences and if it's bad enough to affect your teeth it will not be doing your oesophagus any good.

Grinding and clenching can also make your teeth resistant to whitening.

Finally in chair whitening does very little, teeth look whiter because they have been dehydrated. All systems then give you trays to use afterwards and this is what does the job. The in surgery whitening is an expensive gimmick really.

@Lollygaggle no, not investigated. I just assume it is hormonal (2 days before ovulation and 2 before my period) and I don’t know for definite it is affecting the enamel - I just mentioned it because you did. I’ve had TMJ (and clenching) for 13 years (since starting an SSRI) so I suspect that will probably be having more of an effect. I’m sort of put off asking the doc about the reflux because I don’t really want to try the Omeprazole/Lansoprazole that they have offered anyone else I know with it. I have ME/CFS and am sensitive to a lot of meds you see.

Thanks for the info about the in chair whitening. That makes sense so I’ll not waste my money with that.

Chat to your doctor , certain SSRI can make clenching worse and changing can help. Also some SSRI eg citalopram are also associated with gastric reflux.

A discussion about possibly changing might be wise as gastric reflux can have nasty consequences https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/stomach-liver-and-gastrointestinal-tract/gastro-oesophageal-reflux-disease-gord#:~:text=Gastro%2Doesophageal%20reflux%20disease%20(GORD)%20is%20a%20common%20condition,of%20the%20oesophagus%20becoming%20weakened.

@Lollygaggle thanks. You must be psychic! Citalopram is what I’m on. I’ve tried reducing it before but had to go back up to the highest dose last year as I started with perimenopausal anxiety on top of my ‘normal’ anxiety, which left me nearly housebound at one point. And I assume that to change SSRI, I’d have to reduce first so it fills me with dread! I also read somewhere that Citalopram is contraindicated to a lot of things, including the PPIs used for reflux so that put me off a bit. I don’t know how true that is though.

Discuss with gp , don't assume anything about dosages , contraindications but chat with your gp.

Thanks.

I did not know I was a grinder until this. Maybe it's only the moulds I grind?

Either way, it is interesting to know about the refund as I have a follow up appointment with the dentist after he gave me some mini syringes after the initital 4 larger syringes.

This time, I will raise the issue of how dissatisfied I am, as I played it down last time, as my teeth being yellow are a bit of an embarrassment to me.

I had in surgery whitening about 15 years ago for my wedding and it did nothing, so please don't worry if you did the right thing.

Beginning to wonder if veneers are the only option left for me now, but this seems extreme - and expensive!

The refund only applies to certain boutique/enlighten etc products and you have to have a photo taken by the dentist at the start of treatment. The boutique is called b1 guarantee if I remember correctly . If it's not this product there is no guarantee.

Veneers are also destructive , 25% chance of your teeth needing root canal , need replacing every 10 years , on average , with more destruction of teeth each time.
Eventually you end up like Demi Moore with no front teeth and implants.

Thanks - Ill check. The dentist did take photos at the starr.