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Original poster

teeth whiten - advice?

57 replies

OnlyWantsOneFartleBerry · 04/01/2010 21:56

Hi...

I would like to try and whiten my teeth but I cant afford the £500 my dentist charges,

Can any one reccommend a product to use at home - like the stuff you wear at night in a gum sheild?

E

OP posts:
geordieminx · 04/01/2010 21:59

Crest pro whitening strips - ebay or amazon.

Fab little stickers that you whack on your teeth twice a day for 30 mins.

2 week suppy about £25 - work amazingly well.

fishie · 04/01/2010 22:00

aren't there some sort of proprietary ear drops which do this? you will do this at own risk of course.

Original poster
OnlyWantsOneFartleBerry · 04/01/2010 22:04

ewwww @ ear drops

Minx - I have looked at them on ebay, will buy some if you think they really do work???

OP posts:
geordieminx · 04/01/2010 22:07

Yes they do - couple of teeth (ish) pics on my profile. (Smoking tea and coffee drinker)

There was a thread on here ages ago that recommended them - have a look at reviews on amazon too?

poguemahone · 04/01/2010 22:18

I used the crest whitestrips and they are AMAZING. They made a huge difference and I couldn't believe how discoloured my teeth must have been beforehand.

There are a few varieties - I got the Pro Effects, which I think was the shortest course/highest strength.

eshermummy · 04/01/2010 22:20

Geordieminx - quick Q's re the teeth whitening stickers - is the effect semi-permanent or has it lasted and did it make your teeth more sensitive/any other side effects?

eshermummy · 04/01/2010 22:27

Geordieminx - quick Q's re the teeth whitening stickers - is the effect semi-permanent or has it lasted and did it make your teeth more sensitive/any other side effects?

Original poster
OnlyWantsOneFartleBerry · 04/01/2010 22:39

bought some,

here

really really hope they work, my teeth have slowly got crap over the last 6 months and made me self conscious.

I didnt go through 5 years of a brace to hide my smile now!!!

OP posts:
Original poster
OnlyWantsOneFartleBerry · 04/01/2010 22:39

oh, so will let you know!!

OP posts:
CristinaTheAstonishing · 04/01/2010 23:40

Good luck. I use tooth whitening toothpaste. I have tried the £500 treatment but it didn't work, the dentist said a one hour would do it, it didn't. He wanted to give me solutions to use at home for a month overnight, so I asked him for my money back as it wasn't what I had agreed to beforehand.

SueW · 05/01/2010 06:28

My DH used to use the strips - he would put one in for his drive to work each day.

I've used white light which I thought was reat but a bit of a faff every day.

I've signed up for a system from my dentist with overnight trays but it caused my teeth to feelreally sensitive.

Dental hygienist recommmends Janina toothpaste, the diamond one.

geordieminx · 05/01/2010 08:37

They worked really well, tend top up every 6 months or so, or 1 or 2 if I am going out.

They reckon they can cause slight sensitivity - but its only temeporary, and can be fixed with sensitive toothpaste?

Well the money.

kormachameleon · 05/01/2010 08:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

fififolle · 05/01/2010 09:14

Ask your dentist about 'at home whitening'. In my experience (as a dentist) it's alot more successful than power whitening/in surgery whitening and is also less expensive. It involves thin gum shields which are worn over the teeth for 7-10 nights with the whitening gel inside. Because it is a more gradual build up you tend to get better results and less sensitivity.
It is always worthwhile having a check up before commencing any whitening treatment as the gel can irritate previously undiagnosed gum problems and cavities. It is also worth bearing in mind that only dentists can supply the whitening gel of sufficient strength.
I have heard of some perople buying extra strong gel over the internet meant for power whitening and using it overnight, causing major burns to the gums.
Over the counter kits that involve 3 stages are best avoided as the tend to be very destructive and tend to involve an acidic mouthwash then a very abrasive tooth paste - this will literally remove the top layer of tooth.
Most people tend to get some sensitivity with whitening, but this is very short lived. If you have any white fillings or crowns on front teeth, these will not whiten and will need to be replaced after the other teeth have been whitened.
For maintenance, I'd recommend a good quality electric tooth brush and a middle of the range whitening tooth paste.

kittya · 05/01/2010 19:59

Im going to try those strips. I tried Brite smile, the laser thing. A complete load of cack and the most painful thing Ive ever been through. Never again.

purplepeony · 05/01/2010 20:09

I am not sure about the strips- can't see they are that great or why would people pay £500?

I paid £450 . I suppose I felt reassured that my dentist was looking after my teeth and judging if my teeth were okay first. She also gace me desensitiser in case they felt sensitive- they did now and then but only for a few hours.

She showed me on a set of false teeth what my teeth were before whitening- almost as dark as they go and i don't smoke, drink, or drink tea and coffee.

After whitening they had changed to half way towards white-white, and since then I have used the kit at home more so they are a bit lighter.
She gave me 2 more tubes of Nite Lite free as I felt the kit she had given me hadn't whitened them enough.

Not everyone has teeth that go Simon Cowell white.

I am sure the strips are oka-ish but I just felt I didn't want to take the chance.

purplepeony · 05/01/2010 20:12

p.s.- I used the custom made gum trays as described by fifiolle.

My dentist is not in favour of laser whitening as she said it is not so effective.

Fifi- maybe you are my dentist!

ChloeHandbag · 05/01/2010 20:15

fiffifole - what sort of figure would a dentist charge for the at home whitening?

geordieminx · 05/01/2010 20:17

They get good reviews on Amazon, and they are made by oral specialists - Crest, not some dodgy company in Lithuania.

They are good, probably not as good as professional bleaching, but they are 5% of the price. If my dentist offered me the treatment for £25 then I would jump at the chance, but unfortunately I cannot justify £500.

I used the strips, I was really pleased with the results, and have had quite a few people comment on how white my teeth are, so it cant be me just imagining it.

Depends whether you want to pay £25 or £500, but I honestly dont think that they are any more of a risk to your teeth than the professional treatments.

One word of warning though - dont be tempted by beauty salons that offer whitening treatments at a cut price. I was talking to my dentist about this a while ago, and apparently you have to have a licence, and be a qualified professional to buy/use the bleach - something that beauty salons cannot/do not have.

kittya · 05/01/2010 20:17

How come they arent available in an ordinary chemist?

geordieminx · 05/01/2010 20:19

Boots do sell them I think. Or they used to.

Supply and demand maybe? Licensing?

SydneyScarborough · 05/01/2010 20:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

winnybella · 05/01/2010 20:26

geordieminx, may I just say that Lithuania is not a third world country (rather opposite)...

SydneyScarborough · 05/01/2010 20:26

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

purplepeony · 05/01/2010 20:28

Chloe- I am not fifi but I paid 450 at my dentists- SE. It was £250 for each set- top & bottom, or slightly cheaper for both at the same time. That included moulds for gum trays, 2 fittings with her, 4 tubes whitener, 1 tube desensitiser, follow-up appt, and another 2 tubes bleach.

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