teeth whiten - advice?

[OnlyWantsOneFartleBerry]

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

winnybella - I did not say that it was. Honestly it was the first country that came into my head that I could spell. However - If someone came on here recommending a product only available by mail-order from a company in another country that was unheard of, then most people would be (rightly) dubious.

The point I was (trying) to make is that its crest - everyone has heard of crest - they are a multi-national, multi-billion $ corporation. Ok, this doesnt mean that they are 100% but it does mean that the chances of them selling battery acid for you to rub onto your pegs 3 times a day is somewhat slim.

I've been using Crest White Stripes (premium) for about 5 days once a day now (you can do it twice), I honestly can't believe the difference I am just delighted. Someone recommended them on a thread here and I need to find it again and thank the poster. Honestly I really am delighted and they are simple to use and very cheap. I think I paid 24.99 on ebay.

Stupid question, when you are doing the strips does one have to quit the fags, coffee, red wine etc? can anyone recommend a good whitening toothpaste to use as well as?

www.ciao.co.uk/Crest_Whitestrips__Review_5575996

This might be useful

Kittya- you should quit the fags anyway- does all kinds of trouble to your gums as well as your insides.
And the answer is- well what do you think? If you are trying to get rid of stains does it help to keep putting more stains on at the same time? It's a bit like trying to fill the bath with the plug out.
Give up the f ags and use the money for the whitening at your dentists.

Is there any difference between the different Crest strips? Not sure whether to go with Premium or Classic?

My dentist also wanted a few hundred quid to whiten my teeth, but cannot justify this at the mo so am going to try these instead.

Kittya - I smoke and haven't stopped, well apart from the 30 minutes a day treatment.

I also drink tea by the bucket and haven't stopped that.

I don't drink red wine just white.

So, my advice would be to carry on with the treatment.

Purple - I don't think Kittya asked for a lecture.

Just use your normal toothpaste, I'm using a whitening crest of aquafresh one, can't remember.

Pannacotta I got the Premium as that was what was recommended on another thread, honestly it's brilliant.

Thanks Monty.

I didnt realise that Crest belong to the Proctor and Gamble group, so that rules them out for me (P&G has dodgy ethics re animal testing etc).

Oh well, will have to make do with my "off white" teeth for a white yet.

I dont chain it but it is a habit and I do need to stop, I know all the health risks!! god, its the one thing I look forward to every night, I glass of grigio and a ciggie. I sound so crap dont I? You cant tell me that all these celebs dont smoke 20 a day because they do and their teeth are whiter than white, Simon Cowell being the one that springs to mind, I wonder what they use? Im going to try the strips, I got them off ebay, not sure how long they will take to come. It will be interesting, I think.

Kittya - mine came in a couple of days and that was Xmas week.

Good luck - I hope you're as pleased as I am.

Pannacotta - I didn't know that, keep looking though, there might be something else that's anti animal testing.

I know geordieminx!
Just couldn't help myself.

Geordieminx, your teeth look lovely and white but I suspect they started off that way, then became a darker colour than you'd like as you got older.

Mine actually came through yellow; I have vivid memories of girls in school commenting on it, my dad saying they looked like 'a sack of rusty nails' etc.

I tried the trays years ago and they did make my teeth what I would call a 'normal' shade of yellow - that is, not so disgusting as to completely stop me from smiling.
However, I could only use them for 3 days running as the build up of pain was immense and lasted for a week before I could start again.

I've since accidentally melted the trays!

I've probably used every brand of whitening toothpaste there is to no effect, and am now thinking of trying Zoom whitening - but I'm sure it will be agony.

I wonder if I should try the strips first, although I've heard they can give an uneven effect as they slip off the teeth, which probably wouldn't show with someone who just wants to remove stains - more likely to if your teeth's natural shade is yellow.

Sorry this is long.

if Zooom is the laser, dont do it!! it was like some kind of torture, I know everyone is different but it was hellish for me.

The system I've been using is the one fififolle talks about and through my dentist. I've had lots of probs with sensitivity but my dentist has been brill at supporting.

This is the stuff (much cheaper here than at the dentist):

www.polanight.co.uk/

The kit from my dentist included 10 10% syringes and 2 x 16%. I've just been given another 16% today to use on just my front two teeth.

The trays were prepped by my dentist (it took two attempts by themas they did it from casts and one of the casts broke)

pearl drops toothpaste is very good.

Maybe I should try another dentist.

I went to a Smile! place in London initially and subsequently bought more bleach from my dentist, who suggested using some gel stuff for the pain - note pain not sensitivity - but it didn't work.

Maybe some of you will report back re the strips?

I've ordered some strips! I've gone for the lower dose "clasic" as I have sensitive teeth.

I'll report back on this thread.

Oooo glad I asked now, Im really exicted about my strips coming, I shall take and provide before and after shots!!!

Damn was getting all excited by this then remembered I have a white filling at the front

I do too. It's very small (damn brace pulled the enamel off my tooth)

What will happen to that then?

I did the highest concentration of strips, haven't quite finished them yet but can see a subtle difference and it was worth £30.

The bottom one is a bit tricky to keep on.

can these be used on capped teeth?

You can use any whitening product on any teeth but it won't change the colour of veneers, crowns, caps or fillings.
Having said that, I have a small veneer on my front tooth which is chipped at the tip and teh rest of the tooth and the false bit look the same colour after whitening.

Well, I used one strip (of the low dose "classic" and gave up because it caused too much sensitivity.