Advice on Teeth Whitening Discussion Thread

[Munkee]

I want to whiten my teeth. I already use tooth whitening toothpase (reputable brands like arm & hammer) twice a day but they could be whiter.

I looked in boots today and tooth whitening/bleaching kits are about £9 onwards.

Does anybody know of a cheaper way?

Baking soda is always in the cupboard but can it be used on it's own or will I spend thenext few days being sick?

[cathy]

nope pick some up on your wet toothbrush and brush away

you will have noticably sparkly toofypegs in days

;D

[jo_b]

Has anyone else tried this? Is it still effective if you are already using whitening toothpaste?

Will give it a go - realise I am sounding like a doubting Thomas. :)

Bought a tub of bicarb yesterday to clean with so may as well try the teeth technique as well.

[cathy]

yes, me, and my son's as hes a great big coward and let his teeth go, when he eventually went to the dentist and got sorted, they cleaned and polished his teeth but they were definately yellow. he has lovely teeth as well, so I offered to pay the £500 to have them prof whitened for his next 100 birthday presents.

in the meantime he used the bicarb and after a couple of weeks there was no need for the treatment

tastes disgusting so just try to keep it on the teeth
:)

[cathy]

by the way#

my dentist said that tooth whitening paste is just toothpaste with bicarb in it!

so it shouldnt interfere

[jo_b]

Like the sound of this! Roughly how long does it take to make a noticeable difference? Am really conscious about my off-white teeth. :-[

[cathy]

bout a week if you brush three times a day and for a long time 4 mins or so. each time

sons was noticable in a week and gleaming white in a month they started to get sensitive then so he stopped and does them two or three times a week now with the bicarb

[Caterina]

It tastes less horrid if you mix a couple of drops of peppermint oil in it (Mix well though) - or if you add pulverised dried sage leaves to the bicarb (I am about to experiment with this so wish me luck).

Caterina

[karebob]

I'm going to try this
Hopefully in a few weeks we will have big white smilies ;D ;D ;D

[Lillibet]

My dentist told me not to bother with expensive toothpastes or toothbrushes, just use whatever was cheapest/on special offer & brush at least 1 minute longer than you think you need to. He also told me not to bother with whiteing toothpaste as it contins nothing different except regular bicarb in the mix, but to dab my toothpasted brush in the bicarb before I brush, that way the toothpaste takes away some of the bicarb flavour & you get the same effect. I drink lots of tea & had heavily stained teeth, am seeing some effect now after 2 months but have only been using the bicarb once a day as I have sensative gums. ;)

[16011996]

mmm will give this a try i think. hate paying lots for expensive toothpaste.

[jaybee]

I've always been a bit wary of these whitining things 'cos I've got several crowns and I don't want to end up with different shades of teeth! Not that I'm vain or anything!!! :-/

[Allexie]

just tried the bi-carb+ordinary toothpaste thing...makes teeth feel V-E-R-Y clean! Thanks for the tip ;D ;D

[Caterina]

I made my experiment yesterday but used dried mint rather than sage (sage still too fresh to crumble).

Mixed 4 tablespoons of bicarb with a large pinch of dried and pulverised peppermint leaves. Added 2 drops of peppermint oil and 4 drops of tea tree oil (antiseptic).

Put on the toothbrush and cleaned my teeth, then asked my teenage daughter (who has no qualms in telling me the hard truth) if my breath is ok.

She loved it so much that now she is using my concoction too, and so is my son and his friend, whose teeth are going yellow for too much junk food!

Caterina

[16011996]

will be giving that a bash then caterina. wondered if my kids'd use it but if theres nothing else they'll have too.

[Allexie]

WARNING!!! :o Don't do the bi-carb+toothpaste thingy immediately after eating very vinegary pickled onions!!! Looked like I had rabies ::) ::) ::) :-/

[Caterina]

OHHH gotta give that a try! It will be fun to see my kids' faces!

Caterina

[Allexie]

if only I'd had the camera handy :o :o

[16011996]

mmm think will have to try that when brother comes to stay, feed him them just before bed, then tell him to try my new toothpaste. lol.

[shazrazmataz]

WARNING!!! !:o ! Don't do the bi-carb+toothpaste thingy immediately after eating very vinegary pickled onions!!! !Looked like I had rabies ::) ::) ::) :-/

roflol !! ;D ;D ;D

[cathy]

WARNING!!! !:o ! Don't do the bi-carb+toothpaste thingy immediately after eating very vinegary pickled onions!!! !Looked like I had rabies ::) ::) ::) :-/



ha ha ha ha ha

but your teeth will be free of limescale now at least.

[Caterina]

Reporting a remarkable improvement in the appearance of my teeth only after 4-5 cleans with my bicarb concoction (shows how useless the commercial stuff is, really!)

Caterina

[cathy]

whoo hoooo caterina

give us a flash of those pearly whites

[Caterina]

;D

[cathy]

ARRGH ARRGH IVE BEEN DAZZLED



http://users.pandora.be/eforum/emoticons4u/angels/teu31.gif

[Glad]

cathy
did your sons teeth become sensitive because of using the bicarb ???

[cathy]

no cos I told him after he brushed with the bicarb to brush again with sensodyne so he was ok

cos my friend payed a bomb to have hers done and they were super sensitive for a few weeks
so I thought hed best to be safe than sorry

[grumblefuttocks]

hello - my first post :)

i bought myself some very fine bicarb of soda powder from boots and brushed three times yesterday.

my gums are pretty sore and red from it though, a lot of white-ish dead skin came off too.

just wondering if anyone of you bicarb users have any developments to report since your last post?

i read today that the yellow is caused by discolouration of 'dentine' which is the secondary later of material underneath the enamel. enamel is transparent so using an abrasive like bicarb of soda doesn't do anything for you cosmetically, and is bad for your teeth in general. anyone heard anything similar?

cheers

[cathy]

. Does baking soda help whiten teeth?
Not really. Baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) neutralizes plaque acids (which can contribute to tooth decay) and certain types of mouth odors. Depending on its concentration, baking soda may act as a mild abrasive (similar to hydrated silica gel and calcium phosphate dihydrate). But abrasives only remove stains, they don't restore the natural color of the tooth like peroxide.

http://www.naturalwhite.com/whiten/whitenfaq2.htm

stains etc removed is good enough for me lol

[cathy]

My teeth are stained, what toothpaste should I use?
There are toothpastes which claim to remove staining. They sometimes contain bicarbonate of soda which will help to remove any staining and dental plaque. These are often referred to as whitening toothpastes. It is important to realise that such toothpastes will only remove staining and will not change the natural colour of your teeth. If you feel you need something stronger to whiten your teeth, then speak to your dentist about how this could be done.
Back to top


from
http://www.dentalhealth.org.uk/faqs/leafletdetail.php?LeafletID=28

[Allexie]

hello - my first post :)

i bought myself some very fine bicarb of soda powder from boots and brushed three times yesterday.

my gums are pretty sore and red from it though, a lot of white-ish dead skin came off too.

just wondering if anyone of you bicarb users have any developments to report since your last post?

i read today that the yellow is caused by discolouration of 'dentine' which is the secondary later of material underneath the enamel. enamel is transparent so using an abrasive like bicarb of soda doesn't do anything for you cosmetically, and is bad for your teeth in general. anyone heard anything similar?

cheers

Hiya G-F, tee hee, love the name..... I had a bit of soreness of the gums at first but it seems to have passed now I'm in my second week of bi-carbing. Mind you...only do it once a day with the bi-carb :o :o :o

[pinkyler]

Hi Caterina, a timid query please.

Where do you get your peppermint leaves & the peppermint& tea tree oils?

How much do they cost?

Thanks for your time. I've been wanting to have whiter teeth for years, I tried PearlDrops - NOPE don't work. I'm Asian so have yellowy teeth because of the food I eat.

Any advice would help. :)

[culpepper]

when my son was a baby we had flouride drops for him from the health visitor but when we moved,the new area put flouride in the water and we were told using drops too would make his teeth go brown.
My mum has very beige teeth and was told by her dentist they are stronger if not white.I guess hers was the Enamel colour not staining.

[Mumstheword]

i find that eucryll smokers tooth powder removes stains, and can see the difference after one use. think it may be abrasive though so i only use it when necessary.

sorry, not very 'old style' !!

[elona]

On Moneysaving Old Style there is a thread on uses of hydrogen peroxide 3% and one of the uses is as toothpaste or mouthwash.

[robowen]

Has anyone else got one of these kits off ebay ??

I have 3 crowns and when they were fitted, my dentist matched them to my other good teeth, which were the second 'highest'shade of white at the time. :j
Now after the years have gone by, my other teeth have started to lose their colour a little bit. :think:

So, I got one of the kits from ebay.
Have applied the gel about 6 times now and no change :think:

Wondered if there were any better kits or if you guys had better experiences with it. :think:

rob

[tru]

I haven't tried them. But bicarb of soda works really well, I noticed a difference after a few days. I use it instead of toothpaste, the only drawback is, it tastes like seawater :D

[reverie]

I have used one from www.the-smile-place.com, it was £100ish I think, the dentist quoted £500. It was fab :D <-- white toothed smiley

[Miroslav]

I tried one off eBay to no effect :(

My dentist made my crowns slightly lighter than 2 other teeth (same as the rest) and now these two stand out, so I have been trying whitening, but to no avail :(

I don't know which one you bought off eBay, but mine was strong, in the sense of the taste and fumes

[robowen]

I haven't tried them. But bicarb of soda works really well, I noticed a difference after a few days. I use it instead of toothpaste, the only drawback is, it tastes like seawater :D


Interesting you say that.......the instructions for mine say use baking soda before and after using whitener :confused:

Maybe its the baking soda thats doing the whitening and not the ebay stuff.

It was advertised as 35%. This is supposed to be the strongest stuff.

I tried a tester at M/Airport. That bottle was £30. The test stuff, lathered up a bit and left the teeth clean even after 3 mins, but I didnt have £30 to get a bottle.

[Toothsmith]

It beats me that there are people out there who are happy to put completely unknown chemicals into their mouths just because it was bought from a slick website with smiley faces on it and it says that it's 'the same stuff that dentists use'!

Putting domestos in clingfilm over your teeth would make them whiter but it would severly b**ge* up everything!

Tooth whitening at the dentist is expensive because a named individual professional is putting his reputation in the hands of a product that he is confident has been tested to a high standard and that in the vast majority of cases it will 'do what it says on the tin'. In the cases where it doesn't (And when dealing with people nothing works exactly the same on everybody) he will then be responsible for coming to some sort of arrangement with the patient so that the patient is still happy and will continue to put his/her trust in that named professional.

On the internet, some geezer with an eye for a quick buck has found something cheap in China, has ordered a lorry full and with a bit of investment (Or not even that in the case of eBay) has opened a web site on the completely unregulated internet. Based on the principal that there is 'One born every minute' he coins it in and then next month starts again with Patio furniture.

Sometimes I wish I had the guts to just sell crap over the internet. It's a damn sight less stressful than what I do now, and the returns would be better - after all there are plenty of people out there gullible enough to buy the stuff!

[economiser]

I bought some Crest Whitestips Premium on Ebay, cost about £20, and they worked wonders in a week.

[robowen]

It beats me that there are people out there who are happy to put completely unknown chemicals into their mouths just because it was bought from a slick website with smiley faces on it and it says that it's 'the same stuff that dentists use'!

You don't know what anything you eat or drink is made of :confused: , if you see the chemicals they put in beer and wine you wouldn't drink it, you have to have a little more trust in people than you obviously have :confused:


Tooth whitening at the dentist is expensive because

Yeaaah !! Why ?? :confused: , small tube of gel costs £300...I don't think so. :eek:


On the internet, some geezer with an eye for a quick buck has found something cheap in China,

Again, tarring everyone with the same brush, not everyone on ebay is a shark :mad: and it comes from America ! home of the pearly white smile :D


Based on the principal that there is 'One born every minute' he coins it in and then next month starts again with Patio furniture.

Have a look at the feedback then. No chairs or tables after 2 years, still selling hundreds and hundreds of whitening kits. 1000's of positive feedbacks. Didn't work for me I know, but like you say it doesn't work for everyone. :confused:
This is the same as you with your happy customers.


after all there are plenty of people out there gullible enough to buy the stuff!

And plenty of people like me who are willing to try avoid giving my hard earned cash to a *&%$*&%$:*&?:*&%$$$£ like you :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:

rob

[Toothsmith]

Fair enough Rob,

But wasn't the reason for your posting that you'd bought something off eBay and it hadn't worked?

You give your hard earned cash to whoever you want to.

I thought the idea of this web site was money saving though?

Something is not cheap if it doesn't work, or worse, costs you more when it makes matters worse.

As for trust. I only trust people I can meet. That needn't necessarily be the brewer of my beer, but the chap in the offie who sells me it is fine, and the landlord of my local is OK.

I wouldn't by it at a car boot sale.

[robowen]

You deliberately hijacked a good thread to vent your anger at a competitor, not to mention calling me and everyone else who have bought these kind of goods "Gullible", and "one born everyday".

I can't believe the board guide hasn't had a word with you yet.

Go elsewhere if you want to vent your anger.

[Savvy_Sue]

You deliberately hijacked a good thread to vent your anger at a competitor, not to mention calling me and everyone else who have bought these kind of goods "Gullible", and "one born everyday".

I can't believe the board guide hasn't had a word with you yet.

Go elsewhere if you want to vent your anger.There's only one person who looks to me to be expressing anger in this thread, and it ain't toothsmith!

[robowen]

It's no surprise to me that you would say that, as you thanked him/her for their post yesterday. :confused:

I am merely reacting to an insult and am entitled to be angry.

Toothsmith rant was was uncalled for and should have gone in the vent board.

end of story.

[Toothsmith]

You deliberately hijacked a good thread to vent your anger at a competitor, not to mention calling me and everyone else who have bought these kind of goods "Gullible", and "one born everyday".

I can't believe the board guide hasn't had a word with you yet.

Go elsewhere if you want to vent your anger.


I am very sorry you feel so upset Rob.

It wasn't me that sold you stuff that didn't work. In fact if you'd paid for professional guidance and advice (That is where the money goes, not the goo in the syringe) it might well have been identified that the result you were after was not achievable with any product.

You go on putting whatever you want onto your teeth. If my post has made other people think twice about copying you then my work is done.

EBay wonder products are not in competition with me. I'm just fed up of the extra work they generate. Especially when people moan at the lack of NHS dentistry. They somehow feel that they have a right to have their own stupidity corrected at the expense of the taxpayer!

I don't have anything against people selling other stuff on eBay BTW. I bought an excellent dog crate a few months ago. Is your sensitivity here due to the fact you sell stuff there?

It's just when medical stuff is sold on a DIY basis I feel a boundary has been crossed.

[Glad]

I think we are veering slightly off topic and maybe some posts have been taken more literally than intended,
so remember folks 'be nice to other moneysavers' http://img.moneysavingexpert.com/icons/icon7.gif

[ribenagirl]

I'm quite interested in getting my teeth whitened too :D. But, am in the process of saving up to get it done properly in a proper surgery by a proper dentist - I have to agree with Toothsmith that when you buy off the internet, you DON'T know what you're always getting - e.g. is a company abroad, even if it's in America, subject to the same strict standards, controls and legal responsibilities as a UK company? I'm not sure.

And if something were to go wrong during my DIY teeth bleaching I would want to know that the person who I got the kit from would help me out with any problems that happened during application.

I have the same issue with US pharmacy websites that will happily ship prescription only medication to this country without thoroughly evaluating whether it is suitable for the individual. You really can't be messing about with your insides without knowing exactly what you're doing. If it goes wrong, you then only have yourself to blame. If you get it done professionally, you've got someone else to blame! :D ;)

As for the positive feedback, I hate to be cynical, but are they really going to post negative feedback on their website? :( anyway, noone shout at me please! ;)

[Toothsmith]

I'd only shout at you about Ribena! ;)

[Sofa_Sogood]

Hi Toothsmith

As you know my teeth are far from perfect ;), but when I wanted mine whitening (for daughters wedding), I was told I'd need a brace/braces that had to be worn every night for a few months. I think it came with some bleaching agent, but I left it too late anyway.

But what I should have asked (instead of waffling ;)) is ... is that how tooth whitening works best? Not that I'll be having it done, I just wondered.

[robowen]

No-one's going to shout at you ribenagirl ;)

Mr original post was about finding out people experiences with teeth whitening, I'm not really bothered it hasn't worked for me as I know it doesn't work for everyone :confused:

However, after you pay your dentist £2-£3-£400 whatever, and he tells you it might not work for you either, I hope you are not too mad when you don't get a refund :mad:

after all......the gell is £10 and the rest is for counselling....nice surgery....lights......equipment....carpets......r eceptionist.

I was quite happy to let the 1000's of other people try it before I had a go :T

now I've tried it...I am even more wary of paying a small fortune for something that is still not guaranteed.

When you have it done....I really hope it works for you :j :j

rob

[Toothsmith]

Hi Toothsmith

As you know my teeth are far from perfect ;), but when I wanted mine whitening (for daughters wedding), I was told I'd need a brace/braces that had to be worn every night for a few months. I think it came with some bleaching agent, but I left it too late anyway.

But what I should have asked (instead of waffling ;)) is ... is that how tooth whitening works best? Not that I'll be having it done, I just wondered.

Good evening Mrs Sogood

There are basically 2 systems. Powerbleaching and gel/tray systems.

Powerbleaching eg Britesmile (http://www.britesmile.co.uk/home.php) , but there are quite a few types.

Dentist will cover over the gums with either a 'paint on' masking agent or use a rubber dam (Big sheet of rubber with holes punched in it which the teeth go through) and then apply a gel to the teeth. You sit in the chair for about an hour often listening to music, with a bright light being beamed onto your teeth. One hour later :D ' I'm ready for my close up now Mr De Milne' :D

This is quick, quite dear and excellent for weddings/special events. Problem is, a lot of the colour change is due to dehydration of the tooth, and within a few days, the teeth have significantly darkened again :(

Gel/tray systems eg. Opalesence (http://www.dentist.net/opalescenceinfo.asp) But there are many others.

Here, the dentist takes impressions of the teeth and makes a thin clear plastic tray that fits over the teeth but is trimmed so that the gums are kept gel free (This stuff can burn if not used properly - hence my initial concerns) The patient is supplied with the gel and given clear instructions about how to go about using it, what bad signs to look out for and what to do if any of them occur. (Normally it's fine, but best to be on the safe side.) the gels are either 10% or 15% carbamine peroxide (35% can be used in the surgery with masked out gums for 45 mins if the patient wants a quicker result, but would never let a patient loose on their own with 35% They'd be down to the bone before they could blink :silenced:

Anyway, this works more slowly. If the colour change required isn't too much, then a couple of weeks with 15% can be wonderful. If it's something like tetracycline staining that we're trying to get rid of (A very brown set of teeth caused by being prescribed tetracycline antibiotics whilst very young (<6yrs) ) then it can take months and be VERY expensive). The vast majority of people can be improved to a good noticeable degree within 2-4 weeks.

With this system, the change is, to all intents and purposes permanent. The teeth will go darker, but only at the same rate they would have done throughout your life. And if you keep the trays, the dentist will often supply another syringe or two if you feel the need to 'top them up' from time to time. It also tends to be a bit cheaper, as there is less surgery time involved.

This system can also be used to lighten individual teeth that have discoloured after root canal treatment.

Personally, I just do the second system. I have nothing against the powerbleaching systems, it's just I wouldn't fancy having such powerful chemicals against my teeth. It is evidence backed though, and apparently quite safe.

I tend to do top teeth first and then the bottom teeth. I feel that if I did them together, patients would come back and say 'It's not working' At least if they're only doing one arch, they can see the contrast and realize it IS working, and hopefully stop before they have see-through teeth :rotfl:

The systems don't work on crowns, or white fillings, which is why it is important to see the patient so that they can be advised that if they have their teeth whitened they may then need crowns or fillings replaced to match the new colour. Incidentally, Rob's initial reason for wanting to give it a bash - that his teeth had darkened around his crowns - is a very valid one, and one that tooth bleaching can really help with.

What it won't do

It won't get you a better job
It won't get you a prettier boyfriend/girlfriend
It won't loose you 25lbs
It won't fix your life

These are some of the things we have to look out for when someone is sitting in our chair asking for their teeth to be whiter. Why does this person want this treatment :think: Unless I can answer that they just want their teeth a bit whiter, it's best not done.

As for the over the counter products. Most are pretty harmless and some are excellent at removing external staining, which does make the teeth look whiter. Much the same result could be had, at only a little extra cost, by visiting a hygienist. Where as well as the stain being removed, you'd get all the plaque, tartar and sundry gunk from the depths of the gums removed as well. So whiter teeth and fresher breath that would last longer than the minty flavour of the whitening strip.

As for products from unknown sources. Remember that anything 'high value' is counterfietted. Watches, perfumes etc. Just 'cos it says one thing on the bottle, don't assume that that's what's inside. Buy things like this from places you can trust.

I've just scrolled back through this. I'ts my longest post ever! Hope it's useful ;)

P.S.
I don't RECOMMEND any of the products I've linked to in this message. I've just put them in as they contain good information that is typical of that TYPE of system.

[Sofa_Sogood]

Thanks Toothsmith, but that's not a post - it's a dissertation! :D

I think I was offered the 2nd option (I'll wade my way through it again ;)), but I think this was a brace type thing that's worn during sleeping hours?

But if this is true .....

"What it won't do

It won't get you a better job
It won't get you a prettier boyfriend/girlfriend
It won't loose you 25lbs
It won't fix your life"

..... I won't bother ;) but thanks for the comprehensive reply :)

[robowen]

Very interesting reading that....and yes...I've calmed down now !! :o sorry.

You say the second treatment is the way to go.

This being a kit you take home.

You described it exactly as the instructions on my kit told me to do it...except we only have a 5 min wait and not the 45min wait in a surgery.

I think the ONLY cause for concern is not knowing exactly what the gel is..... :think:

I've only had 6 goes at it with the 'supposedly' 35% stuff...which equates to 270mins in a surgery as opposed to 30mins at home.

either :
A - The stuff doesn't work :doh: , or
B - I've not given it chance to work :think: .

rob

[Toothsmith]

You say the second treatment is the way to go.

Just my opinion. There are others that swear by powerbleaching



You described it exactly as the instructions on my kit told me to do it...except we only have a 5 min wait and not the 45min wait in a surgery.

That's cos your gums have no protection. If it really is 35% carbamine peroxide I wouldn't have it anywhere near my mouth for 5 seconds

I think the ONLY cause for concern is not knowing exactly what the gel is..... :think:

That's a BIG concern :eek:


either :
A - The stuff doesn't work :doh: , or
B - I've not given it chance to work :think: .

rob

Quit whilst you're ahead! And still have gums!!!


after all......the gell is £10 and the rest is for counselling....nice surgery....lights......equipment....carpets......r eceptionist.rob

When I open my 'Toothsavers' place under a railway arch, I'll send for you. :rolleyes:

I hope you are not too mad when you don't get a refund :mad: rob

I offer a full refund. I've never had to do it though. The trick is only selecting the ones that will work. That's where training and experience come in. That's what you pay for.

A joke for you Rob

A dentist calls a plumber on a Saturday afternoon as his drains are overflowing into his surgery. Plumber comes and after half an hour has the problem sorted. Presents grateful dentist with a £150 call out bill, £100 minimum labour and £25 parts. Dentist pays up but says "Do you realise that's an hourly rate of £550. I'm only on £150 per hour and I have all these overheads.
Plumber replied, " I know, it was just the same when I was a dentist" :D :D

[robowen]

Great story Toothsmith :rotfl:

Always great to hear a story of someone bettering himself !!

and as for the labour charge.....most of that will be counselling.

We plumbers don't just take the money and run...after the mop up....we help the customer get over the disaster ! :D

rob

[robowen]

Great story Toothsmith :rotfl:

Always great to hear a story of someone bettering himself !!

and as for the labour charge.....most of that will be counselling.

We plumbers don't just take the money and run...after the mop up....we help the customer get over the disaster ! :D

rob

[Savvy_Sue]

I am also laughing at Toothsmith's story and I am glad that you two have made up. I hope I can be forgiven for thanking Toothsmith for the earlier post which upset you, Rob!

[Miroslav]

What it won't do

It won't get you a better job
It won't get you a prettier boyfriend/girlfriend
It won't loose you 25lbs
It won't fix your life




It won't get you a better job - not in most cases, but in others, if the boss sees a yellowy smile, he may be put off


It won't get you a prettier boyfriend/girlfriend - in this materialistic/looks world, I disagree


It won't loose you 25lbs - :rotfl:

It won't fix your life - but it would improve confidence and therefore improve life a bit

[Toothsmith]

Increase confidence is a wonderful thing. It's just very hard to quantify, and I couldn't offer a 'money back' guarantee with it. ;)

[Savvy_Sue]

It won't loose you 25lbsNow Miroslav was laughing about this, but I guess if you use a DIY kit and it all goes horribly wrong and all your teeth fall out - you might lose 25lbs! :rotfl:

Not to mention £00s getting some falsies and your gums fixed up by your friendly neighbourhood toothsmith to whom you will have to confess what you did in an attempt to save money! :o

I'll settle for off-white!

[Sheel]

My younger daughter is having her teeth whitened at the moment using 10% carbamine peroxide gel and her teeth do look a lot whiter and she hasn't finished the treatment yet. She goes to the dentists at Boots (it's closing soon and moving to Optical Express I believe) and it was on special offer at £199.

I'm going to do a before and after comparison if I can find a photo of her showing her teeth before they were done

And if you keep the trays, the dentist will often supply another syringe or two if you feel the need to 'top them up' from time to time.

I did a stupid thing the other week and threw the trays out as I thought she'd finished the treatment and she hadn't , which cost me £40 to replace them :(

[Swattie]

How do you rate the off the shelf tooth whitening kits from the likes of Boots?

I would assume that the active ingredients are fairly mild if they can be sold off-the-shelf and I would also assume that Boots have done loads of research and testing to ensure the kits are effective (I wouldn't expect the same results as a pro job) and safe and do not damage teeth.


A word of advice for those of you considering professional whitening at the dentists - I went for treatment and ended up with a chemical burn in my mouth - so, despite all the precautions things can go wrong.

That's why I'm more interested in off the shelf products with a lower strength.

[Toothsmith]

How do you rate the off the shelf tooth whitening kits from the likes of Boots?.

I think they're a bit expensive for what they achieve. As I said in my 'dissertation' They aren't bad at removing stain, which can give a whiter appearance. Probably better to arrange a hygienist visit though, as that would get the same effect, but with plaque & tartar removed as well.

I would assume that the active ingredients are fairly mild if they can be sold off-the-shelf.

True

and I would also assume that Boots have done loads of research and testing to ensure the kits are effective (I wouldn't expect the same results as a pro job) and safe and do not damage teeth.

Possibly loads of reasearch to check it's harmless, but if only effective things were allowed to be put on the shelves, there would be a huge drop in the amount of stuff for sale in all shops :p

A word of advice for those of you considering professional whitening at the dentists - I went for treatment and ended up with a chemical burn in my mouth - so, despite all the precautions things can go wrong.

That's why I'm more interested in off the shelf products with a lower strength.

That's why I'm not fond of powerbleaching. The vast majority of the time it's fine, but if something does go wrong, it's not nice. It seems to me to be a bit of a risk with your professional reputation. I think you're going from one end of the spectrum to the other a bit quickly though. Did the powerbleaching not work at all? Despite the burn? Did the dentist not suggest the gel system as an alternative? What did he say about the burn?

[Downsizing _for_sanity]

I would have loved to have my teeth whitened for my wedding last year, but as you can imagine, we were paying lots of money out for other things and it fell off the bottom of my priorities. What I DID do, however, is go to the hygienist for a "scale and polish", and this was great. Mouth felt like it was super clean, teeth lovely and white. I'm going to have one at least every year from now, as well as using my electric toothbrush.

Toothsmith - lovely to have some professional advice, rather than 2nd/3rd hand advice from people who say stuff like "Well I went out with a dental nurse once and she said.." (Look, I don't mean any of you on THIS forum, before people get upset with me!! I just mean it's nice to have a professional opinion!)

DFS

[Dunkyboy]

I bought a whitening kit off e-bay, it was the 19% one, and i followed the instructions carefully, and the product worked perfectly.
My teeth were quite sensative for a few days after, (especially on cold drinks) but it was worth it, my teeth were much whiter and it has lasted for ages.
I think i paid about £100 quid, the e-bay seller had loads of info and links on the subject which i read, (including the disclaimer).
But i wouldn't recommend anyone trying out the full strenght kit, go for the middle one first and see how you get on.

[Toothsmith]

I bought a whitening kit off e-bay, it was the 19% one, and i followed the instructions carefully, and the product worked perfectly.
My teeth were quite sensative for a few days after, (especially on cold drinks) but it was worth it, my teeth were much whiter and it has lasted for ages.
I think i paid about £100 quid, the e-bay seller had loads of info and links on the subject which i read, (including the disclaimer).
But i wouldn't recommend anyone trying out the full strenght kit, go for the middle one first and see how you get on.

:wall: :wall:

[ribenagirl]

:wall: :wall:

roflmao!!!!! :D <-------(see, nice white shiny teefs ! ;) )

[robowen]

Hey..Dunkyboy...take no notice of old Toothy here !! :D

He's trying to hijack my thread to get more business for the so called professionals. :doh:

I'm glad yours worked for you. I'm not sure I have tried mine often enough to have any effect just yet.

For anyone interested....this is the stuff I got :
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=31771&item=4379562003&rd=1

Read through the feedback.
Firstly, don't look at the majority of them, as they say "quick delivery" etc etc. "gonna try it tomorrow" etc etc

Look at the ones that have tried it. :j

To save you time looking at the negs, the last 3 were around 20th nov 2004, one bloke changed his mind and refused to pay, the other one posted after 3 days....like me didn't give it chanc e to work. 1 neutral said he had difficulty with making the gum shield.

I think that if this bloke had had loads of problems and burns etc etc ...it would have shown on the feedback.

Anyway.....like I said.....this thread is for people who have had experiences with the DIY kits. and I would like to hear about them. :j

If Toothy don't like it ....professional advice is always welcome in the Health Board ! :D :D :D :D


rob

[Toothsmith]

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.

Chinese Proverb

[robowen]

A wise man makes his own decisions, an ignorant man follows the public opinion.

Chinese Proverb


Ever wondered why China has only recently started to become a developing nation ? :confused:
years and years after the rest of the world :confused: :think:

Because......the chinese were sat at home making little proverbs for fools to believe !!

The rest of us were out grafting for a living instead. ;)

rob

[Willowrose]

In my opinion as a dentist toothsmith has given excellent advice. Always ask your dentist about the likelyhood of a sucessful out come to tooth whitening and then decide which system you want. In my experience the power systems which use high concentrations of the ingredient for a one off treatment can lead to a lot of sensitivity. The best system involves having trays made by the dentist and then a choice of strengths of gels from the dentist. You can have 10% 16% or 22% in my experience the tray system works very well and patients can keep the trays and buy extra gel to top up with when they want to. The gel should only cost about 15-20£ to buy. I work in a deprived area and the people who go for tooth whitening are usually very pleased with the results. I could not continue to offer it as a treatment choice if I did not feel people were getting value for money.

[princess]

Crest white strips -£10ish from ebay or bring them back with you from holiday. They seem to be available more or less everywhere tho not in the uk. http://www.whitestrips.com/global/index.jsp.
I have achieved really great results with them and lots of people have commented on my added whiteness! I would really recommend this product.

[wendytiggermad]

I often wondered what these kits were like then i came across one in a shop called Home Bargains it was £2.99 so i purchased one to try... and WOW what a difference on the first use, my teeth were visibly whiter and my teeth felt lovely and clean, i was well impressed so back i went and purchased 2 more kits for future use. BTW This one is a non peroxide formula :j

[Toothsmith]

If it's non peroxide, what is it's active ingredient?

[loopy_lass]

oooo ... tempers are a little fraught on here i c... dont know if this has been posted so shoot me down in flames, but i use the beverly hills whitening toothpaste. from the taste it has bicarb in it. it appears to have helped as i didnt need a scale at the dentist last visit.
expensive stuff in boots etc. but wilkos (wilkinsons) do it A LOT cheaper

hth loops

[Caz2]

Toothsmith can you tell me what you think of this, my tooth whitening cost nothing but i fear it may be damaging to my teeth. They go really discoloured every month, i am a big tea drinker and dare i say it, a smoker. I use the eye end of a needle to scratch it all off, they look great immediatley. I asked my dentist and she said it won't take the enamel off and to do what works. I have also used loads of different toothpaste whitners and they are crap. I occasionally brush them hard with salt and that works as well. In your opinion am i doing damage and what is the best toothpaste on the market, i brush mine about 5 times a day.

Thankyou
PS all other moneysavers i am not advocating the use of needles, just what i do

[Toothsmith]

That's actually not too bad at all Caz, but be careful!

Keep well away from the gums and only use very light pressure.

Some bits of tea staining I can get off peoples teeth with my probe. Similar really!

SAT MORNING EDIT!

I posted this in a bit of a rush last night (Off out to celebrate Mrs. TS's 40th!!!)

This would ONLY be suitable for very small areas of light external staining such as tea or coffee. If the stain has any depth to it, or is caused by early decay on the enamel surface, you'll be scratching off tooth enamel, and that's BAD. Try scratching at it with a fingernail. It would be much harder to damage tooth substance with a fingernail.

Best to ask your own dentist first.

[hrafndot]

I saw reference to Bicarb of soda (baking powder) earlier. I use it once or twice a week and find it brilliant at getting rid of coffee/wine yellowing. I wonder if long term use damages gums? Thks if you can answer.

[Toothsmith]

No - it's fine!

[hrafndot]

Thanks for this reply - Rachel

[jw1096]

I like this thread!!

Anyway, I have a kind of related question.

I recently had braces taken off (I got round to doing it when I was 24, Ive felt like a 12year old for the last year and 3 months! :eek: ) and had the scale and polish and all that, and teeth looked great. However, Ive always had a slight bit of 'marbling' on the two front teeth at the top, always had it, for as long as I can remember. Anyway, not that anyone gets that close or anything, I notice it and was wondering if any of the bleaching methods would make it any less noticable. I also (slap my wrists) smoke and drink a lot of tea :rolleyes: . But I use an electric toothbrush, and floss, and use a whitening toothpaste. :A

In essence, would a whitening treatment at the dentist make a difference?

Also, my final exam at Uni is tomorrow, and I intend to quit smoking next monday, wish me luck!

Jo xx

[hrafndot]

I like this thread!!

Anyway, I have a kind of related question.

I recently had braces taken off (I got round to doing it when I was 24, Ive felt like a 12year old for the last year and 3 months! :eek: ) and had the scale and polish and all that, and teeth looked great. However, Ive always had a slight bit of 'marbling' on the two front teeth at the top, always had it, for as long as I can remember. Anyway, not that anyone gets that close or anything, I notice it and was wondering if any of the bleaching methods would make it any less noticable. I also (slap my wrists) smoke and drink a lot of tea :rolleyes: . But I use an electric toothbrush, and floss, and use a whitening toothpaste. :A

In essence, would a whitening treatment at the dentist make a difference

Also, my final exam at Uni is tomorrow, and I intend to quit smoking next monday, wish me luck!

Jo xx

Good luck in your exam!!!!

Congratulations on your decision to stop smoking, are you using any help to support you in your decision? If you aren't I would recommend getting the help on offer via your doctor, it doesn't cost anything. The government is paying for us to live longer by supporting anti-smoking assistance, take advantage of it while you can. I have (and it is working).

You are worried about your teeth, please discuss the discolouration with your dentist and use the gentlest methods to clean your teeth. Bicarbonate of soda does work, just dip your toothbrush in a pot and have a brush. I'm sure Toothsmith will be on line to give an opinion soon, so this is just to keep you going.

good luck

[jw1096]

Actually, I havent looked into it yet! I was thinking about making an appointment at the doctor's, but its really difficult to get an appointment round here (nice one Tony B...) But, I habe heard that there are quit smoking clinics, and I think you can refer yourself, but obviously, I'll do that after the exams!

Without wanting to hijack the thread and make it something else, I was wondering, what support did they give you? Can they give you patches and stuff? I am a little concerned that I wont be able to do it by myself, and the price of the things is a more than I can afford at the mo (I smoke tobacco, because its a hell of a lot cheaper!) being a student and all.

I heard that there was a drug out by prescription (began with Z) but I also heard that some people on it had randomly died because of it, so im trying to avoid that!

It would be great to know what they can do for me in advance!

Jo xx

[hrafndot]

Actually, I havent looked into it yet! I was thinking about making an appointment at the doctor's, but its really difficult to get an appointment round here (nice one Tony B...) But, I habe heard that there are quit smoking clinics, and I think you can refer yourself, but obviously, I'll do that after the exams!

Without wanting to hijack the thread and make it something else, I was wondering, what support did they give you? Can they give you patches and stuff? I am a little concerned that I wont be able to do it by myself, and the price of the things is a more than I can afford at the mo (I smoke tobacco, because its a hell of a lot cheaper!) being a student and all.

I heard that there was a drug out by prescription (began with Z) but I also heard that some people on it had randomly died because of it, so im trying to avoid that!

It would be great to know what they can do for me in advance!

Jo xx

As this is a bit off topic I have sent you a private message (look in your user cp section). Also advice on drugs would qualify as medical advice so is not allowed on the health boards. I have sent you information on how difficult/easy I found giving up smoking with medical assistance. Bye

[Smiley_Mum]

Came across this link which may be of interest.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/galleries/index.html?in_image_id=218938&in_gallery_id=5475&in_page_id=1055

There was a woman on some shopping channel the other night raving on about Back 2 white. I use Blanx toothpaste which is available from Boots and it works fine. I also have used Beverly Hills toothpaste which was the best one from a panel of testers on GMTV some time ago, used over a two week period. I'd be very wary about putting anything other than toothpaste on my teeth.

[Toothsmith]

Very good link!

Remember that when the reviewer says he is concerned about the acidity of some of the products, this is because acids will demineralise (dissolve) the surface of the tooth. Obviously if you do this with any frequency, there is not going to be much tooth left after a while.

A great deal of permanent harm can be done to the teeth by products which can be sold perfectly legally. Beware!!!!!

[Smiley_Mum]

Look at citrus fruits etc, and citrus fruit juices etc. Drink enough of that over time and the acid in it will ruin your teeth. Got to keep your body slightly alkaline for it to be healthy anyway. Too much acidity in the body causes illness. So if you want to keep your teeth reasonably white anyway, lay off coffee, red wine, tea, cigarettes etc, it's the stuff that people consume that does the damage anyway. Some peoples' teeth are naturally ivory coloured anyway, not pearly, brilliant white, and they do tend to be stronger too. My teeth thankfully are pretty good and I just use Blanx toothpaste or Beverly Hills stuff. Works fine.

[make life easier]

I've been using bicarbonate of soda for a couple of months now, I find it does keeps my teeth white and it also acts as a mouth wash, when I have done them with bicarb I brush with toothpaste to take away the taste :D

[NinaM]

Can anyone recommend a good tooth whitening product that can be bought from shops or on the internet?

[gkf]

Daughter highly recommends Crest Premium white strips, available to buy in America or on ebay.

[Toothsmith]

Article in today's Independent On Sunday (http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/health_medical/article329587.ece)

[bubbles]

OH NO - BROUGHT RAPID WHITE PEN OF E-BAY A FEW DAYS AGO..!! Wish i hadnt after reading this thread....

Toothsmith ... is it REALLY bad ???? Cant believe i fell it :(

[tomstickland]

On the internet, some geezer with an eye for a quick buck has found something cheap in China, has ordered a lorry full and with a bit of investment (Or not even that in the case of eBay) has opened a web site on the completely unregulated internet. Based on the principal that there is 'One born every minute' he coins it in and then next month starts again with Patio furniture.

Sometimes I wish I had the guts to just sell crap over the internet. It's a damn sight less stressful than what I do now, and the returns would be better - after all there are plenty of people out there gullible enough to buy the stuff!
Got to say I agree with what you're saying.

[Toothsmith]

OH NO - BROUGHT RAPID WHITE PEN OF E-BAY A FEW DAYS AGO..!! Wish i hadnt after reading this thread....

Toothsmith ... is it REALLY bad ???? Cant believe i fell it :(

At best it would be useless. If it actually changes the colour of your teeth it has done something to them.

What it has done is impossible to say without knowing EXACTLY what is in the product.

Some products are available abroad, but have not met standards in this country. Some look like legitamate products on sale in this country (But some of them are not harmless if used inappropriately) but are they real or counterfiet?

In all honesty, the safest thing may be to bin it.

[loates123]

http://www.thesmileplace.co.uk/default.html

so is this a waste of money then

[Toothsmith]

You may very well think that. I couldn't possibly comment!

[jessielicious]

Has anyone used this Boots one?

http://www.boots.com/shop/product_details.jsp?productid=1031948&classificationid=1035719&slmRefer=000

It has the syringes full of gel but I don't know what strength it is. Just wondered if it's likely to be worth the money.

[pinkiceprincess99]

If you want real hollywood white teeth, then i suggest using a carbamide peroxide gel (22%) used with a mouthpiece. it only takes 30-60 min a day and in one to two weeks your teeth are amazingly white. its simple to use, i put the mouthpiece in at nite while reading.

i have used a few different kits, and the best value kit i came across is from Maxbrite.co.uk. prices start from £15.95 for a 10 day kit, which is ample for great results that will last for atleast six months.

http://www.maxbrite.co.uk

[Angel777]

I have tried back to whiteand it didnt work for me!

Although i am concerned about putting bleaching products on my teeth would the carbamine peroxide damage my gums?

Thanks.

[Toothsmith]

Yes.

That's why the trays should be made and checked by someone who can actually see you. - not mail order, or DIY.

Personally, I wouldn't use anything higher than 15% carbamine peroxide on a patient of mine. Not without some way of masking out the gums.

I worry about some of the products that are marketed as 'peroxide free' as well. These are often acid based, and would do considerable damage to the teeth if not used VERY carefully. And if they are used that carfully, they would have no effect on the whiteness of the teeth!

[Angel777]

Thanks Toothsmith, is there anything apart from going to a dentist that you would reccommend apart from bicarbonate soda?

Many thanks

[Toothsmith]

There are too many reasons as to why a patient may feel their teeth need whitening.

Staining, dark colour within the teeth, motteling on the surface of the teeth, old fillings discolouring etc..

There are also many lifestyle reasons for staining. Coffee, smoking, red wine, use of mouthwashes, tea etc..

I would need to know (by looking at it) exactly what the problem was before I could recommend anything to change the situation.

This is why I feel over the counter products are a waste of money, and internet products are frankly dangerous.

Occasionally, by pure chance, someone may buy an appropriate product to help the problem they have, but with so many different problems and so many different products, it's a minor miracle if they do.

Yet it is much more likely that harm will be done. Especially if someone is tempted to try more of a product, or leave it on longer than recommended, to see if that will have an effect.

My advice for anyone wanting whiter teeth HAS to be, speak to your dentist about it.

[shokadelika]

I took a rapid white kit to ask my dentist if it was OK to use she said yes as I have a discoloured front tooth where another dentist gave me two lovely root canals ending up some years later in an Apecectomy at the local Dental Hospital 3 hours with your gum peeled back nice!.

[Toothsmith]

That's a more sensible approach!

[Silver]

This is an interesting thread. I don't mean to brain-suck you Toothsmith but can you recommend a mouthwash which wouldn't stain my teeth?

By the way my dentist says I have beautiful teeth :D (No fillings etc.)

Silver

[Toothsmith]

They all do over time to some degree.

Why do you feel you need a mouthwash?

[Silver]

Well, my dentist recommended it!

Silver

[stanmoresaver]

Is there a nomination for the most entertaining thread because ths one has got to get it!!!!

Brilliant- entertaining amateur vs professional stuff!!

:j

[Toothsmith]

Well, my dentist recommended it!

Silver


Well, WHICH ONE DID HE RECOMMEND :wall: :rotfl:

[pumpa]

tried a few but they dont do much or they go blotchy and then your teeth go nasty even quicker so you have to keep doing it. i need opinions really i know there are a lot of diff brands out there i can find that out myself but i want to know which ones actually work without wrecking your teeth-esp if any of you are smokers, cheers!

[jillski]

I recently used the Boots own make one. Cant remember what it was called. First time i've used tooth whitening and it worked quite well. Would use again in a few months. Noticed today they're at sale price (about half price) so £15 ish.

[ginchyqueendangle]

Check ebay or online and try and buy "Crest Whitestrips" go for premium or premium plus ones.

They really work, use the same stuff that your dentist uses to whiten your teeth, but without the added £'s price tag.

Just strips you put on your teeth twice a day, for 30 mins and you should see a difference in a few days, after 2 weeks, you'll be on your way. You can repeat the treatment for even better results.

I used them on mine and i think they are fab, they really do get your teeth to a nice white shade, even my bf who is a fairly heavy smoker tried them and the difference they made was great.

They can be found on ebay for £10 upwards. :beer:


Ginch

[Claudie]

Agree with Ginch Crest worked for me and I have very sensitive teeth....I don't know why they aren't on sale here but you can get them on Ebay from the States.

[Feisty_Fairy]

Hi

Have you thought about Back2white?? This is the ONLY legal and CE marked home paint on bleaching kit available in the UK and its 18% carbamide peroxide which is basically what they use in the dentists.

You apply it twice daily for 2 weeks and after half an hour of having applied it you can get on with your day. (its clear by the way so no one can see it and you cant feel it either!)

It will give you a 2/3 shade improvement if used correctly, and if you want to go whiter then just buy some more and carry on.

The best thing is its only £12.95!!!

Please just give me a shout if you need any more info and want to know where to get it from.

Regards,

Feisty

p.s by the way the other types available in places like boots do not contain any carbamide peroxide which is the active ingredient needed to bleach teeth.

[pumpa]

couple of qus about these crest strips-i actually saw them on ebay today, but i want to know if they make teeth porous (ie you have to do it more and more often) and do they leave blotches of whiter shade on your teeth like yotuel or rapid white does? can one of you tell me your personal experience of the crest stuff? cheers.

[pumpa]

and is it safe on enamel and does it only work on the front of your teeth or can you do all the faces of your teeth with it?

[Savvy_Sue]

If you look over on the Health board you will see what the dentists think of home teeth whitening kits. I know, "Well they would, wouldn't they?" but if you're smoking then really, you'd do better giving that up because that doesn't just stain your teeth, it also does permanent damage to both teeth and gums. And as long as you continue smoking you are wasting your time and money on trying to whiten your teeth!

There is a thread on the health board giving support to people giving up smoking.

I'm sorry I can't help with your original query, but from a moneysaving point of view it's the smoking which has to go! Maybe then you could save the money and put it towards getting your teeth professionally whitened, which might be more cost-effective in the long run!

Edited to add a link to the particular thread I was thinking of (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=53100&page=1&pp=10&highlight=teeth+whitening): it gets quite aerated at times, but in post 19 Toothsmith explains how the different systems work and what teeth whitening will and won't do.

[Toothsmith]

There is an awful lot of crap on the market in the guise of tooth whitening products. Some things don't have a licence in this country for perfectly good reasons.

Even the decent ones should only really be used if you have teeth that are suitable. How would you feel if your teeth whitened up and then the fillings, that used to match, now look like tea leaves stuck to your teeth?

I've said loads about these products on other threads. Hunt them out!

Can you rely on Ebay for the set of teeth you'll need when you wreck the ones you've got?

[ginchyqueendangle]

hi pumpa,

As its strips you use to whiten the teeth i find its more effective on the front teeth but they do actually work well on the rest as it does more or less the full upper and lower set.

The results are quite effective and last for quite a while until you attack the red wine regularly again oops! lol. So when they start getting shabby again just use some more strips. But i have to say that it does permanently improve the shade of your teeth, imho that is anyway.

Oh nearly forgot that you do always notice the biggest difference on the 2 front teeth. To me they always seem the whitest.

Ginch

[EMPTY PURSE]

I had bought crest white strips and also the paint on whitener you apply before going to bed, not used at the same time, and noticed a difference within a couple of days.

Asked dental hygienist whether these were safe to use and she advised that they would not cause any harm and were very effective, so much so that a couple of her colleagues had used them.

She did say that if your gums feel tender after several days then a sensitive toothpaste should keep you right.

Keep Smiling xx

millie xxxxx

[the devil made me do it]

I basically googled "teeth whitening" and quite a number of websites selling the bleaching agent with mouth trays came up. I deceided to go for the 22% bleaching kit, and it's definatly improving the whiteness of my teeth. However, it's fair to say, you need to use sensodyne toothpaste in conjunction with this method, as gums and teeth can get rather sensitive. It's also worth while buying re-mineralizing gel ( if it doesn't already come with the kit), it helps with the sensitivity of the teeth. You put a thin layer in each mouth tray (gum shield) and wear tham after bleaching for up to 20 mins.

I think shop bought products are no where near as effective as this bleaching kit, which is what people are paying £300 for at the dentist.


Some web companies even offer a service where by they send you the putty to take a mould of your upper and lower teeth, you then send the mould back to the company, and they make up customized gum shields for a fraction of the dentist costs.

[Toothsmith]

Some web companies even offer a service where by they send you the putty to take a mould of your upper and lower teeth, you then send the mould back to the company, and they make up customized gum shields for a fraction of the dentist costs.

A fraction of the cost, and no responsibility if anything goes wrong :o

[elisebutt65]

I tried these with the gumshield and they did have a little effect but couldn't stnd all the dribbling - lol

[the devil made me do it]

A fraction of the cost, and no responsibility if anything goes wrong :o


Well I don't know about that, I didn't plumb for customized ones.
I guess they would be responsible if it went wrong at their end, yet they can't be held accountable if the customer dosen't follow instructions. That goes for any product.

By the way, I'm just saying I haven't had any complaints with regards to the kit I'm using, I'm not addvocating people should take any risks. It's up to the individual.

[the devil made me do it]

I tried these with the gumshield and they did have a little effect but couldn't stnd all the dribbling - lol

I didn't use the gum shields I got with the kit I bought, I sent off for another set, which were re-mouldable, so I could get a tighter fit.

You don't have to have both gum shields in at once by the way. lol

[the devil made me do it]

Oh another thing lol.. my mum has just had her teeth professionally whitened using the bleaching kit and gum shields ect... provided for by her dentist at a £300 cost. The results ain't £300 worth that's for sure. I think she feels well cheated.

[Toothsmith]

Oh another thing lol.. my mum has just had her teeth professionally whitened using the bleaching kit and gum shields ect... provided for by her dentist at a £300 cost. The results ain't £300 worth that's for sure. I think she feels well cheated.

Has she been back to the dentist?

I offer a money back guarentee when I do it. I've never yet had to give anyone their money back (That's because I only offer it to the cases I'm sure will work) but once or twice I've given the patients a syringe or two extra gel, just to get them where they want to be.

The reason it's more expensive at the dentist is for just this reason! You have a specific individual you can go and complain to! Not a web site.

[beefster]

So how much should I expect to pay Toothy?
If my dentist agree's its possible whats the average cost and process?

[Toothsmith]

£300 - 400 is about average I would say. I charge £340. Swanky city centre cosmetic practices could go up to £500- +

Best to get it done by your own dentist who knows your teeth though.

[Lydia]

Does anyone know how long does professional teeth whitening lasts or is it permanent?

[pumpa]

im asking on behalf of a couple of people so please dont start with the 'youre wrecking your teeth via smoking' lectures. its all very well saying the price is £300 up but not everyone could afford that. of course going to a dentists would be preferable but in the absence of a spare 300 quid..the whole point of my original post was to see if any of the home kits worked, by asking people who had tried them themselves. im not just gonna google it and get the first one i come across am i?. thanks everyone for your input, i will pass the messages on, cheers.

[emujuice]

i've just ordered some strips off ebay. i'll let you know in a couple of weeks how i get on. might even take some before and after shots ;)

[the devil made me do it]

£300 - 400 is about average I would say. I charge £340. Swanky city centre cosmetic practices could go up to £500- +

Best to get it done by your own dentist who knows your teeth though.


How can a dentist know an individuals teeth?? Quite a number of people do not choose to visit a dentist on a regular basis. Also, if an individual's dentist does not offer the teeth whitening, then they would have to go to another dentist who does offer the service, or even to cosmetic clinic.

And all dentists are gonna recommend you get your teeth whitened professionally, man at over £300 at time, that's a lot of cash to be loosing to these websites.


Yes she has been back to the dentist. The dentist gave her another couple of syringes.

Websites offer a money back garuntee also by the way.



My experience shows home kits are effective if used correctly and for the period of time stated in the instructions.
You don't just have to google and take the first website that comes up. Do what you would do with anything, check out all websites if needs be and ask them questions via email.. thats what I did anyway. It's been fine for me.
I believe the results are permanent. With top up bleaching carried out once to twice a year as required.

[ping]

Thanks for your info toothsmith. I was thinking of buying 1 of those kits from boots as i have a stained white filling, however as it won't work I won't bother , cheers you saved me £££££££.

When it gets really bad will ask my dentist to replace it!

[aloiseb]

My ten-year-old daughter is on my back to have her teeth whitened - I keep telling her that her teeth are fine, and that's just the colour they are meant to be. I told her she could ask the dentist about it when we went, so we did. he said that it wasn't normally done until all the second teeth were through and you have finished growing (upwards, anyway!)

I was pleased with his advice, although I felt annoyed that people as young as ten have to be so concerned about this? - sure I was just walking about in wellies and looking at things at her age. :p Hope it doesn't mean she's going to turn anorexic when she's older. Also hope she will be sensible enough to read lots of postings like these before going into using off-the-shelf (or off the virtual shelf) products.

sorry if this isn't strictly Moneysaving, but after all, if our kids grow up unhealthy, what is the point of saving the money?

[Toothsmith]

This is one of my big worries about this stuff being available Off-The-Shelf too.

Get her to have a read of THIS (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=130981&highlight=tooth+whitening) thread

[muddy697]

Check ebay or online and try and buy "Crest Whitestrips" go for premium or premium plus ones.

They really work, use the same stuff that your dentist uses to whiten your teeth, but without the added £'s price tag.

Just strips you put on your teeth twice a day, for 30 mins and you should see a difference in a few days, after 2 weeks, you'll be on your way. You can repeat the treatment for even better results.

I used them on mine and i think they are fab, they really do get your teeth to a nice white shade, even my bf who is a fairly heavy smoker tried them and the difference they made was great.

They can be found on ebay for £10 upwards. :beer:


Ginch
anyone tried the supreme ones???

[elisebutt65]

oooh - been using some Whitestrip I got off Ebay after reading this post and it's amazing - Far better results than when I used the gumshields. After 3 days they are noticeably brighter. My teeth will never be white unless I get them capped but this is amazing!!

Also no 'dribble' - lol

[Toothsmith]

An interesting ARTICLE (http://pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/regional/s_412920.html) from over 'The Pond' The bit at the end on the most effective teeth for whitening may be useful.

[onesocklizzie]

Ooops!!!

I fear I may have previously put this in the wrong forum!!!

I want to get my teeth whitened - the tray method - and am looking for the best deal, any ideas?

[cheekymole]

Wouldn't this be better on the Health board, toothsmith is a regular there who I'm sure will help you out...

[Nile]

Hello onesocklizzie


Welcome to the MSE site.:wave:

Don't worry about posting a thread on the wrong board, I'll move it to the 'Health MoneySaving' board for you..........where it should get more views and responses.

It's best not to post duplicate threads, just ask a Board Guide to move the thread for you.;)

Kind Regards

Nile

[onesocklizzie]

Ooops,
I've posted this to a couple of the wrong forums, hopefully someone here can help. I want to get my teeth whitened - the tray method - can anyone tell me where/how to get the best deal?

[onesocklizzie]

thank you,

I'm so rubbish at all things IT, now I'll know for next time

[cheekymole]

Don't put yourself down onesocklizzie, we all get things wrong when we first arrive on MSE - I still do...

[jayne26]

crest whitestrips ,,get them on ebay as not sold here, saw them in france last year , i get them from usa brill

[cheekymole]

onesocklizzie, if you edit your other post and mark the delete and then click delete, you can get rid of it

[HGLTsuperstar]

Will just second the Crest strips on ebay, really make a difference

[Lady_K]

I looked at these strips but thought they might just whiten the flat part of the tooth but what about in between does it still stay darker there and you cant whiten the bite area either can you so wouldnt tray bleaching be a better coverage?

My daughters dentist said she could make the moulds at about £40 each tray and the bleaching stuff extra on top but she said she may get it cheaper on the internet although she wasn't supposed to tell her that but shes a student so guess she knows she needs to save money.

My daughter also looked into laser whitening but its very expensive plus they also said you need to use the trays foir a few days afterwards aswell. Her teeth are not massively yellow but its just the side teeth that appear darker noticeably. She went through a period of about 2 years eating really hot strong curries and red wine and its been since then really. Also she was on a prescription of 1 minocyclin tablet per day for about 18 month and I'm not sure if that had some effect on her teeth, I've heard it can.

[Toothsmith]

Hi Onesocklizzie!

I'm a bit pushed for time at the moment.

At the top of this page are a list of options like this :-

Main Site Chat User CP FAQ Members List Calendar New Posts Search Quick Links Log Out

Click on the 'search' bit, and type in tooth whitening. there are several threads that should give you lots of info.

[pumpa]

does this exist? not a whitening kit or bleach, just a toothpaste and must be non abrasive.

[scheming_gypsy]

don't think so. I've tried Pearl Drops and some others and they don't work. Now i'm on a tooth whitening starter kit from ASDA and just ordered some Crest Supreme Whitening Strips.

[brummybloke]

i cant remember exactly but i think there were only 2 or 3 out of 20 tooth pastes that did what they said, i think one was mcleans.

those teeth whitening kits work but just dont leave the formula on for too long.

[Chris L]

I used Macleans & noticed a difference straight away, I have switched to Sensodyne Gentle Whitening and the results are less obvious but then my teeth don't ache anymore!

[shokadelika]

Use plain old Baking Soda and or mixed with sea salt also kills tooth sensitivity and bacteria naturally if a child ingests half a tube of toothpaste the Fluoride in it will kill them,you really want that in your mouth? Weleda and Lavera make natural toothpastes www.weleda.co.uk www.lavera.co.uk

[bank_of_slate]

Are you sure you arn't just due for a good old scale & polish at the dentist?

also, do you have a lot of tea, coffee, red wine, spicy foods? This can affect the rate that your teeth pick up stains!
I don't think there is much to pick between the whitening toothpastes, just AVOID the abrasive ones.
...Linda xx

[trademark]

has anyone heard of this product ..

http://www.smile4you.co.uk/index.htm

smile 4 you .... im not advertising it but was considering buying it .....

thing is its hard to know who to trust these days .......

thanks in advance

[skyrocket]

I haven't heard of it but it looks good. I have had some dissappointing results with teeth whiteners in the past so would be interested to know if this works. I was considering the Rapid White Brilliant Whitestick (where you paint it on your teeth) have you tried this? Does anyone know if it works?
Please keep me posted if you try this Smilesfor you product I would love to know if it works too!
Sky x

[trademark]

hi , ive used rapid white .... it isnt much use ..... your teeth shine and become smoother but not whiter

i want to research this more though before i buy becuase im worried about the pourous effect

might try the crest white strips or even speak to my dentist

[skyrocket]

Good luck and let me know if you find anything that works!
Sky

[Teerah]

The main problem I can forsee with these type of treatments is the trays. Trays from your dentist will be custom made and will fit well, these boil and bite type trays are very ill fitting and may result in either having to use too much bleaching agent or they wont stay in well enough to keep the agent adequtely in contact with the teeth. In any case, it would be wise to discuss with your dentist whether or not bleaching will work for you or if there are any forseeable problems associated.

[trademark]

sky , ive ordered some crest strips (supreme) off of ebay .....

ill let you know how i get on .... maybe im just being fussy though as my teeth are not that bad ,,,, certainy seen alot worst , my dentist says mine are just normal for a 38 year old and that a branded product should not do me any harm

[aav]

I am wonting to get my teeth whitened by a professional. Could anyone tell me around about how much it is going to cost and any good website in which I can check out would be great. thanks

[Musique]

A family member was quoted £480 minimum by our private dentist. From what I hear this is average.

[HGLTsuperstar]

Get the Crest Strips from ebay, they really do work

[bank_of_slate]

Having had a look at the website it's not as strong as some products available (up to 25% Carbamide Peroxide)
Just be aware that usage of this product may cause sensitivity, DO NOT overload the tray,
be aware that crowns, veneers and white fillings in your front teeth will not lighten in shade and may be more obvious after treatment.
Take the before and after pictures with a pinch of salt, I would speak to your dentist about your gum condition BEFORE starting this treatment.
...Linda xx

[Pink-winged]

There are quite a few teeth whitening threads on the health board, so I'll move your thread over there where hopefully you will get more replies.

Pink

[pumpa]

can you get them anywhere other than ebay?

[skyrocket]

Hi there
Don't know the answe unfortunately but do these work?
Sky

[pumpa]

according to the tooth whitening thread they do with most people

[Jummy]

I've just ordered some from ebay.
I couldn't see them anywhere else.
:)

[princess]

yep absolutely they do work - they have made a load of difference to my teeth. from ebay or bring them back from holidays

[notsolucky]

Do they work on crowns or white fillings?
Also which are the best to buy on ebay?
thanks.

[notsolucky]

do they work on crowns and white fillings?
There are 2 differnt ones on ebay which are the best, thanks.

[Teerah]

do they work on crowns and white fillings?
There are 2 differnt ones on ebay which are the best, thanks.


No, they do not work on crowns or white fillings but no whitening products will work on such restorations

[Jummy]

My Oh has been using the Whitestrips Supreme from Ebay and in just 7 days there was a big difference in the colour of his teeth.
We were quite surprised how quickly they work.
He has a 21 day course and they cost 30.00.
The only problem he now has is he has a crown on a front tooth that looks a bit different to the other teeth.
He has asked his dentist about replacing it but he said he cant take it out as it might cause all sorts of problems.
:)

[Minky2Slice]

Hi there!

Does anyone have any experience on having their teeth whitened,
I would think this would be better having it done through a dentist, or at least asking for a dentist's referral?
I'm not so much worried about the costs, but I dont want to risk having it done somewhere where i could end up having my teeth damaged in some way!

Also while i'm at it, which is the best way to find a good dentist in the new area that I've moved to?

Thks!!

[Alltheloginsaretakenappar]

Sorry, I haven't had it done at a dentist but will post here anyway in case it is of some interest to you or anyone else

http://www.teethwhite.co.uk
I've used The Teethwhite Laboratory System after seeing it recommended in magazines and newspapers. It's basically the same as the dentist uses, the only difference being that you take the teeth moulds yourself (and then send them off to a lab to make the mouthpiece). It has had very good results and so I'd recommend it. My only complaint is that it was difficult to make good moulds and they only provided enough dental putty to make them once. But the customer service was very good and when I wasn't happy with the mounthpiece made from my moulds they sent me some more putty and made another mouthpiece for me.

I think it cost about £200 because I bought the regular strength kit, but with a top-up pack of the strongest gel. This worked out cheaper than buying the strongest kit in the first place.

Some time after buying it I did notice this place does it cheaper http://www.twiceaswhite.com
but I haven't used them

[penrhyn]

Minky, start your search for a dentist here:

http://www.nhs.uk/england/dentists/

[Toothsmith]

There are several good threads on MSE already


HERE (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=53100&highlight=tooth+whitening)

And

HERE (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=134817&highlight=tooth+whitening)

Are a couple of good ones to get you started.

Type Tooth whitening into the search bit at the top of the page to find others.

[Nile]

There are several good threads on MSE already


HERE (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=53100&highlight=tooth+whitening)

And

HERE (http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=134817&highlight=tooth+whitening)

Are a couple of good ones to get you started.

Type Tooth whitening into the search bit at the top of the page to find others.

Hello Minky2Slice

Go to the main page of this 'Health MoneySaving' board and at the top right you'll see 'Search this Forum'.

As usual, Toothsmith has been very helpful. However, if you use upper case words in your search like 'Tooth whitening'.........it won't work.:rolleyes:

Try using lower case words like 'tooth whitening' to find previous threads to help you.;)

Regards

Nile

[Toothsmith]

Ooops!! :o

[Lova]

I have just bought a whitening kit from my dentist after a consultation and a clean/polish (cost: £50). I paid £200 for a pack of 6 prefilled tray (standard tray not customised) - 9% melon hydrogen peroxide gel. The info on the pack says that it is distributed by Optident in West Yorkshire and supplied by Ultradent Products Inc, although I guess that the distributor or supplier only sell them wholesale and not to the public. After I got home, I did some research on the internet and found that similar strenght kits sell for much cheaper in US (around $50 for a pack of 10). I hope that the pack of 6 is enough for my teeth but if not I would like to buy more from US. Did anyone buy a similar kit from a reputable US shop, and if yes could you please recommend me the shops. I am also interested in other people experience of a kit with higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide than 9%. I would also appreciate toothsmith opinion on the kit I bought from my dentist.

[Toothsmith]

It's a decent kit.

I don't sell it myself, as I prefer custom made trays. These work out dearer, but not by that much. It's more reliable I find, but patient selection is the key. Only selling it to people who it will work for!

I use Ultradent products with the custom made trays though.

[coolio]

I have just bought a whitening kit from my dentist after a consultation and a clean/polish (cost: £50). I paid £200 for a pack of 6 prefilled tray (standard tray not customised) - 9% melon hydrogen peroxide gel. The info on the pack says that it is distributed by Optident in West Yorkshire and supplied by Ultradent Products Inc, although I guess that the distributor or supplier only sell them wholesale and not to the public. After I got home, I did some research on the internet and found that similar strenght kits sell for much cheaper in US (around $50 for a pack of 10). I hope that the pack of 6 is enough for my teeth but if not I would like to buy more from US. Did anyone buy a similar kit from a reputable US shop, and if yes could you please recommend me the shops. I am also interested in other people experience of a kit with higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide than 9%. I would also appreciate toothsmith opinion on the kit I bought from my dentist.

Let me know how you get on with your kit. There are places in the US that ship to the UK, will work out, after customs charges about £50 for 10 trays

www.just4teeth.com

[SparkyG]

I have just bought a whitening kit from my dentist after a consultation and a clean/polish (cost: £50). I paid £200 for a pack of 6 prefilled tray (standard tray not customised) - 9% melon hydrogen peroxide gel. The info on the pack says that it is distributed by Optident in West Yorkshire and supplied by Ultradent Products Inc, although I guess that the distributor or supplier only sell them wholesale and not to the public. After I got home, I did some research on the internet and found that similar strenght kits sell for much cheaper in US (around $50 for a pack of 10). I hope that the pack of 6 is enough for my teeth but if not I would like to buy more from US. Did anyone buy a similar kit from a reputable US shop, and if yes could you please recommend me the shops. I am also interested in other people experience of a kit with higher percentage of hydrogen peroxide than 9%. I would also appreciate toothsmith opinion on the kit I bought from my dentist.

Try www.dentist.net I order Excel nite white 16% from them and it is excellent. My dentist wanted £150 for a refill set, ( I'd paid £250 originally for custom trays and syringes) and I can get the same thing for about £40 inc shipping charges from dentist.net. The service is good, and the products arrive about 8 days after order. Have just realised, my syringes are carbamide peroxide, and the strength is not directly comparable to hydrogen peroxide. I'm sure Toothsmith can advise on that one.

My dentist does not reccommend using a higher strength than 16%,(carbamide peroxide) and I find it works brilliantly. Any other questions, ask away!

[Thurrabred]

Hi there, I'm new to this tooth whitening game. I've done some digging around in the forum already and I've narrowed it down to the "Crest Whitestrips" or "Nite White Excel 3 16%"

Has anyone who has had experience or knowledge of both got a preference?

If the info helps at all; my teeth have a yellow tinge from food/tea stains. I'm in my twenties, don't smoke or use mouthwashes or anything like that, but my canines are considerably yellower than the front teeth.

Any advice before I take the plunge? Also is the "Nite White Turbo" safe to use as its Carbamide Peroxide equivalent is 18%

Any guidance is greatly appreciated :)

[Toothsmith]

Canines are always a slightly different colour to the front teeth. They are thicker, and so the light doesn't pass through them the same.

If that is your only problem, whitening is likely to make the difference more obvious.

Just have them polished by dentist/hygienist?

[Thurrabred]

Perhaps I've overdramatized the difference of my canines, they're darker but not to the point where I think it'd make things worse.

I guess I've convinced myself that to get the whiteness I want I'd need a treatment. My concern is that a polishing won't give me the result I want.

Also how much would a polish from the dentist cost? unfortunately it's been a while.

[Toothsmith]

I would look at your priorities.

Teeth looking good is obviously important to you.

What would be the point in slapping something on them to whiten them up if there was something wrong with them?

Getting a dental check up is not as difficult as you'd think from reading the papers. What is difficult is getting it done on the NHS.

A check up done privately would cost from £30 to £75. Initial check ups (The first time you've been to a dentist) tend to be dearer than regular six monthly ones as there is more to do when you first see a patient. But still, it's about the same as having something like highlights done at a decent hairdressers.

If it's been a while since you've been, then a clean & polish might make a world of difference. This would cost again between £30 and £60 depending on where you went.

To have your teeth whitened at the dentist would cost between £250 and £500 depending on the place and the system used, but you would have the piece of mind of knowing that it wouldn't mess anything else up, and that the result would be what you expect.

It seems dearer - it is dearer, but I would recommend this route over DIY, and if you've not been for a while, and you value your teeth, get them checked!

[gkf]

My daughter regularly uses the Crest Premium white strips, her teeth are a gleaming white now.

[SparkyG]

I use Excel nite white 16% for a few days every 6 weeks or so to keep my teeth white. I originally had a take home treatment from my dentist, and he does not recommend a higher strength than 16%.

Looking on the net I have found that safety studies in USA were conducted using 10% carbamide peroxide, and they concluded that that strength was safe. As far as I can tell, no studies (that would satisfy the US government) have been done with higher strengths.

Bleaching is still "illegal" in this country, so I don't think that any government approved safety studies have been made. HTH

[Toothsmith]

When things are available 'over the counter' there is always the temptation to over use.

Carbamine peroxide is safe - when used as directed.

Crest white strips don't do much harm - but will if used too frequently.

Teeth are not disposable things and you can't get a new set on eBay. Don't bung anything on them for a short term gain. The consequences could well come back to haunt you and your wallet.

[Lova]

Thanks for your recommendations above. I finished with the dentist's kit and was disappointed as the result was not worth that money. After reading other people's experiences about the Crest whitestrips supreme, I decided to give it a try as it was only £30 from ebay. I am only 7 days into the 21 days treatment and I am so happy with the result. I think that the problem with the dentist's kit is that it was not a custom tray and therefore the product didn't adhere much to my irregular teeth, plus 6 trays were not enough (I discovered later that it is usually sold in a set of 10 trays). Plus I feel that the strenght of the product (9% hydrogen peroxyde) is not enough for me. The Crest whitestrips supreme has 14% hydrogen peroxyde and the downside is that my gum feels sensitive, however I discovered that if I take arnica 30 homeopathy during the treatment my sensitivity lessens.

[coolio]

Try www.dentist.net I order Excel nite white 16% from them and it is excellent. My dentist wanted £150 for a refill set, ( I'd paid £250 originally for custom trays and syringes) and I can get the same thing for about £40 inc shipping charges from dentist.net. The service is good, and the products arrive about 8 days after order. Have just realised, my syringes are carbamide peroxide, and the strength is not directly comparable to hydrogen peroxide. I'm sure Toothsmith can advise on that one.

My dentist does not reccommend using a higher strength than 16%,(carbamide peroxide) and I find it works brilliantly. Any other questions, ask away!

Did you get caught with customs? And how many syringes do you need to get them looking super white?

[SparkyG]

Did you get caught with customs? And how many syringes do you need to get them looking super white?

No. didn't have a problem with customs. Dental.net put on the declaration form "dental sample" and that seems to be good enough. Have ordered 3 times now successfully.

If you order the pack of 3 16% nite white syringes that should be good enough for optimum results if you use them continuously, or every other day(or night) if you have sensitivity. It will probably be more economical to order 2 packs of 3 syringes, as they have an offer on them, and you will pay less in shipping charges. I suggest you use the first three syringes, and then top up as needed with the next pack.

Good luck!

[coolio]

Thanks, went for some of the mint 16% ones, well 9 syringes altogether 3x3

[coolio]

Just to give an update. I have now worn the tray for the upper teeth for 2 nights now and the contrast between my upper and long teeth is VERY noticable. After the first night moreso but the 2nd night whitened them even more, so so far I am extremely pleased, and cannot wait to see how white they get after a week or so.

I had ordered Thursday, they sent an email asking for confirm of the order, giving me a postale price, I confirmed and it arrived next working day from the US, madness.

[SparkyG]

Glad you are pleased.:j I've always been impressed with the service, and results of the nite white:wave:

[shoperholicnot]

years of smoking have taken their tol on my teeth and I am fed up of it.
I have been looking on Ebay at crest whitestrips and am considering buying some but I do not want to waste money on yet another product that does not work.

I am looking at the premium 7 day kit.
Has anyone used these and what were the results like please? Was it more :D or more :lipsrseal
Thanks in advance

[Toothsmith]

Have you stopped smoking?

[shoperholicnot]

hi toothsmith
yes I have 6 weeks now

[Toothsmith]

Excellent. That's the best thing you can do for your teeth.

Now - when was the last time a dentist saw them?

[shoperholicnot]

I last saw a dentist about 6 or 8 months ago, my teeth are in ok nick, i use Blanx toothpaste with Oral B electric toothbrush, use mouthwash and floss regulary. The Blanx has helped and does clean my teeth really well I would just like whiter teeth

[scheming_gypsy]

i bought some of the crest strips, they did work but i got lazy and stopped using them. They can make your gums tingle like chuff though,

[Toothsmith]

I last saw a dentist about 6 or 8 months ago, my teeth are in ok nick, i use Blanx toothpaste with Oral B electric toothbrush, use mouthwash and floss regulary. The Blanx has helped and does clean my teeth really well I would just like whiter teeth

That's good as well.

I can't recommend Crest whitestrips, as I don't know what's in them, or it's strength, or the effects of long term use on your teeth.

Do not believe that just because it's allowed to be on sale, it's safe.

Pearl drops used to be highly abrasive (It's not anymore)

A lot of over-the-counter whiteners are acidic. Yes- they will whiten your teeth - by taking off the stained layer of enamel.

Frequent use can leave you with a lot less enamel than you started with.

All chemicals that whiten teeth will have no effect on white fillings or crowns. So if you have a few of these, and they've been matched to your teeth as they are, you could end up with a very wierd looking result.

Some teeth change colour better than others.

Also, some chemicals can damage your gums. This includes the carbamine peroxide chemicals which dentists use.

My professional advice MUST be not to do anything without having a word with your dentist. If you do something harmful and irreversible, it will take all your 'fag money' for a very long time to put right again - if at all.

Best to spend a bit of your fag money having it done properly, safely and under supervision?

[shoperholicnot]

Thanx for the helpful advice Toothsmith I really appreciate it.
I did not realise that some of these whiteners would take the enamel off teeth :eek:

The whitestrips that I am now looking at contain 14% Hydrogen Peroxide. is this OK to use safely. The strips are meant to be worn twice a day for 30 mins.
In the future I may well consider having it done by a dentist but it will take a bit of saving!

[jayne26]

i buy them on holiday in usa for some time , my teath are so white i get asked about them every week its embarasing , some old lady asked me if they where false and the dentist hygisit though they where capped i get them for about 12 quid a box for the normal whitestrips and use them off and on but stop it teeth are sensitive its a amazing product and get rid off red wine coffee stains and i love them , you can get them in france if you go to calais or from mate s going to usa , walgreens or ecards or wal mart are the cheapest in florida

[shoperholicnot]

thanx Jayne
now THAT sounds like the shade of white i want for my teeth :D
I went to America last year and came back with some Rembrandt product, I am sure that I saw whitestrips but thought that they probably would not work! now I am hearing all these good things about them :) lol the Rembrandt did not work for me and I should have got the whitestrips

[shoperholicnot]

Just an update on this:
I decided to 'riskit for a biskit' and ordered the crest whitestrips supreme off ebay, received them today and I have used it twice, and I can ALREADY see a slight difference!! :j: they are not too bad to use either,it is a 21 day pack I cant wait to see the end results :)

[danjaq2004]

My (private) dentist is quoting £295 for the procedure - i.e making the teeth impressions. This is for the system in which you have a gel that goes in the sheilds (over the teeth) for a few hours an evening.

Anyone have any feedback on this.

Thanks.

[danjaq2004]

Hi - my dentist (private) is quoting offer of £295 for the teeth impressions, syringe etc for use with carbamide peroxide gel (£15 a tube).

Does this procedure work okay and is the price good?

Thanks a lot.

[shoperholicnot]

Hi - my dentist (private) is quoting offer of £295 for the teeth impressions, syringe etc for use with carbamide peroxide gel (£15 a tube).

Does this procedure work okay and is the price good?

Thanks a lot.
I could be wrong but I think the price may be a bit steep
I am using crest whiestrips supreme, which I bought off ebay, I am on my 3rd day of a 21 day pack and am already thrilled with the results. only £30 and they are 14% hydrogen peroxide, worth considering. also there are some decent mouthguard kits out there on the net. see some of the ones mentioned above for example

[alikat]

I'm certainly going to take a look at Crest strips, having looked through most of this thread as someone who has been considering having my teeth bleached for some time.

I also agree with scale & polish which will cost around £15 with other tratment, if you have a NHS dentist. I've just had mine done as I do every 6-12 months & it makes a great difference, I dont have an electric toothbursh but think I will get one soon.

Clynymn toothpaste & Eucril tooth powder? which are aimed at smokers are also very cheap & great for stain removal, even if you don't smoke.

I don't think it's unusual to pay between £300 & £500 for tooth whitening by a proffesional, which frankly is a rip off & no wonder some resort to cheap & possibly dangerous ebay products, when faced with such big price difference.

I bought an ebay product myself some years ago but when I thought about it, decided against using it, as I really did not know what or how much etc it contained or if it might be dangerous or not.

[Lady_K]

You can't get crest whitestrips in the UK can you though? Where are you supposed to get them other than ebay thats safe?

[danjaq2004]

You can't get crest whitestrips in the UK can you though? Where are you supposed to get them other than ebay thats safe?

No you cannot buy them in UK, apparantly we have stringent rules on peroxide products so the levels necessary for these products to work are not allowed.

I looked on eBay and must say I was not bowled over by the selection - most were out-of-date and is it really worth the risk?

I know (in my case) it will cost £295 - at least it is done professionally, the mouth tray if for MY mouth and not a generic one, and the on-going costs (tubes of gel) is cheaper than the strips.

Unsure still!

[SparkyG]

You can't get crest whitestrips in the UK can you though? Where are you supposed to get them other than ebay thats safe?

Try www.dentist.net I have been using them for ages,and the service is excellent and as secure as anything can be in this day and age!:rolleyes:

I don't buy whitestrips, but use dentist.net for buying replacement syringes for my dentist made bleaching trays. I buy 16% excel nite white and get very good results. It is about one third of the price of the ones sold by my dentist. He knows I buy them from the internet and doesn't mind. In fact I actually told him I don't mind paying him for his expertise and time, (the original bleaching kit cost £250) but I don't want to pay £150 just for some plastic syringes with a bit of bleach in them!! :D He found that pretty funny and we're still on good terms ;)

[danjaq2004]

Try www.dentist.net I have been using them for ages,and the service is excellent and as secure as anything can be in this day and age!:rolleyes:

I don't buy whitestrips, but use dentist.net for buying replacement syringes for my dentist made bleaching trays. I buy 16% excel nite white and get very good results. It is about one third of the price of the ones sold by my dentist. He knows I buy them from the internet and doesn't mind. In fact I actually told him I don't mind paying him for his expertise and time, (the original bleaching kit cost £250) but I don't want to pay £150 just for some plastic syringes with a bit of bleach in them!! :D He found that pretty funny and we're still on good terms ;)

My dentist will charge me £295 for the trays and some tubes of the gel and thereafter £17 for a tube - good prices I thought ... ?

[SparkyG]

My dentist will charge me £295 for the trays and some tubes of the gel and thereafter £17 for a tube - good prices I thought ... ?

That is a bit more than my dentist charged. Mine was £250 and £15 for each replacement syringe, but I think they come in packs of 10, as when I enquired from the receptionist I was told £150. If you go ahead, once you have used up your initial supply go to dentist.net. They are a very reputable company and the products are exactly the same composition as the ones supplied by dentists in this country.

I have since seen other local dentists offering home bleaching trays for £150. There is a growing competition out there, and if you don't mind going to a different dentist you could get your custom trays much cheaper. Personally, even if I had seen an offer like tha tI wouldn't have gone for it, as I want to stay on good terms with my excellent dentist :D

HTH

[Lady_K]

Try www.dentist.net I have been using them for ages,and the service is excellent and as secure as anything can be in this day and age!:rolleyes:

I don't buy whitestrips, but use dentist.net for buying replacement syringes for my dentist made bleaching trays. I buy 16% excel nite white and get very good results. It is about one third of the price of the ones sold by my dentist. He knows I buy them from the internet and doesn't mind. In fact I actually told him I don't mind paying him for his expertise and time, (the original bleaching kit cost £250) but I don't want to pay £150 just for some plastic syringes with a bit of bleach in them!! :D He found that pretty funny and we're still on good terms ;)

Thanx

My daughters dentist said that she would make trays for her at a cost of £40 a tray so that's £80 for the trays. Yet when you ask at the same dentist what it costs for tray tooth whitening its about £400 so it doesnt add up too well there, I don't know why its so expensive. The dentist said she shouldn't really tell her this but she would get the whitening stuff from the internet much cheaper but I was a little caucious about this seeing as everything can be faked these days.

I looked on that site and couldn't find exactly where the one you spoke of was but why do you use that one out of so much choice? Is this a UK company? What is the difference between carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide?

Her teeth are a bit darker in some places than others eg side teeth are yellower than the front. When using these trays is it easy to concentrate more on those areas if she finds just those parts need doing extra time? I was wondering if the strips may suit her better because she could place them were needed if they wanted extra. Her friend is also a dental assistant and said she could get the tubes or whatever cheaper but shes not sure what to ask for, what strengths etc

I thought oxygenating types were better and safer than bleach? Can you get that anywhere?

[danjaq2004]

I called the British Dental Health Foundation's Word of Mouth Helpline on 0870 333 1188, this morning.

Independent and impartial advise and I thought, very helpful. We chatted about Crest strips and the consensus was that they were an option, although illegal to buy in the UK (hence no UK suppliers). Various strength peroxide available, although UK dentists only use 10% (even during surgery) whereas some of the Crest ones were higher. She pointed out that you could find it fiddly and the results could be uneven (like trying to cut your own hair). Also, chance for gum irritation too, so not an exact art.

Up to you what you decide to do, I would prefer to do it professionally by a dentist (trays method). So, on this point, it would be good to know if another local dentist would make them for less ...

[SparkyG]

Various strength peroxide available, although UK dentists only use 10% (even during surgery) ..

Not sure about that as my dentist used 16% for my home kit, and uses 35% for in surgery bleaching, which is usual. I understand that in the US safety tests have only been conducted on 10% strength gel, which isn't to say that higher strengths are dangerous. I mistakenly bought 22% from dentist.net and my dentist was horrified and told me not to use it!! :eek:

I am happy with his reccommendation of 16% carbamide peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide strengths are not directly comparable. I believe they are stronger, but not sure on that..:confused:

[SparkyG]

Thanx


I looked on that site and couldn't find exactly where the one you spoke of was but why do you use that one out of so much choice? Is this a UK company? What is the difference between carbamide peroxide and hydrogen peroxide?



When you get into dentist.net click on 'teeth whitening' then go down to 'nite white'. The one I use is Nite White Excel 3, 16%. I tried their generic unbranded syringes once, and while they were just as effective, the gel consistency was poor, and they didn't taste very good. No, it's not a UK company, but the delivery is excellent, usually within a week, and the shipping charges are reasonable, making it money saving to buy from them. Sorry, don't know the difference between carbamide and hydrogen peroxide, but I do know that their strengths are not directly comparable. I stick with carbamide peroxide because that was the one my dentist originally provided for me. I first heard about dentist.net from an American cosmetic dentistry forum which is very active and informative. It's www.aboutcosmeticdentistry.com Worth asking on there as they have professionals posting.




When using these trays is it easy to concentrate more on those areas if she finds just those parts need doing extra time?


Very easy to do some teeth more than others. Just wear the trays with gel applied in the teeth indentations that need extra whitening.

Thanx

I thought oxygenating types were better and safer than bleach? Can you get that anywhere?

Sorry, don't know anything about oxygenating types of whitening.

HTH

[Toothsmith]

I use 10% or 15% carbamine peroxide in custom trays depending on the case.

In -Practice techniques do use 35%, but you need really good gum masking for these sort of strengths. I don't do In Practice methods. (I find it a bit scary!)

[Lady_K]

SparkyG

Thankyou very much for your helpful posts I think with this my daughter will go with having her dentist do the trays and she will get some of the carbamide one you use or similar. Especially now you have explained how easy it is to treat chosen areas that sounds very good, that website looks useful too, thankyou

Tootsmith

When you say in surgery treatment is 35% do you mean the laser treatment? as that isnt the same as tray treatment is it. Or do you mean they use it in the trays and put gum protection on aswell at the same time? I guess the ones that SparkyG is speaking of would not need the gum protection then coz if so that would be fiddly at home

My daughter was on minocyclin for treatment of acne for about 18 months to 2 years, one per day and I think that effects tooth colour too. Do you think this will still help her though? Some of it could also be because she loves very hot currys and red wine though

[SparkyG]

I actually started with in surgery whitening. The equipment my dentist uses has halogen lamps, not laser. There was quite a lot of discussion on the cosmetic dentistry board about whether or not light, laser or otherwise, has any effect on speeding up the whitening process. Some of the American cosmetic dentists who post said the light has no effect whatsoever, and is just a marketing gimmick! :confused:

My in surgery treatment cost £340 and consisted of 35% bleach being applied 3 times, each session being 20 minutes. Yes, the dentist did shield my gums with a guard and gel. However, the treatment only lightened my teeth about 2 shades, and the dentist was as disappointed as I was :o . Because he's a really good bloke, :cool: he said to come back in 2 weeks (to allow for any re-hydration) and he would either do it again, or provide me with an 'at home' kit free of charge. It was my choice!

I opted for the 'at home trays' and haven't looked back since :D

In my opinion, from my personal experience, I would go for the home kit. After all, if you have the in surgery whitening you don't then have any means of 'topping it up' when necessary. Unless you have major dental work, the bleaching trays should fit and last for a very long time.

[GameOver]

Hey

I have found this website that offer a treatment for tooth whitening, and would love to hear your opinions on it please, its 50 pounds, and i desperatly need to whiten my teeth, so please take a look and let me know what you think.......

http://www.allwhite3000.co.uk/teeth%...%20results.htm

Thanks

Matt

[Toothsmith]

I would love to see the 'Hand Held Plasma Light'!

The ones in dental practices cost thousands, and there is some debabte about how effective the 'light' actually is in these cases!

I doubt it's much more than an LED torch! Which would be useless.

I would not trust a member of the public to accurately mould and trim a tray. I leave it to my technician, as even I struggle a bit!

It says in the blurb that an 'accurate fit is necessary to prevent gum irritation'. I would say a perfect fit is essential if you want to avoid permanent gum damage.

God knows the strength of the gel, but if they feel a 'remineralising paste' is necessary then even they must be worried about it demineralising the teeth.

I wouldn't touch it with a bargepole unless you have several hundred pounds put by to fix any damage caused. And if you have - then spend a fraction of it getting yourself properly assessed for tooth whitening and having it done properly.

[angel]

I started with 15% gel from my dentist but got brave and bought some 35% from ebay. I was a bit wary about what the ebay gel had in it and it was softer than the softer gel. It seemed to work fine though. I kept what was left in the fridge, the dentists gel is still fresh but the ebay gel has gone stale and gloopy. On that alone I'd reccommend to buy the gel from the dentist, not a website. You just can't be sure what You're getting otherwise.

[danjaq2004]

I started with 15% gel from my dentist but got brave and bought some 35% from ebay. I was a bit wary about what the ebay gel had in it and it was softer than the softer gel. It seemed to work fine though. I kept what was left in the fridge, the dentists gel is still fresh but the ebay gel has gone stale and gloopy. On that alone I'd reccommend to buy the gel from the dentist, not a website. You just can't be sure what You're getting otherwise.

My appointment is due early June (custom trays etc) taking the dentist route and I feel the same way - you can save money in all sorts of places, but when it comes to something that affects you physically, then I will not cut corners like that.

[trace_567]

I've been wanting to whiten up my teeth for a while, but after never getting on with the normal trays in mouth twice a day etc from chemists, I've been thinking of trying this. It sounds good, but is it too good to be true? Has anyone else tried these rapid white pens from QVC http://www.qvcuk.com/ukgasp/frameset.asp?nest=%2Fukgasp%2FIsItemNumberRedirect .asp&country=uk&txtDesc=teeth+whitening&Submit=Search

Also on QVC they always say that if your not happy with it, even if used you can send it back within 30 days to get your money back. Having never bought anything from them before I'm dubious as to if they would actually give you back the money if you've used it. Has anyone ever done this?

I would be greatful for any advice on whether to get these.

[mandymoo]

I have never used the above but QVC are very good on the 30 day money back policy even when something has been used. So you have nothing to loose if you order it.

[larmy16]

I read somewhere that most of these whitening kits will remove stains but not actually whiten the teeth. It is something to do with UK regs that they cannot use the power of products to achieve this.

I believe the crest whitening strips are your best bet if you want to do it yourself. I think they can be bought of Ebay. Other than that you need to get it done by a proper dentist.

My son has used the strips and they work very well, just a little hassle wearing them for 20 mins but the effect was quite obvious.

HTH -For what its worth - in my opinion you would be wasting your money.:)

[patsec]

Toothsmith

Can you advise, please. My dentist has agreed that I would be a suitable candidate for the gel and tray method, but £450 too steep for me. However, I have a top "tray" which she made for me a couple of years ago when it was thought that I was grinding my teeth in my sleep (only used it a few times as it didn't show any signs of being "ground"). Could I use this with the Ultradent products you use?

[Lady_K]

My daughter still uses one of those trays for 2 reasons one she was grinding her teeth and 2 she has teeth that move so easily even after spending years in braces twice

She asked her dentist if she could use this tray and was told no it has to be the correct type so you will need the correct ones making up for you

[Toothsmith]

Toothsmith

Can you advise, please. My dentist has agreed that I would be a suitable candidate for the gel and tray method, but £450 too steep for me. However, I have a top "tray" which she made for me a couple of years ago when it was thought that I was grinding my teeth in my sleep (only used it a few times as it didn't show any signs of being "ground"). Could I use this with the Ultradent products you use?

The bite guard covers the gums, so gell would seep down and be trapped against the gum, causing harm.

Whitening trays are trimmed around the tooth, so any gel escaping is washed away by the saliva before harming the gums.

So no, a bite guard for grinding would not do for whitening gel. Sorry!:o

[patsec]

Thanks for your quick reply, Toothsmith - I thought it might be too good to be true!

[Teerah]

The bite guard covers the gums, so gell would seep down and be trapped against the gum, causing harm.

Whitening trays are trimmed around the tooth, so any gel escaping is washed away by the saliva before harming the gums.

So no, a bite guard for grinding would not do for whitening gel. Sorry!:o


Biteguards shouldnt cover the gums though sports mouthguards should ;)

Still unsuitable for bleaching though! :)

[boultons911]

There is only one thing that whitens teeth....and that is oxygen!
carbamide peroxide / urea peroxide / hydrogen peroxide....which you guys will know as teeth whitening gel of various strengths. This chemical gel is placed on the teeth....then the gel slowly turns into oxygen which is what whitens teeth.
The longer the gel is in contact with your teeth....the more damage is done as it breaks down the enamel of the teeth. It is not the strength of the gel ie 35% that is damaging...it is the ph level...the acid that is damaging.
Laser teeth whitening combined with 35% carbamide peroxide is the safest way to whiten teeth...the reason for this is because you get real results with in just an hour!
I know of many people that have gotten gum disease from over night 10% kits from the dentists as the gel is in contact with teeth and gums for long periods of time.
When they describe it as laser teeth whitening...this is misleading and costs £500 per hour session.....it is just a tuned frequency of light that turns the gel into oxygen faster...making the whitening process a lot more efficient and faster!
Check out www.allwhite3000.co.uk they gave me loads of free advice....plus they offer a 100% moneyback guarantee...i tried there home laser system and it really works and best of all its only £50.00!!!
I have done lots and lots of research as i heard so many horror stories with people trying to whiten their teeth......so my advice to you all....check out that website or ring them for advice!
Plus you have to top up the whitening as son as you eat or drink coffee your teeth get stained again.....so dont let anyone tell you whitening last forever!!!!
Good luck guys.

[danjaq2004]

Well, if trays specifically tailor made by dentists and the gel is damaging - why do they all do it?

Ta.


There is only one thing that whitens teeth....and that is oxygen!
carbamide peroxide / urea peroxide / hydrogen peroxide....which you guys will know as teeth whitening gel of various strengths. This chemical gel is placed on the teeth....then the gel slowly turns into oxygen which is what whitens teeth.
The longer the gel is in contact with your teeth....the more damage is done as it breaks down the enamel of the teeth. It is not the strength of the gel ie 35% that is damaging...it is the ph level...the acid that is damaging.
Laser teeth whitening combined with 35% carbamide peroxide is the safest way to whiten teeth...the reason for this is because you get real results with in just an hour!
I know of many people that have gotten gum disease from over night 10% kits from the dentists as the gel is in contact with teeth and gums for long periods of time.
When they describe it as laser teeth whitening...this is misleading and costs £500 per hour session.....it is just a tuned frequency of light that turns the gel into oxygen faster...making the whitening process a lot more efficient and faster!
Check out www.allwhite3000.co.uk they gave me loads of free advice....plus they offer a 100% moneyback guarantee...i tried there home laser system and it really works and best of all its only £50.00!!!
I have done lots and lots of research as i heard so many horror stories with people trying to whiten their teeth......so my advice to you all....check out that website or ring them for advice!
Plus you have to top up the whitening as son as you eat or drink coffee your teeth get stained again.....so dont let anyone tell you whitening last forever!!!!
Good luck guys.

[Teerah]

There is only one thing that whitens teeth....and that is oxygen!
carbamide peroxide / urea peroxide / hydrogen peroxide....which you guys will know as teeth whitening gel of various strengths. This chemical gel is placed on the teeth....then the gel slowly turns into oxygen which is what whitens teeth.
The longer the gel is in contact with your teeth....the more damage is done as it breaks down the enamel of the teeth. It is not the strength of the gel ie 35% that is damaging...it is the ph level...the acid that is damaging.
Laser teeth whitening combined with 35% carbamide peroxide is the safest way to whiten teeth...the reason for this is because you get real results with in just an hour!
I know of many people that have gotten gum disease from over night 10% kits from the dentists as the gel is in contact with teeth and gums for long periods of time.
When they describe it as laser teeth whitening...this is misleading and costs £500 per hour session.....it is just a tuned frequency of light that turns the gel into oxygen faster...making the whitening process a lot more efficient and faster!
Check out www.allwhite3000.co.uk they gave me loads of free advice....plus they offer a 100% moneyback guarantee...i tried there home laser system and it really works and best of all its only £50.00!!!
I have done lots and lots of research as i heard so many horror stories with people trying to whiten their teeth......so my advice to you all....check out that website or ring them for advice!
Plus you have to top up the whitening as son as you eat or drink coffee your teeth get stained again.....so dont let anyone tell you whitening last forever!!!!
Good luck guys.


Hmmm sounds like an advert, do you have a vested interest in that product?:rolleyes:

The gel does not break down the tooth enamel. The gel is pH neutral, not acidic! Neither does it damage the gums of used correctly, ie not overfilling the tray and removing excess straight away. Gum disease is caused by bacteria, not over application of whitening gel ;). True it can cause irritation or slight sensitivity but in this case applications should just be left frequent with being careful to wip away excess in contact with the gums, the sensitivity is NOT permanent. I really cant see how the light used by this company is supposed to accelerate tooth whitening :rolleyes:

Oh and nobody should claim to give permanent toothwhitening. It is always dependant on the amount of staining substances in the diet. However, once bleached the teeth should come up lighter quicker the next time they are bleached and it is easy to reapply at intervals once you have the custom tray made.

[danjaq2004]

Thanks for the post, I also was dubious about that post. It did sound like an advert and the claims about whitening did seem to be against everything I had read and everything dentists have said.





Hmmm sounds like an advert, do you have a vested interest in that product?:rolleyes:

The gel does not break down the tooth enamel. The gel is pH neutral, not acidic! Neither does it damage the gums of used correctly, ie not overfilling the tray and removing excess straight away. Gum disease is caused by bacteria, not over application of whitening gel ;). True it can cause irritation or slight sensitivity but in this case applications should just be left frequent with being careful to wip away excess in contact with the gums, the sensitivity is NOT permanent. I really cant see how the light used by this company is supposed to accelerate tooth whitening :rolleyes:

Oh and nobody should claim to give permanent toothwhitening. It is always dependant on the amount of staining substances in the diet. However, once bleached the teeth should come up lighter quicker the next time they are bleached and it is easy to reapply at intervals once you have the custom tray made.

[Sam_26]

Loads of these Crest White Strips available on ebay

[Jay1b]

Has anyone had their teeth bleached or know anything about the procedure?

If so could they answer the below please?

1) Does it make all teeth white? No matter what state they are in?
2) Does it 'reset' them to white, so if they are then looked after they will said white. Or does it just 'stain' them white and no matter how well they are then looked after they will revert to the previous colour. If this is the case how long will it take to do this?

Unusual post i know

Thanks

Jay.

[Toothsmith]

I've had it done, and do it to other people. :D

There are many systems out there. Good ones and bad ones.

Some are acid based, and work by stripping a discoloured layer off the front of the teeth. These should be avoided as obviously there is only so much enamel before you run out!

The 'whitening' toothpastes' really stain reducers, and will not affect the basic colour of your teeth.

Cabamine peroxide systems are the ones used by dentists, and also sometimes available mail order, and over the counter. These can work very well. The gel penetrates the tooth and as well as lightening up the enamel, they also change the colour of the dentine underneath.



1) Does it make all teeth white? No matter what state they are in?


No.

It will not work on white filling materials, and it will not work on crowns. Therefore if you have any of these, they may not match when you've finished.


2) Does it 'reset' them to white, so if they are then looked after they will said white. Or does it just 'stain' them white and no matter how well they are then looked after they will revert to the previous colour. If this is the case how long will it take to do this?

The Carbamine peroxide systems used over a few weeks lighten the teeth (White is the colour of the fridge. Teeth aren't white! Even Brittany's). The 'whitening in an hour' sort of treatments are not as stable as the ones done over time, as it is more a surface phenomenon which changes back again.

Even the Carbamine systems will gradually darken again, but only at the same rate that your teeth darken throughout life anyway - quite slowly.

Carbmine peroxide comes in different strengths, and I would urge anyone thinking of this treatment to only do it through your dentist.

The normal strength we use is 10 -15 %. Even this can seriously irritate the gums if the tray to hold it doesn't fit correctly.

It is much more expensive to see a dentist to get it done, but some of the systems I've seen for sale around the place make my hair stand on end! you can get up to 35% from various web sites. I wouldn't have that anywhere near my mouth without something to shield the gums.

You only get one (real!) set of teeth. Don't slap any old rubbish over them.

[Toothsmith]

P.S.

If you smoke, don't bother. They will be back to their brown colour within weeks. Plus, they will probably all fall out within the next few years anyway.

[Jay1b]

Thanks for the indepth reply :)

So i'm guessing Carbamine Peroxide is the desired method :) Could you give me a ROUGH idea of how much this would be likely to cost from a dentist? I'm obviously well aware that it can and will vary.

Thanks again.