Toothsmith - can I have a cup of tea?

[JennyW]

Hello Toothsmith, wonder if you can help with a couple of things?

I'm halfway through my teeth whitening program with my dentist (have the moulded teeth trays and am using ACP day white). I've been told to avoid tea and coffee but if I absolutely must, then drink through a straw. Is this really OK to do? Also, will I have to be careful once the process has finished?

Another thing, I don't think I'm going to have enough gel to finish. I've done my top teeth for one week (to get a comparison) and this weekend started my bottom teeth (along with the tops for the 2nd week) so I'm doubtful I will have enough gel as I only have one syringe left. I can probably buy some more from my dentist but wonder if there is site you recommend where I can buy some more from which may be a bit cheaper? I found this site, how do you think the price compares?

http://www.zoom2whitening.co.uk/site/989317/product/7

For info I paid £380 for the teeth moulds, various consultations and the daywhite pack.


Thanks for your help :D

[Toothsmith]

A reasonable amount of tea during the day shouldn't really make much diference - so long as you give it a good hour after removing the tray to let your teeth settle a bit. The 'No tea or coffee' rule is really just an over-precaution that they put in the instructions.

As for the amount of gel, the system I use comes with 12 syringes, which is generally enough to get a good result on top & bottom teeth over 3-4 weeks. I rarely have a problem with patients running out. How many syringes did you have originally? Could you be putting too much in the tray? Speak to your dentist - the £380 includes all advice on use as well!

I cannot recommend any internet site, as I have no idea who is behind any of them (Even when they look very professional).

The recent scare of fake poisonous Sensodyne toothpaste coming into the country should wake everybody up to the dire possibilities of obtaining 'cheap' stuff from unknown sources.

[JennyW]

A reasonable amount of tea during the day shouldn't really make much diference - so long as you give it a good hour after removing the tray to let your teeth settle a bit. The 'No tea or coffee' rule is really just an over-precaution that they put in the instructions.

As for the amount of gel, the system I use comes with 12 syringes, which is generally enough to get a good result on top & bottom teeth over 3-4 weeks. I rarely have a problem with patients running out. How many syringes did you have originally? Could you be putting too much in the tray? Speak to your dentist - the £380 includes all advice on use as well!

I cannot recommend any internet site, as I have no idea who is behind any of them (Even when they look very professional).

The recent scare of fake poisonous Sensodyne toothpaste coming into the country should wake everybody up to the dire possibilities of obtaining 'cheap' stuff from unknown sources.

Thank you.

I only had 3 syringes to start with. I will give them a call later. To read that you give out 12 syringes makes me feel as if for £380, I've paid a lot of money :confused: but I couldn't risk buying anything over the internet.

The dentist (and instructions) showed how much to put into in section, like a little droplet. I appreciate that over the first few days I may have been a bit ambitious but I cant believe now that I'm still getting through it quickly - anyone would think I had as many teeth as a horse :D

[SparkyG]

I also had a 'dentist whitening at home treatment' about 3 years ago now, and after my original 10 syringes ran out (cost me £250, all in, at the time), I was a bit horrified to learn that replacement syringes from my dentist were £15 each:eek:

Toothsmith is quite right in advising extreme caution in buying from internet sites, but I found this site www.dentist.net (http://www.dentist.net) from a popular American cosmetic dentistry discussion board, and I am 99.99% sure that it is reputable and selling genuine products. I buy Nite White ACP 16% from them, and have shown it to my dentist who is ok about me using it. In fact he recommended to a friend of mine, who is one of his patients, to ask me to get replacement syringes for her when her initial pack ran out:D. Even with the shipping costs it works out about a third of the cost of my dentist's syringes.

I have had excellent service and delivery from dentist.net. Just had a quick look at the site, and saw the Day White available with a special offer.

With the drinking tea thing, I really wouldn't stress too much!;) I drink red wine virtually every night, and an average amount of tea and coffee during the day and my teeth stay very white (B1 shade), with a top up of whitening, 3 sessions every 8 weeks or so.

HTH and good luck:D

SparkyG

[Toothsmith]

Thank you.

I only had 3 syringes to start with. I will give them a call later. To read that you give out 12 syringes makes me feel as if for £380, I've paid a lot of money :confused: but I couldn't risk buying anything over the internet.



3 syringes does seem to me to be a very miserly amount to give out.

I would check with the practice.

Prehaps you received a kit by mistake that they'd dipped into to give out extras to other people.