Teeth Whitening

SurgicalA

Apart from the cosmetic laser or bleaching, are there any products off the shelf that really make your teeth white? There are hundreds of different things but I’ve never seen anyone say - “yeah that 100% makes my teeth white”

I often use the arm & hammer baking soda type but maybe it’s not the strongest? You can now get charcoal active whitening toothpaste - is it just a gimmick?

Maybe there’s one you use which really works?

Kim_kim

SurgicalA wrote: »

Apart from the cosmetic laser or bleaching, are there any products off the shelf that really make your teeth white? There are hundreds of different things but I’ve never seen anyone say - “yeah that 100% makes my teeth white”

I often use the arm & hammer baking soda type but maybe it’s not the strongest? You can now get charcoal active whitening toothpaste - is it just a gimmick?

Maybe there’s one you use which really works?

The pearl drops extra strong scored highest in the good housekeeping tests, I use it - because I like it.

sstevo19

No propably not.

I've read that the charcoal toothpastes and even baking soda ones are quite abrasive for your teeth. I think most things you can buy that claims to whiten your teeth will just be a placebo effect. The only proper way to whitening your teeth is to have it done properly at a dentist.

DigForVictory

Not smoking, not drinking strong tea or coffee, & generally looking after your teeth will leave them looking whiter than others who don't take the care, but if you must have that TV presenter glossy gleam, you have to get the professionals in.

SurgicalA

Never smoked, drink once a month if even.
I drink coffee about once a day on average and it’s not that strong to be honest.

I don’t brush as much as I should so maybe it’s just stains. Is there a good product to remove stains?

comeandgo

Go to a hygienist and get a scrape and polish.

Toothsmith

Post #3 and post #6 sum up everything I would say here!

Nothing over-the-counter will do anything other than remove mild staining, and is often quite abrasive, so will do long term harm.

Anything off the internet will be at best useless, and at worst positively dangerous. Similarly, anything done by anyone other than a GDC registered dentist in this country (or by a registered dental professional like a hygienist, therapist or dental nurse, working to the prescription of a dentist) will also be illegal, and most likely dodgy.

coffeehound

With coffee and red wine staining, I see a big improvement just from the 'soda blasting' (I don't know the correct term) that the hygienist does as part of the normal visit, which costs about £50 for the whole visit.

hieveryone

Crest Whitestrips from America will do it.

brook2jack

It is utterly illegal to sell crest white strips in the U.K. , Europe and many other places as they contain an amount of hydrogen peroxide that is deemed dangerous to use . In the case of some of the strips higher even than the concentration a dentist is allowed to use.


Sellers who sell the strips in the U.K. do so knowing they are breaking the law, moreover there is no legitimate way they can source the strips to sell as it is illegal.

Consequently someone who buys the strips in putting chemicals in their mouth that at best are illegal , at worst are counterfeit and not the chemical/strength they think they are and contaminated with everything from human hair to mouse droppings (google trading standards and teeth whitening for some of the horror stories).

It is legal to buy them in the US and bring them into the U.K. for your own personal use but they have many,many disadvantages.

Spoonie_Turtle

Toothsmith wrote: »

Post #3 and post #6 sum up everything I would say here!

Nothing over-the-counter will do anything other than remove mild staining, and is often quite abrasive, so will do long term harm.

Anything off the internet will be at best useless, and at worst positively dangerous. Similarly, anything done by anyone other than a GDC registered dentist in this country (or by a registered dental professional like a hygienist, therapist or dental nurse, working to the prescription of a dentist) will also be illegal, and most likely dodgy.

For mild staining, is there anything non-abrasive available that one could use that is also safe for enamel?