Question:
Frugal Tooth Whitening ?
Answer:
After seeing the price of Crest Whitestrips and trying a friend's strip, I
decided against them. The strip barely covered the teeth I show when I smile
modestly, and felt like it was precariously and barely sticking on my teeth.
I searched the internet the other day and found a review / personal
experience write-up of a product called Dr. George's. Here's the site:
http://www33.brinkster.com/dreamspin/whiteteeth.htm, Dr. George's official
site is http://www.drgeorges.com.
The whitening kit was only $9.99 at Albertsons, and comes with an unheard of
5.2oz of professional strength gel. I filled the syringe 1 time and did four
thirty minute applications (2 on top, 2 on bottom). The bottle will fill the
syringe approx. 40 times, giving you 160 half hour treatments. The warm &
form trays aren't perfect, but if done correctly fit nice and snug against
the surfaces of your teeth keeping the gel in constant contact with your
teeth. You can buy new trays for $5 if you mess them up or aren't happy with
the fit, you can also reshape them by performing the shaping process again
which just involves dipping them in just boiled water for 8 seconds or so
and then putting them in your mouth and forming a suction and/or pressing
the tray against the surfaces of your teeth.
The results on the review site look promising, I will post an update after a
week or two of use to let everyone know my results. I am 27 and have been
drinking iced tea at least 4 times a week for nearly 4 years, my teeth are a
dull yellow, not horribly yellow, but definitely not white. The product
indicates that tea/coffee stains respond vey well to whitening, so I have
high hopes.
Just thought I'd mention this for anyone looking for frugal tooth whitening.
I might add how NOT to whiten one's teeth. Years ago I got the bright
idea of using baking soda and peroxide to clean my teeth. I load my
brush up with baking soda and brush around a bit, then take a swig of
hydrogen peroxide. Big mistake. As a kid, did you ever take a
magnifying glass and focus the suns light on your fingernail? Same
sensation, except all the teeth at once.
I'm a long-time smoker and a few years ago I ordered one of those
whitening kits that use the plastic insert thingies, similar to the
product you posted about. Everything was okay until about the third
application; then my gums started getting irritated (red, swollen,
bleeding) and my teeth became ultra-sensitive to hot and cold stuff.
Additionally, I developed tiny black spots on my teeth that wouldn't
come out with brushing.
I panicked and went to the dentist. There was nothing they could do
about the black spots - they couldn't pick them off, grind them off,
nothing. She said they might eventually wear off on their own, and
thank goodness they did - but it took a long time and regular use of a
Braun toothbrush. She said this is a common problem with all
over-the-counter whitening products.
I was ready to hear a pitch for expensive in-office treatments, but
she surprised me and said I was not a good candidate because my gums
were too sensitive, and besides, she thinks they make teeth
unnaturally white.
Instead, she recommended the Crest white strips. She said they are
much milder and you don't use them as long on your teeth, plus they
are less likely to irritate your gums as those plastic mouth guards
have a tendency to do (the goop gets squeezed up out of them). Yes,
they take longer to work. You have to be persistent and use them twice
a day every day for 6 weeks (I just used them while taking a shower in
the morning, and then while getting dressed). But they are *much* more
gentle on your teeth and gums.
I used them, had no problems with irritation, and in 6 weeks time my
teeth were much, much whiter. White enough that people kept stopping
me and asking me what was different.
The effect has lasted a long time. Every few months I do a "touch-up"
application and that's all.
My dental hygienist suggested Crest Whitestrips because they are far
less expensive than professional tooth whitening. I buy them on sale.
They really do work. If you want more of your teeth covered, the
lower strip has lots of excess material that can be used too.
