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Thread: Teeth whitening

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    Default Teeth whitening

    Okay, I've got a trip to the dentist planned for Tuesday (chipped a tooth somehow, somewhere) a few days ago. As long as I'm there, I'm going to ask about teeth whitening because mine look like hell. (I don't smoke, but I do drink coffee and red wine.)

    What questions should I ask?
    What procedures have you tried?
    What's this gonna cost me? (I've got discount dental insurance, which I'm not even sure will cover this arguably cosmetic treatment.)

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    Moderator Jessie_tinydancer's Avatar
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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    I always just use crest whitestrips and they work really good. My dentist told me they are safe. If you want crazy white white... then from what I have heard zoom is the best. I have no idea how much it costs in the states... Its really expensive here but my friend had it and its amazing.

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    Veteran Member beckatron's Avatar
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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    Some dentists will give you a home whitening kit for free (mine did). Crest Whitestrips do the trick for me - splurge for the Professional ones - but Zoom kicks butt.
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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    laser or blue light whitening is expensive and uncomfortable. I've done it before and sitting still in a chair with a mouth full of cotton for an hour and half was not my thing.
    My new dentist made me some trays and gives me opalescence whitening gel 20%. It works wonders. I am pretty sure you can buy it online, I would research it on their website. Not nearly as expensive as blue light or laser treatments, and it works wonders.

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    I've heard Zoom is really good also.

    I went to Brite Smile back when this was still pretty new. The bad thing about having eating disorders is that sometimes it shows up in your teeth even years after you are over it. Anyhow, I had one spot that was really apparent to me, so of course I wanted it fixed. The procedure made a HUGE difference. However, the results were gone after about a year. I could go get it redone, but the fact is I am probably the only one who notices since the difference is covered when I smile with my jaw closed, or have my lips slightly parted.

    I've considered getting veneers, but honestly my teeth are pretty good, & replacing veneers scares me. If this issue ever bothers me that much again I know could easily have the dentist slightly re-shape my teeth & the one discoloration that stands out would be gone. It would be a lot cheaper than veneers.
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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    I got zoom last summer. Your teeth look amazingly white for maybe a month. Then they fade a bit. For three days after you get them done, you only eat or drink clear, white or light yellow food. And no coffee or tea. Not even white or green tea. This drove me crazy. The tooth sensitivity is there, but it's not so bad. My then dentist charges $250.

    I have a new dentist (because of insurance issues). They offered a special because I'm a new patient. Laser whitening and bleaching trays for $370. I was going to do it, but I just got the bleaching trays for $250. Got fitted for them last week.

    I got porcelain crowns because of an accident I got into that knocked 3 of my front teeth to the nerve in high school. Got them last summer as well. Once you get veneers or crowns, you gotta watch what you drink. I now drink coffee and tea with a straw. Even if it's a hot drink. You can't whiten them.
    (Formerly known as 'Korina')

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    Just a note to say please do make sure you only get treated by your dentist - home kits are best avoided as the can often damage your teeth. Some of the DIY treatments can dissolve the enamel of the teeth so they actually end up looking darker in colour after the initial bleaching. I work in the dental industry at the moment and some of the horrors i see would make you think verrrrrry carefully about bleaching, veneers (oh, don't get me started on veneers!) etc!

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    You know I was a dental assistant and when I started working there I realized how much a waste getting whitening trays can be. I was in school and made myself a bunch of whitening trays and it was dirt cheap but they charge like 500 dollars. Zoom whitening is just a faster process to get the same results.

    A good trick for coffee drinkers is drink through a straw, this way it doesnt get on the front of your teeth as much. Try to rinse with water after drinking coffee.
    Brush your teeth with baking soda every 2 weeks because its abrasive and removes surface stains.

    One thing that makes teeth white pretty quick that I like to do like once a month is mix baking soda and hydrogen peroxide into a toothpaste consistency and brush your teeth with it for two minutes. The two make a chemical reaction that breaks up stains..hydrogen peroxide help whiten teeth if your rinse your mouth with it everyday for like 1 minute...its the main whitening ingredient in alot of whitening gels...

    oh yeah and it the peroxide might turn your gums white so be careful but dont freak out like I did, it does go away.

    Sensodyne helps alot if your teeth get sensitive mine do. I used to not be able to do crest whintening strips but with sensodyne toothpaste it works great. I like advanced seal whitening strips.

    I have whitening trays too but I dont really like to use them.

    Uv lights speed up the whitening process so if you get a whitening gel and go tanning it will help too.

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    oh yeah and dont brush with baking soda too often because you dont want to hurt your enamel. enamel repairs itself though just used a fluoride rinse and that fills the minerals back in. only do it every 2 weeks or so...crest white strips wont hurt your enamel though.

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    What % Hydrogen Peroxide please

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    I tried zoom whitening once and I'll NEVER do it again. Expensive, hurt like hell and made my teeth way sensitive. My teeth hurt for 3 days after and they have never been sensitive before. Ever. Now they're still a lil sensitive to cold and never had been before.

    The zoom process hurt my teeth so much I couldn't even stand to finish the process. I went through 2 rounds and couldn't do the 3rd. It was hurting so much - like electrical shocks to the teeth - that I was flinching in the chair and almost in tears when they finally turned the damn light off on the 2nd round. I also have a pretty high tolerance for pain, but I couldn't handle that.

    I can't fathom anyone willingly going through that torture for whiter teeth.


    Peroxide is the best mouthwash on the planet! I've been using it for years. Love. I'll never buy another bottle of "regular" mouthwash again. I just get the regular 3% hydrogen peroxide that is sold in any drugstore's 1st aid section.


    tessarubyxoxo: somehow i ended up on SW's homepage.... then i clicked on "forums." & i was in fucking narnia.


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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    I stopped drinking coffee and brush after I eat reddish colored food. I also use crest white strips and it is truly the shit!

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    I use GoSmile, and it works wonders. Even their little touch-up ones that are flavored, like green apple and watermelon, made a noticeable difference.

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    Default Re: Teeth whitening

    seriously? you don't even need to spend that much. brush your teeth with baking soda and peroxide (just don't swallow it). it's amazing. it tastes bad but if you do it everyday you'll have the whitest teeth in the world within like a week.

    the baking soda removes stains and the peroxide lightens your teeth.

    just put a cap full of peroxide into a bowl and sprinkle a little baking soda and mix it together and BAM homemade toothpaste for less than a dollar. try it for a week you'll be amazed

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