Back Chronic Pain

So I’ve done some research… Like I said in my previous post, I’m dedicated to get my teeth whiten, so I’ve gotten right down to it. I plan on significantly whiter teeth by the time I attend a friend’s wedding in less than a month.

In my search, I found many possibilities, including teeth whitening toothpastes, gels, rinses, strips, and trays, and I even researched professional teeth whitening options provided by a dentist, for my cost analysis.

Here are some of my findings and results… As you can see, I’m thorough and love to do my research… I guess that’s a good thing for you

Cost Effective Teeth Whiteners

Teeth Whitening Toothpaste:

An easy, over the counter, cost effective method of getting teeth whiter is by using a teeth whitening toothpaste, like Sensodyne with whitening. I have tried many to little avail, but liked Sensodyne for the mere fact that it was for sensitive teeth and had a good flavor.

FYI: Whitening toothpastes are supposed to work by helping to remove surface stains only using carbamide peroxide or  hydrogen peroxide (a bleaching substance) to lighten the color deep in the tooth.

The result is that I went tried out 4-5 brands of toothpaste, I didn’t see a noticeable difference in their ability to whiten teeth! They didn’t work for me, but I have to have something to brush my teeth with, so maybe they will after using it for a couple of years

Teeth Whitening Rinses:

One of the newest methods to get teeth whiten available are whitening rinses. Similar to mouthwashes, they have many benefits as they freshen breath and assist in the reduction of dental plaque and gum disease.

Quite frankly, I saw no difference between using a teeth whitening rinse than my normal mouth wash! The hydrogen peroxide didn’t have enough contact with my teeth to get then whiter. This is the same story as the toothpaste!

I believe this is yet another marketing tool to sell mouthwash and not a very effective way to whiten teeth.

Teeth Whitening Strips and Gels: (bought at your local store)

I tried a common teeth whitening kit for a day that contained strips and stopped because I really didn’t like the peroxide taste in my mouth. Literally, I walked around for the recommended time, with this clear strip in my mouth, salivating on myself and trying not to gag on the taste.

The teeth whitening gel was the same way, only this time, I had more of the taste in my mouth… These products may get your teeth whiter, but I didn’t get past the taste of peroxide! Who wants peroxide teeth?!

Needless to say that these were not the teeth whitening products that fit my lifestyle. The good thing was that they were cheap. A two week supply typically costs around $14… But quite frankly, there is a better product to whiten your teeth.

An important note: If you have sensitive teeth, like me, these are also not the way to whiten your teeth as they cause discomfort.

Tray-Based Teeth Whitening Products:

Tray-based teeth whitening systems can be purchased either from your local dentist or at your local drug store. It involves filling a mouth guard-like tray with a teeth whitening gel solution, usually containing a peroxide-bleaching agent.

Then you wear this tray for a period of time, generally anywhere from a couple hours a day to all night for up to four weeks or longer (depending on the amount of discoloration and desired whitening level).

Again, if you have sensitive teeth or don’t like the peroxide taste, I don’t recommend this method.. It also wasn’t my favorite method to whiten my teeth as the teeth whitening agent doesn’t taste pleasant and it caused increased sensitivity.

Dental In-Office Whitening:

And lastly, for comparison only, I looked into going to your dentist for laser teeth whitening which provides the quickest way to get teeth whiten. With the assistance of the dental staff, the whitening product is applied directly to the teeth.

For more effectiveness, these products can be used in combination with heat, special light, and/or laser.  Resultantly, you can see whiter teeth in one, 30 to 60 minute treatment. But usually, to achieve desired results, they recommend you go in for multiple appointments (of course! They want more money).

In-office bleaching procedures can be anywhere from $200 to $500 per arch, to $500 to $1,000 for the whole mouth. I’d much rather get results from the comfort of my home with at home teeth whitening solutions.

In fact, the best teeth whitening product I found is what I will review for you in the next post.

Here’s to whiter, brighter teeth!

~Misty