Beauty Sleuth #9: Teeth whitening is B. S.

Actually, the only color I judge people by is the color of their teeth! Teeth whitening is real, works, and is now a $1.4 billion industry (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry). But then again some people believe that it’s all a hoax, hoopla, and marketing b.s. Well, perhaps some of it is, but being a consumer of teeth whitening products who has enjoyed terrific results, let me take a minute to clear up some misunderstandings about the product offering. 

I’ve tried a lot of different options. From (1) in office UV light, (2) in office mouth trays with gel, (3) Crest white strips and (4) custom trays ordered online with whitening gel. Let’s go over some of the common misconceptions. 

First, it’s important to even understand what makes your teeth turn color anyways. Your teeth are absorbent. They actually have pores, and the porous nature of the teeth allows wine, dark berries, coffee, tea etc to stain the teeth over time. 

Typically a whitening gel works by filling in the pores and pushing the stains out. It takes time though. Just like skincare, there is no “overnight solution”. Each session with gel removes a bit more of the stain(s).  

What is in that whitening gel anyway? Almost all the formulas use the same agents. Either Hydrogen Peroxide or Carbamide Peroxide. And both do a great job. So if all the formulas are the same, what makes one option different from the other? 

Well, it’s the delivery mechanism and how well it holds the gel to the teeth. Specifically I find the differentiator is how well it delivers the gel into the nooks and crannies of the teeth. You want those areas to receive consistent coverage. 

Sometimes your teeth can be sensitive after the whitening gel. This is because you might have thin enamel or tiny cracks in your teeth. The teeth’s ability to insulate the nerve from temperature changes can become temporarily compromised by the gel. But this IS temporary.

The best time to whiten your teeth is directly before bedtime. Think about it. You are less likely to eat something or drink something right before bed so the issue of re-staining your teeth or suffering pain is reduced. 

Perhaps some people don’t believe in teeth whitening because they have had dental work done and/or wear veneers. If you have veneers, then it’s true. You can’t change the color of those. Boo hoo. But if you haven’t had that done, then you are good to go and could enjoy super white teeth again. Just remember a person’s teeth color is actually set at birth. But a whitening product can definitely remove the stains that you have earned over time. 

So what do I like? Well, like I said, I’ve tried a lot of ‘em. My current favorite is SmileBrilliant’s offering. This company offers the best of multiple “worlds” if you will: (1) using their clay, you create a custom mold of your teeth, send it in, and receive custom teeth trays back so you get a tray that truly fits your teeth and holds the whitening gel right against your tooth - even the odd nooks and crannies. (2) They ship a desensitizing gel as well as the whitening gel, which you use before the whitening gel. My teeth were not sensitive after using the desensitizing gel first. (3) You only use the product 15 minutes each session. Totally manageable with a busy schedule. (4) you can use the tiny brush that comes with the product to make sure you get the gel onto the sides of the teeth where other products never seem to reach - love this!

I have found the other offerings on the market lacking in some way. Either the trays are not customized (#feellikeahockeyplayer) or my teeth hurt like the dickens afterwards (white strips) or the results just weren’t what was hoped for (#all). 

Because I do love SmileBrilliant and encourage my clients to use it, the company offers a discount to referrals using the code “mafanlo”. 

So give teeth whitening a try, perhaps as your New Year’s resolution and make 2017 absolutely whitening!