<p>Has anyone had noticeable success with any of the over-the-counter whitening strips?</p>
<p>I’ve tried Crest and similar strips. I couldn’t put strips on both the upper and lower teeth at the same time. Way too drying for my mouth, and I couldn’t talk for half an hour. I had to pray the phone didn’t ring!</p>
<p>In the last week I have tried the new Listerine whitening strips. A marketing company sent me free samples and I’m surprised at how comfortable they are. The strips are thin and dissolve against your teeth so they don’t have to be ripped off after 30 minutes. Also, I am able to talk while wearing them.</p>
<p>My teeth aren’t super stained to begin with---- white teeth is just another obsession I’ve bought into—but I think I see a difference.</p>
<p>It works. Some products (the kind you pay big $ for in the dental office) work faster than others. But the OTC’s work too. Overuse over a long period of time can wear on the enamel. In the short run, it will take superficial stains out.</p>
<p>I used Crest Whitestrips last summer (I purchased the heavier strength from the dentist) and was pleased with the results - I noticed differences right away, and even a year later the coloring of my teeth is still even.</p>
<p>DO these products work for people who have naturally “unwhite” teeth, or only on teeth that WERE once white, but became stained or discolored?</p>
<p>Unfortunately, my husband and I both have naturally yellow teeth, and so do our children. Older d’s are particularly dark, and on several occasions thoughtless kids have felt free to comment on them. I’d like to know of a good treatment that’s safe for teeth and their enamel. </p>
<p>A few years back our then-dentist talked H. into trying the lightening gel trays (before the ease of the strips). It was messy and expensive and accomplished absolutely nothing. Hence the question about teeth that are naturally yellow vs. stained…</p>
<p>There is something called Brite Smile advertised on the radio, that I think uses some sort of laser or light treatment, but I’ve never known who’s tried it. I once read that the only completely effective method to whiten teeth is to get veneers, but don’t they have to abrade the enamel off for those?</p>
<p>Son had Brite Smile done 2 years ago. We all have naturally yellow teeth here, too, and it isn’t helped by our coffee consumption! Son’s teeth lightened up dramatically, but you can’t say they’re movie star white. He also uses a custom tray from the dentist’s office once a month to maintain the white color and it has worked fine for 2 years. Brite Smile is expensive, but it was his major holiday gift. Some people have tooth sensitivity afterwards, but he did not.</p>
<p>It’s a sign of the times: huge rubber breasts, sleek noses, and freakishly white teeth.</p>
<p>I was watching some movies from the 30s lately and it struck me how much smaller the <em>ahem</em> chest sizes were on thin actresses back then. And some of them even had uneven teeth. I don’t think it’s genetics.</p>
<p>Hey kollegkid, I’m w/ you – looking forward to whitening after the braces come off! (Major difference, though – my college days are in the very distant past!) And I have no plans to give up coffee, so I guess I don’t have to worry about “freakishly white teeth.”</p>
<p>I asked my dental hygenist if the Crest strips really did anything, and she said yes. I was surprised. I assumed the answer would be no, and that the “better” treatment would be through the dental office. Haven’t tried them yet, however.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Keep in mind that fillings & crowns do not whiten, so if you have any of these that show when you smile, they will no longer match after your teeth whiten.</p></li>
<li><p>OTC White Strips do work, but they taste terrible, are messy and do not work as well as</p></li>
<li><p>Take home tray whitening. When done properly this works amazingly well, even on congenitally yellow teeth (not all that great on gray and tetracycline stained teeth). There are some people who are too sensitive to complete the process. Also, if you continue your teeth staining habits (particularly smoking not as much coffee/red wine drinking); there will be relatively quick fade back. Otherwise, touch up for a day or two after your regular cleaning visits will maintain it.</p></li>
<li><p>Britesmile/Zoom/Laser Whitening: I have also done quite a few of these (proceeds NOT donated to charity too labor intensive). These are for people who desire immediate gratification and are willing to spend 2-3x the take home fee for the same end result. There is a greater risk of tooth sensitivity since it is done in one sitting, rather than gradually. Also, a lot of the immediate result from chairside whitening is from dehydration of the teeth, so I always recommend take home tray whitening for a few days following to lock it in. Otherwise, there will be pretty quick fade back.</p></li>
<li><p>The only negative side effect of whitening is possible sensitivity. If you use common sense (and stop or cut down on whitening if sensitivity persists), it will reverse.</p></li>
</ol>
<p>Hey, and if you wear lipstick, you are enhancing the frame, rather than the picture. Teeth whitening is safe and relatively inexpensive, but should come out of your cosmetic, rather than health care budget.</p>
<p>audiophile…I have a tray made from my dentist but I have been too lazy, and somewhat ambivalent to use the solution he gave me six months ago. Is it too late to use that solution that came with my personalized tray which I paid good money for? I haven’t opened the box. I don’t know why. I have teeth stained by coffee and asked for the fairly mild strength of solution as I don’t want sensitivity. I would be happy with an improvement…not looking for a huge improvement. Glad you have done so many of them with good outcomes…I guess I am not sure it is worth getting started on this path.</p>
<p>The box will usually have an expiration date on it, but shelf life is generally over a year. We stock “refill” kits (~ $35) that are dispensed for those who already have trays.</p>
<p>Doesn’t weaken teeth as long as your teeth are healthy (no large, open cavities) and you don’t over do it. The solutions actually take pigment and stain out of the enamel. Over whitening (for those “obssesive” types) can actually cause the teeth to look almost transparent.</p>
For the past five years, virtually all of the proceeds from this procedure in my office have been donated to charity, mostly through the Smiles For Life Foundation <a href=“