Whitening Question - Dental Health Message Board

MoonLight0 · 01-06-2007, 12:29 PM

This isn't really a major problem, I'm just wondering what else I can do to whiten my teeth.
My teeth are always the same shade, never super white, but not yellow either. I personally find them kinda dull looking... (other people have said that they like my teeth - I don't, they're just not as white as they could be.)

Well anyway... I have a routine that I do all the time to try and get them as white as possible, but I don't see any change. I brush my teeth with baking soda and peroxide regularly (every other day or every 3 days), I aways use whitening toothpastes (Colgate and Arm&Hammer), and I also chew whitening gum that's supposed to remove surface stains and whatnot.
Just yesterday I ran out of peroxide and decided to try the Listerine Whitening Pre-Brush Rinse since it contains peroxide as well. But it says that results are expected in approximately 12 weeks (way too long, though I plan on using it anyway in hopes that I'll see a difference).

I've also used the Colgate White Gel in the past, but it didn't really do a whole lot for my teeth as far as I could tell. Nothing seems to make a drastic difference, at least not drastic enough for me to notice at all.

So basically I'm wondering if there's anything else I can do. I know there are those Crest White Strips, and I've thought about trying them since so many people say that they produce wonderful results... but I'm not sure about it. They're way too expensive, and I've also heard that the results don't last very long, and they make teeth very sensitive to hot/cold. I don't want to ruin my teeth by whitening them with anything harsh.
Plus I don't see the point of whitening my front teeth only. If I'm going to whiten my teeth, I want them all to be the same shade.

Right now my front teeth are whiter than the ones in the back, and it's really bothering me. I find it kinda gross.

Basically I'm wondering if there's anything else out there I haven't tried that works well, doesn't cost a lot, and won't completely ruin my teeth?

P.S. I don't smoke, drink coffee, tea, red wine, soda, or anything that would stain my teeth significantly.

noodles3 · 01-06-2007, 07:10 PM

The whitestrips are probably the most economical. I find they work great for minor staining but to get the entire tooth you need moulds taken which is a more expensive process but one your dentist can do. There are take home kits which you can use with the moulds and they are excellent for whitening all your teeth, back and front. The price range could be around 350.00.

MoonLight0 · 01-06-2007, 09:49 PM

Okay, thanks.
I probably won't be spending that much for whitening teeth any time in the near future. There is no way I could afford that at this point in my life (college students can't afford much these days, heh).
But I will probably try the white strips when I get a chance. I just got a coupon for $5 off... so hopefully they will work and won't cause sensitivity.

Spandex · 01-07-2007, 03:03 PM

whitestrips work amazingly well considering their low cost.
You will definitely see a brighter smile at the end of the 2 week process.

anitak1982 · 01-08-2007, 08:07 AM

My Dentist and my children's dentist said NO baking soda.It is too scratchy for the enamel.

My son's dentist told him to use Crest White strips that it is basically the same stuff he uses in office. My son bought them and kept using them until he got the shade he wanted even doubling up on the boxes. Took two treatments and his teeth are the bleached shade he wanted.