Aside from looking back and being thankful that my parents insisted on braces (I had them only to correct my cross bite and over bite but they thankfully mostly removed the huge gap between my two front teeth as well) I am not particularly concerned about how my teeth look. I brush, I floss, and I go to the dentist. I cried and cried at 15 years old the first (and only) time I had a cavity, even though I was assured it was because of the deep cavities in my molars that I could not have brushed down into.
I recently had a dental cleaning (spa day for my mouth!) and the hygienist started mentioning that I could get over-the-counter whitening products that would help with the yellowing. It sparked my memory and I remembered that she mentioned that at my last cleaning. My incisors are a little more yellowed and I notice that in photos, but honestly it doesn’t really bother me. Yellowing teeth are normal. Bright white teeth are ABnormal.
So I was wondering if anyone here (especially in THIS economy) spends money on whitening treatments, and if so, is it just because YOU want to and like the results, or someone has made you feel you should? Do you wish you could, but haven’t or can’t afford it? Have you tried it and wished you’d saved the money? Do you think it is a totally waste of money and time when there is nothing WRONG with your teeth, just aesthetics? I’m curious, but I find it weird that she always mentions it. I’m not giving up my coffee and I really don’t care all that much, not enough to spend $25+ on “whitening.” Thanks for the thoughts!
(Okay, sorry for the tense there--it should be "have you whitened, would you whiten, or do you whiten," or something to that effect.)
Thanks Suzie Q! Made me smile and I needed that just now. :)
I LOVE Crest White Strips. My teeth aren't perfectly straight but I can make them white. People always comment on my teeth and how I have a nice smile. I don't see anything wrong with that.
Updated
Yep. I had them professionally whitened (light at the dentist) several years ago. And then he also made the trays that fit my teeth.
$10 every 6 months to get new gel for them just doesn't seem like an over the top expense. That's 2 cups of coffee. Or a tank top. Or a cheap lunch out. No biggie.
I mean, why wear attractive clothes? Or shave your legs (I spend $20 a month in razors, sooooo much more than $10 every six months). Clothes don't need to look good. Just buy something from goodwill without trying it on. And there is NOTHING wrong with leg hair.
Same thing. It's something that makes people feel good.
I have friends that are both dentists and dental hygienists who told me this. Over the counter teeth whiteners work just as well as those done in office... just as long as it is a tray or a product that gel stays on your teeth for a while, the quick paint and go isn't as effective.They also don't work as quickly. For instance, maybe you will have to do 3 cycles of an over the counter whitener to get the same effect as one done by a dentist.
Also, one reason they mention it in the office is b/c it's an ad on service and so they make more money from it. Yellowing teeth is normal, however some people's are much more yellow, so it depends on the severity. Mine are pretty white (don't drink coffee or smoke) and I don't whiten, but my husband and I would like to when I have the funds. It makes for a more youthful appearance and a brighter, healthy smile. Not day-glo white, of course!
I whiten my teeth after every cleaning visit at the dentist. I don't drink coffee or wine but I'm a little nutso about my teeth. I used the most advanced Crest whitestrips at the time. I have tried the "zoom whitening" in an office but because my teeth were already so white, they refused to work on me because there wouldn't be much difference. I Love white teeth!!
I do it sometimes, just to kind of help keep my smile bright. I like the look of it. At the Wal-Mart here where I live they have a brand that I get a lot that is only like $5 that works really well and only takes 5 minutes so I can do it while I do my face masks.
We do.
My boyfriends sister works for an awesome dentist. We get everything at a huge discount, if not free. We also didn't pay a dime for the custom trays.
We do it because we are both huge coffee drinkers, and smokers. The key for us is to whiten not to the point of glowing in the dark. Some whiten too much, and that looks abnormal to me.
I do know in my SIL's office the hygienist says the same thing. Mostly because they sell the OTC products in the office at a cheaper price (the office makes a profit though).
I would get my teeth whitened in a heart beat, but I have two veneers that were done over 15 years ago and until I replace those, I can't whiten, otherwise it won't look right. I don't want over white, but I'd really like them done a little.
It is so easy to do and really does make a difference.
My Dentist ok'd the use of the Crest white strips to start off with, follow the directions. . Then he said to use a tube of regular toothpaste (ADA recommended) until it is gone and then the next tube of a whitening toothpaste (ADA recommended). Back and forth.. The thing to be careful with is to not over use the whitening products.. They can make your teeth over sensitive..
i find that a more economical way of going about it is to use the whitening toothpastes... you already buy toothpaste anyway, so why not get a little bit of whitening while you're at it? it gets rid of some of the staining, but it doesn't do so much that it looks TOO white. i have done some of the over-the-counter whitening before (almost 7 years ago), and even those didn't do anything too drastic. but, other than the whitening toothpastes, i haven't bought any of that stuff in years because i'm too cheap! :)
I have used over the counter products, the strips and also tooth paste, I had seen a difference, I do not think I could stand to do anything with trays or harsh chemicals...I do know that anytime I use the products for an extended period of time it makes My teeth more sensitive, and since I already have teeth that are sensitive to cold I do not like to do it very often.
I do enjoy coffee and red wine though, and I know those are big time offenders for staining. I do drink diet soda from a straw for the most part and I brush and floss multiple times a day because my mouth feels gross if I do not.
I have, but I didn't pay for it. When I was a kid I fell and killed my top front tooth. My parents never did anything for it. So, by the time I got to high school, my tooth was literally brown. Just that one tooth. Then I went on to teaching preschool after college. I would just die inside when my kids would ask "why is your tooth brown?". I wouldn't show that I was upset, but I would be horrified inside. So, more years went by and less than a year ago (I am 30), I went to the dentist for a cleaning and my dentist (who was awesome!), was asking about that tooth again. I never had a root canal on it or anything. So, he said my tooth has cleaned itself out, and did it's own root canal on it, so if you want, we could finish it by doing the crown and insurance would cover it, so I said sure. My portion was around $400 for the crown, but my dentist gave me a FREE take home whitening kit for the rest of my teeth, so all my teeth would match. I use it for about 3-4 days after I get my cleanings.
But, since moving, I haven't been able to find a really good dentist that I like as much as my old dentist.
I'd love to whiten my teeth! I think it can make you look fresher and younger - as long as you don't go too white. That looks funny to me. But, I can't afford it. One day, when my ship comes in, I'll have them done. And I'll have a massage every day, and a mani, pedi, hair treatment, facial etc every week. I've just got to duck out now to buy my lottery ticket...
