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Tooth Whitening Products?
DentistsScareMe! asks: "I'll admit it: I've got yellow-stained teeth, and it bugs the hell out of me. I've seen ads (infomercials) over the past few years, but knew them to be mostly hoax products and have steered clear. But now I've noticed the more major (and reputable) pharmaceutical companies jumping into the act, offering their own products. They're moderately expensive ($30-$50), but I'd be willing to foot the large sum _if_ I knew how well they worked. Their ads claim clinical proof, but what exactly does that mean? Did a researcher test the drug on a sample of people to measure effectiveness? Does use of the phrase 'clinically proven' require anything like FDA approval? Has anyone out there used any such product, or know someone who has? Care to comment on how well it has worked?"
I remember reading a newspaper article a while ago on the effectiveness of teeth whitening products. The dentists they interviewed said that whitening toothpastes were generally useless because the paste is not in contact with teeth for long enough. The one product that they did recommend were crest white strips which you stick on and leave on.
You basically have three options:
1. Buying somethng off shelf
These most of the times do not work. They are too weak, and they wash off too easily. If they have mouth guards, they are cheap ones that don't fit well.
The advantage is that if you have sensitive teeth this is the best option. And it's the cheapest.
Cost: $10-$40
2. Using something like BriteSmile or.. (whatever other names are.. Zoom?)
These work best. You sit in a chair, you watch a movie while an assistant props your mouth open and applies some paste. Then, they shine a light on the paste for an hour. You walk out with about 7 shades whiter.
Cost: about $500.
Advantages: fast! You can do it over lunch hour. Good results.
3. Dentist at-home whitening
Dentist gives you some syringes and a mouthguard. You add a little liquid to the mouthguard and wear them anywhere from 20 mins to overnight.
Cost: about $300 initial (mouth guard is expensive), plus about $45 to resupply syringes periodically. Can buy them much cheaper off the internet (same big brands)
Advantages: cheaper than britesmile, works much better than the off-the-shelf ones. Good results.
Disadvantages: expensive, most sensitivity issues (especially with 20% concentrations)
So, don't waste your money on off the shelf ones. Also, these things don't work on everything. If your teeth are gray because some medicine you took, you may need caps instead of bleaching. A dentist can tell you best.
You're right. I remember when these first came to market, my dad, who is a dentist and performs teeth whitening procedures (among other things, of course), was actually worried because these OTC products whitened teeth almost as well as he did, but for a tiny, tiny fraction of the price. I think you only need to wear them twice a day, for half an hour each time, and over a few weeks your teeth will turn several shades whiter.