Would you whiten your teeth?

[TravelingGal]

I'm actually asking for your two cents on my situation.

A long road for me is coming to an end, and I'm FINALLY in the position to finish my implant procedure and get the crown in.

My dentist, who is great, is giving me some things to think about. Basically the crown is a front tooth. If I want to whiten my teeth, they must be whitened before the crown is put in, and (here's the kicker), I can't really get lazy with the whitening, as I must consistently MAINTAIN the color for years to come. Unlike other people who have the option to just not do it if they don't feel like it, I will have to continue bleaching year after year so the colors continue to match.

My teeth aren't scary yellow or anything...just not white bright. I have the option to do the traditional bleaching trays, or an in house process called Zoom. Zoom takes about an hour and a half, and must be followed up with the bleaching anyway. There are also horrific reviews online about burning, shooting pains, etc. My guess is many times it's because it's done by an untrained hygenist, but dentists have been known to injure patients.

With the bleaching trays, I've done them before. I hate doing it, and tend to get lazy. Not sure I will be able to manage the upkeep.

Have any of you bleached your teeth? Do you find it worth it? I'm especially interested if anyone's done zoom, although I'm 99% inclined not to even go there!

 

[MonkeyPie]

My best friend did Zoom. Afterward she complained of shooting pains and burning for two days. She couldn't anything super hot or super cold because it made her teeth really, really sensitive. I personally wouldn't go that route - it seems like too much pain for too little results, since I didn't see a ton of difference on her teeth. I'd go with the trays.

 

[TravelingGal]

My best friend did Zoom. Afterward she complained of shooting pains and burning for two days. She couldn't anything super hot or super cold because it made her teeth really, really sensitive. I personally wouldn't go that route - it seems like too much pain for too little results, since I didn't see a ton of difference on her teeth. I'd go with the trays.

It doesn't seem quite kosher, does it MP? I mean, only 90 minutes in a chair and your teeth are supposed to be that much white? I read part of it is that the teeth are dehydrated and thus appear whiter.

 

[kenny]

I asked my dentist's hygienist how to whiten my teeth at a low cost.
She told me:

Rinse for one minute with a 50/50 solution of water and regular cheapo 3% Hydrogen Peroxide every other day.
Do not swallow it.
Do this for two weeks.
Repeat as necessary.

I just bought the HP for $1.00 and poured half down the drain and filled the bottle up with water.
The taste isn't THAT bad.

Works like a champ and I save hundreds of bucks compared to my dentist doing it.
More $$$ for FCDs.

 

[TravelingGal]

I asked my dentist's hygienist how to whiten my teeth at a low cost.
She told me:

Rinse for one minute with a 50/50 solution of water and regular cheapo 3% Hydrogen Peroxide every other day.
Do not swallow it.
Do this for two weeks.
Repeat as necessary.

I just bought the HP for $1.00 and poured half down the drain and filled the bottle up with water.

Works like a champ and I save hundreds of bucks compared to my dentist doing it.
More $$$ for FCDs.

REALLY?? I guess that makes sense because that's the active ingredient. But how much whitening would you say it did?

 

[Jennifer W]

Timely question - I had a consultation with my dentist about this yesterday.

Zoom (and the UK equivalent) is not something he was happy to recommend. He told me that it doesn't seem to last and that you have to do a fair bit of aftercare (ie more bleaching). He didn't want to do it at all.

I've decided to go with the system that you do at home - the trays are moulded by the dentist, manufactured by a technician from the casts, then you go for a consultation to learn how to apply the solution without burning your gums. After that, you use it until you're happy, erring on the side of caution. My dentist said that when it's just nearly white enough, stop. Don't go too far or it looks truly weird. He also said that I may have some issues with sensitivity for a week or so after. Some people find this really unpleasant, it's supersensitivity.

One thing he did say is that it seems to last. It changes the colour of the enamel permanently, so if you see yellowing thereafter, it can be cleaned out with just regular crest strips or whatever, because it's just an accumulation of gunk in the 'tubes' running from the enamels surface, not a real colour change (back).

He obligingly bleached his top teeth and left the bottom teeth so I could see a before and after - the bleached teeth look nice. White, but still natural. Not many people here have ever asked him for whitening treatments, so I think he's itching to have a go (NHS dentist, so not motivated by business / profit).

 

[kenny]

I asked my dentist's hygienist how to whiten my teeth at a low cost.
She told me:

Rinse for one minute with a 50/50 solution of water and regular cheapo 3% Hydrogen Peroxide every other day.
Do not swallow it.
Do this for two weeks.
Repeat as necessary.

I just bought the HP for $1.00 and poured half down the drain and filled the bottle up with water.

Works like a champ and I save hundreds of bucks compared to my dentist doing it.
More $$$ for FCDs.

REALLY?? I guess that makes sense because that's the active ingredient. But how much whitening would you say it did?

A lot!
Really!

I do not want to look like Julia Roberts but my hygienist said if you want them whiter just do it more but do not change the concentration and If you do experience any gum sensitivity back off.
But you're right, (though dentists have access to stronger HP) HP is the active ingredient in the zillion-dollar commercial products.

I tried those expensive Crest or Rembrant strips at home.
What a hassle!

 

[AprilBaby]

I am a dental hygienist. Don't do zoom. We stopped doing it because of all the complaints. If you are lazy, don't bother with the whitening because you won't follow up on it and you will be sorry down the road the crown is so white. It's a huge commitment most people think they will keep but don't. If you are happy with your current color go with it. If not, use the bleach trays and then follow up with them for touch up as needed to keep up the shade. Forget the zoom.

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Since this is a dentist thread, can I post about the thing I just discovered two minutes ago? I felt something odd on my gum, and just got up to poke at it in the bathroom mirror. Um, it's a freaking tooth. A new tooth. Poking through where no tooth should be. It's behind my wisdom tooth. This is just plain wrong.

Back to the dentist I go...

 

[TravelingGal]

Thank you everyone for your responses, they are much appreciated!

Kenny, that is really funny. I'd be scared to do it, but interesting the stuff you can learn by posting on Pricescope!

Jennifer, let me know how it goes. I'm be all for whitening if not for the crown issue...I don't want different colored teeth!

Aprilbaby, thank for your for input. I love my dentist. Been going to him for years, and he is very good, and even more important to me, honest and not pushy at all. He just gives me options. But I do find it disconcerting that he said zoom might be an option for me.

 

[TravelingGal]

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Since this is a dentist thread, can I post about the thing I just discovered two minutes ago? I felt something odd on my gum, and just got up to poke at it in the bathroom mirror. Um, it's a freaking tooth. A new tooth. Poking through where no tooth should be. It's behind my wisdom tooth. This is just plain wrong.

Back to the dentist I go...

Huh? Seriously? Do people have several sets of wisdom teeth (I vaguely remember reading something like that...or maybe I am delusional).

Between you and me, we seriously keep dentists in business.

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Since this is a dentist thread, can I post about the thing I just discovered two minutes ago? I felt something odd on my gum, and just got up to poke at it in the bathroom mirror. Um, it's a freaking tooth. A new tooth. Poking through where no tooth should be. It's behind my wisdom tooth. This is just plain wrong.

Back to the dentist I go...

Huh? Seriously? Do people have several sets of wisdom teeth (I vaguely remember reading something like that...or maybe I am delusional).

Between you and me, we seriously keep dentists in business.

Yes. I appear to be teething, at the age of 36. WTF? Our dentists must give thanks on a daily basis for having us as patients.

Ah well. I wonder if it will push up the cost of the whitening? One extra tooth to do...

 

[TravelingGal]

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Since this is a dentist thread, can I post about the thing I just discovered two minutes ago? I felt something odd on my gum, and just got up to poke at it in the bathroom mirror. Um, it's a freaking tooth. A new tooth. Poking through where no tooth should be. It's behind my wisdom tooth. This is just plain wrong.

Back to the dentist I go...

Huh? Seriously? Do people have several sets of wisdom teeth (I vaguely remember reading something like that...or maybe I am delusional).

Between you and me, we seriously keep dentists in business.

Yes. I appear to be teething, at the age of 36. WTF? Our dentists must give thanks on a daily basis for having us as patients.

Ah well. I wonder if it will push up the cost of the whitening? One extra tooth to do...

You're going to give the lab a good giggle when they do your trays.

 

[Autumnovember]

I have done Crest White Strips multiple times and they work very well for me. I did experience a little bit of tooth sensitivity for a little while after but nothing that was extreme or painful and it did go away. If I had the money, I would get them professionally whitened. I'm thinking about doing it for my wedding. To me, there is nothing like bright white teeth...they look pretty

 

[MonkeyPie]

Here's a thought - can you get the crown to match your other teeth? I know some places do this.

 

[Jennifer W]

Oh crap oh crap oh crap. Since this is a dentist thread, can I post about the thing I just discovered two minutes ago? I felt something odd on my gum, and just got up to poke at it in the bathroom mirror. Um, it's a freaking tooth. A new tooth. Poking through where no tooth should be. It's behind my wisdom tooth. This is just plain wrong.

Back to the dentist I go...

Huh? Seriously? Do people have several sets of wisdom teeth (I vaguely remember reading something like that...or maybe I am delusional).

Between you and me, we seriously keep dentists in business.

Yes. I appear to be teething, at the age of 36. WTF? Our dentists must give thanks on a daily basis for having us as patients.

Ah well. I wonder if it will push up the cost of the whitening? One extra tooth to do...

You're going to give the lab a good giggle when they do your trays.

Ha! I nearly got the trays done yesterday, but the dentist didn't have time. Just as well - there was NO sign of my new tooth until a few minutes ago, and it's got bigger already. Tell you what though, I now realise that the kid was at it. It's a painless process!

 

[TravelingGal]

Here's a thought - can you get the crown to match your other teeth? I know some places do this.

MP, I'm confused? If I don't do the whitening, the dentist will just shade it so it matches my current shade. I will probably even go down to the lab for them to look and do custom shading.

 

[MonkeyPie]

Here's a thought - can you get the crown to match your other teeth? I know some places do this.

MP, I'm confused? If I don't do the whitening, the dentist will just shade it so it matches my current shade. I will probably even go down to the lab for them to look and do custom shading.

That's exactly what I was asking, lol. I personally would do this if you don't want to mess with sensitivity or messy trays.

 

[dani13]

Hi TG,

I'm not sure what you should do, but I will say I have whitened my teeth twice (I had BriteSmile done, which is similar to Zoom). It hurts like hell. It was bad. You're fine during the procedure (if you can stand having your mouth held open for and hr and a half), but afterwards the pain is almost unbearable. Shooting pains, feeling like every nerve root in your mouth is exposed so even air on it really really hurts. Its kind of just plain miserable.

That being said, it does work, and I would probably do it again for the great results. Sounds kind of like childbirth???? he he

 

[TravelingGal]

Hi TG,

I'm not sure what you should do, but I will say I have whitened my teeth twice (I had BriteSmile done, which is similar to Zoom). It hurts like hell. It was bad. You're fine during the procedure (if you can stand having your mouth held open for and hr and a half), but afterwards the pain is almost unbearable. Shooting pains, feeling like every nerve root in your mouth is exposed so even air on it really really hurts. Its kind of just plain miserable.

That being said, it does work, and I would probably do it again for the great results. Sounds kind of like childbirth???? he he

It's currently debatable whether childbirth was worth it.

 

[iheartscience]

I got all crazy right before my wedding and decided my teeth HAD to be whitened before the wedding, so I got the trays. They were very effective, but I haven't used them since. That said, if I was getting a permanent implant I'd probably whiten them. If my other teeth stop matching the whiter implant it would probably make me stop being lazy and bleach my teeth again. Would that motivate you?

Also, the trays made my teeth super sensitive and they hurt a lot for a few days after I stopped. That's probably the main reason aside from laziness that I haven't kept up with it.

 

[TravelingGal]

I got all crazy right before my wedding and decided my teeth HAD to be whitened before the wedding, so I got the trays. They were very effective, but I haven't used them since. That said, if I was getting a permanent implant I'd probably whiten them. If my other teeth stop matching the whiter implant it would probably make me stop being lazy and bleach my teeth again. Would that motivate you?

Also, the trays made my teeth super sensitive and they hurt a lot for a few days after I stopped. That's probably the main reason aside from laziness that I haven't kept up with it.

Thing2, I think I'm embarrassed to say it may not motivate me. Maybe I'm trying to top you in the laziness department? I gotta be good at something.

 

[TravelingGal]

Oh, and Thing, would you say they are back to their original shade, or they are still lighter? How long ago did you get married again?

 

[Bunny007]

Don't do Zoom! My dentist (who was fantastic in all other respects) did mine and it's very painful and uncomfortable. I could have overlooked the pain for a great payoff (pain is beauty), but the results faded very very quickly. After a month or two, they didn't look any whiter than they were before.

I've done tray whitening in the past and was pleased with the results.

 

[qtiekiki]

Ditto MP. If you don't want to bother with whitening and the upkeep, then just have them match the crown to the shade of your other teeth. My crowns are always match to my teeth, and my dentist makes me sign off that I am satisfied with the coloring.

I had my teeth whitening with the combo of tray (opalescence) and Zoom a few (4, I think) years ago. I was very happy with the result. I went down few shades with the tray, and another couple shades with Zoom. I continued to use the tray monthly after Zoom until I ran out of gel 6 months later. I haven't done anything since, well beside my Rembrandt toothpaste. My teeth are not as white as they were right after Zoom, but they are still pretty good, considering I drink coffee and tea daily. I still have people commenting on how white my teeth are, which is weird because I don't think they are that white. Ok I am kind of rambling, but I just wanted to share my experience with the upkeeping of my whitened teeth.

 

[soocool]

I used the Crest whitestrips since they first came out. After the initial whitening, I whitened them again 6 months later. Since then I found I only had to whiten them once every 1 1/2 yrs to 2 years if that. My teeth are bright white. I used a toothpaste for sensitive teeth while I used the strips. (Sensodyne). I drink coffee, tea , eat blueberries, cherries, things that you would think would discolor my teeth and make me whiten them more often, but my teeth still look very white. Even my dentist and hygenist say so.

I have friends who spent hundreds of dollars whitening their teeth in a dental office and they are astounded that I only pay about $25 a shot.

 

[Jennifer W]

Hmm. The trays people are talking about sound like a different system to the one available here. It takes about 4 sessions, and the results are supposed to be permanent, with the caveat that you have to use something to keep the open channels in the enamel clean (not the trays and solution, because that would whiten them further).

I need to ask my dentist more about this. That's a good thing (along with my freak of nature spare tooth growth). He's very easy on the eye.

 

[House Cat]

I did zoom a few weeks before my wedding. The pain was incredible. I started feeling shooting pains during the second procedure (they whiten your teeth three times) and by the time I left the dentist, air hurt my teeth. I had to go home and go to bed.

My teeth turned "hollywood white." Which was a bit more white than I wanted them to be. Luckily they calmed down a bit before the wedding.

I still have my trays and gel. I'm afraid to whiten again.


I wouldn't recommend zoom to anyone.

 

[HollyS]

I'm a big tea drinker. So imagine what my teeth MIGHT look like?

I clean religiously, and had used whitening strips on occasion. Then I decided to try Crest 3-D toothpaste. HUGE difference within a couple of uses. HUGE. It really does work.

My teeth are not bright white, but they are a perfectly normal tone, without tea stains. And that's without having a professional cleaning in a year.

 

[PinkTower]

DH had his whitened once professionally. He said the pain afterward was horrific. He is very stoic about pain in general.