In search of a red-carpet-ready smile, the madison team test the latest teeth-whitening treatments.
1. Opalescence tooth Whitening System, $450, at Finkelstein Dental Centre, 02 9232 3900, sydneycitydental.com.au.
What is it? This at-home treatment is applied inside custom-made moulds. Carbamide peroxide – the treatment’s main ingredient – is broken down, allowing oxygen to enter the tooth and
to bleach stained surfaces.
TREATMENT: 25 minutes twice daily for one week.
THE VERDICT: “I have definitely noticed an improvement in the colour of my teeth and I feel much more confident wearing this season’s traffic-stopping lipstick shades.”
2. Visible White toothpaste, $7.99, by Colgate, at supermarkets.
What is it? The Rolls Royce of Colgate toothpaste, it has been formulated with WhiteProtect crystals which help blast away tough surface stains.
TREATMENT: Daily use.
VERDICT: “I had my teeth professionally whitened a year ago, and while this paste doesn’t claim to deliver those same results, it maintains the whiteness that can easily diminish with daily coffees.”
3. PelactivBright, $179, 1800 655 745, by Pelactiv, pelactiv.com.au.
What is it? Carbamide peroxide – a gentle cleaning agent roughly a third of the strength of hydrogen peroxide – is used in this procedure. Under supervision, you simply pop in a mouthguard and lie back while an LED is applied. Results last up to two years.
TREATMENT: One 20-minute session. A PelactivBright Pen ($50) can be purchased for additional touch ups.
THE VERDICT: “Other whitening treatments have left my gums sore, but this was painless and made my smile two shades lighter. Friends have commented on how good my teeth look.”
4. Bright Kit, $39.95, by Rapid White, 02 9526 0777, rapidwhite.com.au.
What is it? This at-home treatment aims to whiten teeth without peroxide.
TREATMENT: Five minutes, twice daily for at least 14 days.
VERDICT: “The DIY process concerned me at first (‘What if I bite down too hard and give myself streaky white teeth?’), but after dipping the whitening trays in boiling water, I realised they mould perfectly to teeth and thus reduce the risk of streaking. After applying
the gel for two weeks, I saw a definite lightening in tooth colour.”
5. Vitality ProWhite toothbrush, $31.49, by Oral-B, 1800 148 022, oralb.com.au.
What is it? This rechargeable toothbrush boasts 7600 oscillating-rotating movements per minute and polishes each tooth to help remove stubborn surface stains.
TREATMENT: Twice daily.
VERDICT: “Compared to my regular manual toothbrush, my teeth felt more thoroughly cleaned. While my teeth are a little whiter, the effects so far are subtle. I have, however, received two compliments in the past week about
my teeth looking brighter.”