DIY teeth whitening
A little work can go a long way to perfecting your pearly whites.
Ultimate White Ice Sensation by Macleans, at supermarkets
Cost: $5.29
What it is: A whitening toothpaste that helps remove surface stains while protecting the teeth from cavities and tartar.
The lowdown: You have to use it every time you brush your teeth, no less than twice a day for two minutes each time.
The result: Apart from tasting great, after about a month of brushing with it, teeth were brighter and less stained.
Brilliant Kit by Gosmile, gosmilebeauty.com.au
Cost: $190
What it is: A kit that uses a combination of hydrogen peroxide ampoules and whitening toothpastes to whiten teeth.
The lowdown: After brushing with the toothpaste, you apply a gel over each tooth and leave it on.
The result: After only a few days, teeth looked whiter and after 30 days all the surface stains had disappeared and teeth glowed.
Hollywood Nights Whitening Wand by Pearl Drops, 1800 222 099
Cost: $29.99
What it is: A teeth-whitening gel that you paint on to each tooth after brushing. This pack also contains a toothpaste to help maintain whiteness after the seven-day treatment.
The lowdown: The product promises to whiten teeth by up to six shades in seven days. It’s convenient, easy to use and the transparent film that adheres to the teeth dries in seconds.
The result: It really did fade stains on teeth after a week. While stains didn’t disappear entirely, teeth did look whiter.
Vitality ProWhite Toothbrush by Oral-B, 1800 148 022
Cost: $29.95
What it is: An automated high-speed toothbrush with over 7600 oscillating rotating movements per minute.
The lowdown: The small head of the brush allows you to get into all the nooks and crannies and the rubberised bristles live up to the manufacturer’s claim of helping polish teeth.
The result: Teeth felt cleaner and more polished. For best results, use with a whitening toothpaste.
Plax Whitening Stain Prevention Mouthwash by Colgate, 1800 802 307
Cost: $7.99
What it is: A whitening mouthwash that helps prevent surface stains and tartar forming on your teeth.
The lowdown: You have to use it twice a day at the same time as your whitening toothpaste for maximum results. Like most mouthwashes, it provides 12-hour anti-bacterial protection and keeps gums healthy.
The result: It didn’t feel like it was making the teeth significantly whiter, but combined with a whitening toothpaste there was definitely less plaque and stains on the teeth.
Dos and don’ts
• Do see your dentist – whitening should always be done under supervision.
• Don’t buy bleach over the internet. Most dentists use carbamide peroxide, which is usually at 10 to 15 per cent strength. Anything stronger could erode teeth.
• Do expect some short-term sensitivity, which should ease after a few days.
• Don’t bleach your teeth if you “spit pink” after brushing. You may have gum disease and bleaching will be incredibly painful. See your dentist.
• Do eat light meals only for 24 hours after pro whitening. Because bleaching temporarily removes the protective coating, teeth are especially likely to soak up colour after a treatment. Stay away from red wine, blueberries, coffee, chocolate and other dark foods.
• Do floss, otherwise you risk leaving stain-causing substances in the crevices.
• Do upgrade to a whitening toothpaste after a treatment to keep stains at bay.
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