I signed up for a Groupon about a month ago. I got the Boost teeth whitening system at a dental office for $99 -- a really good price for something that generally costs triple that.
I had already gotten fitted for the custom trays and have the bleach at home but I wanted something a bit more instant and all done in one go. Normally I would stick with the custom trays but the deal was too good to pass up.
The process is pretty simple. You have an enormous object placed inside your mouth so your mouth is as wide as the Joker's smile. It's on the uncomfortable side, especially since it wants to make you swallow saliva every 10 seconds.
The dental hygienist places a rubbery kind of barrier all around your gum lines so the bleach stays off them. It hardens pretty quickly. Then on goes the bleach which is changed every 20 minutes because it's only effective for that long.
After three applications, it's taken off, the barriers pop off, you rinse and off you go. All done in about 75 minutes.
And my teeth are nicely white. Not that unnatural Hollywood beam of light that emits from the mouths of some actors and actresses. Just a white smile that looks really good.
But after several hours, the tooth sensitivity has kicked in and I'm absolutely miserable. This is pain! I'm keeping my mouth closed, not talking much because when air goes in my mouth it's even more sensitive.
I looked up the side effects of this kind of whitening and yes, some people do have a rather painful reaction to the process.
Advil hasn't helped me at all but it seems I only (!) have another 24 hours to go before the pain subsides. I think I'll have an early night, just to make the time goes by faster.
A definite con in teeth whitening.
Teeth whitening has been around since the 1960s but has really increased in popularity since the 1990s. It seems like nearly every toothpaste has some kind of "whitening" component to it and all sort of white strips, gels and trays abound.
Custom-made trays are common and cost between $300-$400 but can last for life. The bleach that goes in them is under $10 and is already prepared in a squirty little tube. For those with very stained or brown teeth, seven or eight applications may be necessary.
For those whose teeth have less staining, three or four one-hour treatments may be all that's needed. The good part is that unlike a one-time, intensive bleaching session, treatments can be spread out to minimize the kind of sensitivity I'm going through now.
Strips that have bleach attached are one of the cheapest ways to whiten teeth and they are quite effective although they need to be done over time and are a bit messy to deal with.
They cost anywhere from $15-$60 depending on their strength and how many strips are included.
Whitening toothpastes don't cost significantly more than regular toothpastes but they only remove light, surface stains.
I checked into possible dangers of tooth whitening. My kind is very strong and only needs to be done every two to three years. Too much whitening can actually discolor the teeth and cause very uncomfortable sensitivity.
The American Dental Association (ADA) reminds us that whitening won't work for everyone. Teeth that look gray don't tend to bleach well, nor do brown teeth. Yellowed teeth get the best results.
People who have had certain dental procedures may not be good candidates. The ADA warns that "if you have had bonding or tooth-colored fillings placed in your front teeth the whitener will not affect the color of these materials, and they will stand out in your newly whitened smile."
It's also important to note that even though white teeth look like a "healthy smile", proper dental care is required so that teeth and gums remain strong and healthy.
Joanna Karpasea-Jones wrote for EmpowHER that "paradoxically, dental products may also discolor your teeth. If you use mouthwashes containing cetylpyridinium chloride it can stain. Mercury amalgam fillings can also make your teeth go gray and if you use fluoride too much, such as fluoride toothpaste, mouthwash or supplements then it can stain your teeth."
In her article Teeth Whitening: An Overview, she noted that there may be more risks than just sensitivity.
Studies have shown a possible link between the free radicals used in whitening products and cancer in mice. Karpasea-Jones stated that "although studies into cancer and teeth whitening products did NOT prove an absolute link, research authors stated that as they were capable of causing free radicals and had 'carcinogenic potential', further research should be done with people that have teeth whitening."
It has been a few days since I began this article. I was pain-free after about 36 hours, so in retrospect, it was worth it for me.
Teeth whitening isn't for all people and not all people are interested in having white teeth. But for those that do, it's worth checking into all the options and ensuring that their teeth are healthy and good candidates for whitening before proceeding. Generally, the results are well worth the discomfort and can be a great boost for self-esteem.
Sources:
Mouth Healthy/The American Dental Association. Whitening. Web. Retrieved October 13th 2013.
http://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/w/whitening
EmpowHER.com. Dental and Oral Health. Teeth Whitening: An Overview. Web. Retrieved October 13th 2013.
https://www.empowher.com/dental-amp-oral-health/content/teeth-whitening-...
Reviewed October 15, 2013
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith