FitSugar

Professional Teeth Whitening: What You Should Know

FitSugar — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:00:00 PDT

Many toothpaste makers also sell over-the-counter teeth whitening strips to help make your smile dazzle. If you have severe discoloration, these strips may not give you the results you're after. That's when professional teeth whitening may cross your mind, so here are some things you should know.

Your teeth are equipped with an enamel surface that's designed to protect your teeth from the effects of coffee, smoking, wine, and aging. Over the years though, your enamel begins to wear down so it becomes more transparent, and the yellowish color of dentin (your tooth's core) begins to show through. Also with time, tiny cracks form in the enamel that allows debris and stains to sink in, which adds to the dull, grayish color.

When you have your teeth professionally whitened, the stains and debris are removed but the cracks will still remain. That means eventually your teeth will need to be whitened again to get that same desired white smile. People choose this option instead of over-the-counter whitening products because dentists have access to high-concentration peroxide gel, so you can achieve better results in a shorter amount of time. To find out what the risks of teeth whitening are

The downside to professional whitening is that this stronger whitening formula can also cause extreme tooth sensitivity and gum irritation (which can last up to a month), not to mention it's much more expensive (around $650 per dentist visit). Depending on how stained your teeth are and how they respond to the gel, it may take several visits to acquire the whiteness you're after. Plus if you have crowns or porcelain veneers, the whitening won't affect them, so you could end up with what dentists call technicolor teeth (multi-colored teeth).

Fit's Tip: Experts say that teeth whitening is safe, as long as the products are approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). If you're considering professional teeth whitening, it's best to chat with your dentist about your options.

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Are Over the Counter Teeth Whitening Products Safe?

FitSugar — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 02:30:00 PDT

It seems like just about every product having to do with your mouth shouts the word "whitening" all over it. Gums, toothpastes, mouthwashes, and whitening kits are available to make your pearly whites even whiter. Who doesn't want gleaming white teeth, right? The question is, how safe are these products?

When used as directed, these products are safe and cause minimal side effects. Although, common complaints do include tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Since teeth whiteners are not drugs, you should know that the FDA does NOT monitor them. Some products have the ADA (American Dental Association) Seal of Acceptance, which means that they have met ADA guidelines for safety and effectiveness. Only a few whitening products contain this seal, and manufacturers have to voluntarily seek acceptance.

However, only whitening toothpastes, mouthwashes and gum can receive this approval. You won't find whitening kits on their list since the ADA strongly feels that professional consultation is important to ensuring safe and effective use.

Just because a whitening product doesn't have the ADA Seal, doesn't mean it's necessarily unsafe. What things should you look for when buying an over the counter whitening kit? To find out

Look for kits that allow you to customize or mold the mouthpiece. These are better than the ones that come with a standard mouthpiece or strip, since the chemicals can irritate your gums.
Get recommendations from your dentist to see which kit brands work better than others.
Follow the directions on the package. If it says to keep it on your teeth for 30 minutes, don't leave it on for an hour.
If your gums change color, or you experience tooth sensitivity to hot or cold, stop using the product immediately.

Fit's Tips: If you are really serious about whitening your teeth and are also concerned about your safety, you should get it done professionally by your dentist. For around $300-400, they'll take impressions of your teeth and make a tray that fits your mouth perfectly, so the chemicals end up on your teeth and not on your gums. You can still whiten your teeth at home, which is great, but it'll be more effective than the store-bought kits.

Also, to keep your pearly whites as white as you can, read this: Stained Teeth? Coffee Is Not the Only Culprit. It will tell you which foods you should avoid.

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What's Your Take on Whitening Products?

BellaSugar — Thu, 09 Aug 2007 08:08:11 PDT

Whitening products are a fast-growing segment of the beauty industry in Asia, the Middle East and Africa; for many people, having light, porcelain-like skin is considered ideal. While I understand that every culture has different concepts of beauty, it saddens me to think about the number of women who inevitably think something's wrong with their dark skin. It's easy to understand why Sweetstrawberry, who lives in Korea, feels so frustrated by the narrow ideals she encounters at school.

As globalization spreads, this issue isn't likely to go away anytime soon. While some of the controversy can be attributed to cultural differences-after all, Caucasian people get spray-on tans!-you can't argue with the potential danger of certain whitening products. Those that contain hydroquinone and other mercury-based products can lead to skin blisters and burns (and, ironically, darkening). In some cases, they can lead to nerve damage and even death.

Of course, not all whitening products are worrisome. Some aren't terribly far from what you'd find in your average American Walgreens; they're just sold under a different name. These products are safe because they're not about bleaching the skin; instead, they aim to even out the complexion and protect against age spots. Yet much of the marketing language implies that dark skin is a disorder that needs to be cured. An ad for Olay White Radiance, for instance, "fights the five signs of skin darkening." Pond's just launched a White Beauty Detox product line in India last month. And then there's a Fair & Lovely commercial, whose heroine shows that without the whitening cream, she'd be a jobless, dateless loser. To see it,

So, putting aside the hilarity of that swarthy TV producer for a moment, what do you think about whitening products? Are they just filling a market demand along the lines of self-tanner for Caucasians, or are they creating a "solution" for a problem that doesn't exist?

What to Expect (Beauty-Wise) When You're Expecting

Jessica Cruel — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:07:00 PDT

Moms-to-be, we salute you. Perhaps your body is changing, and you're not quite sure if your favorite beauty treatments are allowed. In honor of today's release of What to Expect When You're Expecting, we reached out to Dr. Lindsay Cruel, OB/GYN (also known as my dad) to debunk any pregnancy beauty myths. Find out your prenatal dos and don'ts when you read more.

8 Cool Uses For Lemons

Emily Co — Wed, 16 May 2012 03:05:41 PDT

You can make more out of lemons than lemonade. In fact, lemon juice is a really useful liquid that can be used to clean your home, can treat cold symptoms, and can even be part of your beauty regimen. Here are a couple of other uses for the yellow fruit:

Wash your hands: When you're serving messy food like crabs or ribs, put out little bowls of lemon water for guests to wash the smell and gunk off their fingers.
Relieve flu symptoms: If you have a sore throat or a cough, mix lemon with honey and water for a drink that will soothe your throat.
Clean a chopping board: Add some lemon juice or use a lemon slice to wipe the chopping board to deodorize and sanitize it.
Lighten blemishes: If you have some blemishes or you notice your face darkening in pigment in some spots, put some lemon juice on it every day until it lightens.
Brighten white loads: To make the whites even brighter, add a quarter cup of lemon juice with the clothes that you throw into the washing machine.
Brighten fingernails: Soak your fingernails in a lemon water mixture to whiten and brighten them.
Freshen household equipment: Make your appliances fresh by adding lemon juice or lemons to them. For example, microwave slices of lemons to freshen it up. Add lemon juice to the dishwasher when it's empty and let it run a cycle and clean itself with the lemon juice. Add a bit of lemon juice to the humidifier or vacuum bag if those appliances are getting a little smelly and old.
Disinfect wounds: Stop bleeding and clean small cuts and scrapes with lemon juice.

12 Items You Should Not Buy in Bulk

Emily Co — Wed, 02 May 2012 11:50:34 PDT

When grocery shopping, there are certain items you should buy in bulk to get that discounted price that will save you money. However, if you pick the wrong items, you may end up wasting cash if you don't use them up before their expiration date. Here are a couple of items you should refrain from buying in bulk:

Baking powder. If you don't bake all the time, you might want to skip out on buying baking powder in bulk, as it lasts up to six months to a year.
Beer. If you're buying beer in bulk for a party, know that the beverage lasts for just three to six months. You might want to limit yourself and make sure that you're not buying too much.
Bleach. Don't buy too much bleach at one time, as this cleaning agent has a relatively short shelf life of three to six months. It starts to degrade after the six-month mark and loses its effectiveness.
Brown rice. People assume that brown rice has a long shelf life and can be stored for as long as possible. In actuality, brown rice doesn't last too long - just six months - because of its oil content.
Candy and unhealthy snacks. Although you may save money buying candy and unhealthy snacks in bulk, having a lot of these items around may cause you to overeat, which will be a detriment to your health. Saving money is not worth the cost to your health.
Cooking oil. You'd be surprised to learn that cooking oil has a shelf life of about a year. Oils and fats tend to go bad really quickly, so that's a factor to keep in mind when shopping. If you buy too much cooking oil, some of the oil may go rancid, which is said to cause increased rates of heart disease, cancer, and other health problems. You definitely want to make sure the oil you have is fresh.

Read on for more items not to buy in bulk.

Want to Look Like Kate Middleton? Here's What It Might Cost

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 11:26:47 PDT

One year after her royal nuptials, Kate Middleton, Duchess of Cambridge, always looks lovely and put together. So it's no surprise that many women are clamoring to mimic her style. Obviously, her good looks were handed down from her parents, but constantly being so well groomed requires a serious beauty regimen. While nobody but Kate knows her exact routine, we've uncovered a few products and treatments that are said to be her favorites - and added up the costs. As you can imagine, looking princess-perfect costs a pretty penny. Read on to see the breakdown.

See the Results of the Teeth Whitening Challenge

Real Beauty — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 12:47:02 PDT

We can't find a soul who doesn't want whiter teeth. Good or bad, the market's flush with different at-home trays, strips, gels, and pastes. We found a team of volunteers to test them out.

Source: Flickr User Micaela Elizabeth Photography

Amanda Peet Talks Teeth Whitening, Traveling, and Green Hair

Jaime Richards — Thu, 17 Mar 2011 04:01:30 PDT

Since bursting into the scene in the mid-1990s, Amanda Peet has starred in everything from TV shows to independent films to megahits like 2012 and Something's Gotta Give. Now, she has a new gig as the spokesperson for Crest 3D White.

"I personally think that the 2-Hour Express Whitestrips ($54) are such a great beauty tip because I think that having a really stainless smile is an underemphasized part of our beauty regimens, " she says.

She obviously has a great smile, so to see the rest of her tips on how she keeps it looking beautiful, along with a few of her beauty tips, keep reading.

White Is the New Black

Sponsor — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 03:00:00 PDT

To celebrate the launch of the newest Crest 3D White Intensive Professional Effects Whitestrips and bring bright smiles to the runway at New York Fashion Week 2012, Crest 3D White Whitestrips partnered with Gen Art, an arts and entertainment organization dedicated to showcasing emerging talent, to give designers the standout moment of a lifetime with the Crest 3D White Little White Wardrobe Design Competition and presentation at Gen Art New Garde.

As part of the competition, emerging fashion designers were challenged to create a glamorous and radiant collection inspired by the must-have beauty accessory of Fashion Week, a beautiful smile! Fashion designers from across the country submitted their looks, but it was Wen Shi from New York City who outshined them all and was awarded the opportunity to showcase her capsule collection inspired by Crest 3D White Whitestrips and their newest product, Intensive Professional Effects, which whitens as well as a $500 professional laser treatment on the runway at Gen Art New Garde.