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

read more. 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. Source

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:

Stained Teeth? Coffee Is Not the Only Culprit

Source

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,

read more 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?

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.

Putting a One-Hour Drugstore Teeth Whitener to the Test

Jaime Richards — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 04:30:00 PDT

Can an $8, one-hour tooth whitener really work? I had my doubts, and while Walgreens Intense 1 Hour Whitening System ($8) won't get your teeth Ross Gellar-white (not that you'd actually want glow-in-the-dark choppers), it will lighten them a few shades, all under an impressive 60 minutes. But with the good comes a bit of bad. See the full review when you read more.

The $7 Tooth Whitening Product That's Blowing Our Minds

Annie Tomlin — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 06:00:46 PST

Last week, Rembrandt sent over a box of its Deeply White toothpaste and mouthwash duo (about $7 each). It just might be the fastest whitening product I've ever tried. After using it for the first time, my chompers were gleaming. "Wook!" I cried out to my boyfriend as I swished the mouthwash. "Ome wook at my eef!"

"Your eef?" he responded.

"My teef," I said, spitting out the mouthwash and showing off a much whiter smile.

Sometimes I think I'm imagining improvements through product use, but my beau was similarly blown away by the change. He decided to try the toothpaste, too. A few minutes later, we were both staring into the mirror, marveling over how quickly the whitening duo had worked. If people were to see us, they'd think we were crazies - crazies with really white teeth. So if you demand drastic change in very little time, this might be the ticket.

Give Teeth-Whitening Pain a Kick in the, Uh, Teeth

Jaime Richards — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 04:04:05 PDT

There are many advantages to teeth whitening, the obvious being a brighter smile. But one of the biggest disadvantages to this bleaching procedure is the pain often associated with it. "The sensitivity usually happens if you leave the gel on for too long, so it can become an irritant," explains Dr. Arthur Glosman, a Beverly Hills general and cosmetic dentist.

But the main reason many people experience discomfort from teeth whitening has to do with the fact that hydrogen peroxide, the agent that helps remove stains and discolorations from teeth, has a low pH, which can cause discomfort.

At the dentist's office, a fluoride layer is used to help bring the acidity level up and therefore neutralize the H202. But for you at-homers, Dr. Glosman recommends staving off the pain by brushing with a desensitizing toothpaste prebleaching, repeating the step postbleaching as well.

And rest assured, if you're worried that whitening your choppers is damaging, Dr. Glosman clarifies, "There is no information as of right now, over the past 20 years, that it permanently damages enamel or dentin or the nerve."

Teeth Whitening: Going to the Dentist vs. DIY

Jaime Richards — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 03:05:52 PDT

"Bleaching [your teeth] is probably one of the most significant changes that you can make," says Beverly Hills-based general and cosmetic dentist Dr. Arthur Glosman. "But whenever you're going to do any type of teeth whitening, it's always best to get some kind of consultation with your dentist first." However, what are the advantages of having your dentist do it as compared to doing it yourself? While both techniques can indeed work and have their advantages, see some reasons you might get better, longer-lasting results from a professional treatment when you read more.

Brighten Your Everyday Red-Carpet Moments

Sponsor — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 03:00:00 PST

For us everyday gals, red-carpet moments happen a thousand times a day: stepping onto the subway, uploading a new Facebook profile pic, or networking a room full of potential clients. So shouldn't you be totally confident in each opportunity you have to make an impression? Yes, yes you should! And it's quick and easy, to boot. With Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitestrips, you can whiten your smile in enough time for you to make your next red-carpet moment your brightest yet. So before you hit upload on that next picture, take two hours, whiten, retake the pic, and hit upload!

For more information on Crest 3D White 2-Hour Express Whitestrips, check out their Facebook page!