Teeth Whitening

[sunflower2005]

Hi there! So recently I’ve been looking into teeth whitening, but unfortunately all of the good stuff is pretty expensive. What recommendations do y’all have for teeth whitening kits/toothpastes that actually work and are semi-cheap?

[hiwas]

I hear you. A lot of the “good” whitening stuff really is pricey, and it’s annoying when the drugstore options barely do anything.

For budget-friendly stuff that actually works, I’ve had decent results with whitening strips (just follow the instructions and don’t overdo it). Some of the toothpaste options with baking soda or peroxide can help a bit too, but don’t expect magic, they’re more for maintenance than big changes.

If you’re open to kits, I checked out Smileactives, and talking to them directly was actually helpful. Not crazy expensive, and their customer service was chill about answering questions before I bought.

Just remember to take it slow so you don’t mess with your enamel.

[axelg]

Did you find the solution to meet your budget? I have the same problem.

[RAWRitsRED]

Hi @sunflower2005!

I honestly have to say that even though teeth whitening strips works to remove stains, it's actually bad for your enamel.  The best option is to get your teeth whitened by a professional so you're not damaging your enamel permanently.

[glo10]

Teeth whitening toothpastes can help remove extrinsic/external stains on the tooth surface but generally won't be as effective at lightening the actual color of your teeth because that requires longer contact time with a peroxide-based gel as well as heat-enabled acceleration for faster results. Teeth whitening toothpastes are great for ongoing maintenance and oral health but they don't take the place of an actual teeth whitening treatment. In order to whiten your teeth and change the shade color, you need a teeth whitening product that contains hydrogen peroxide (which is both safe and effective) and that is packaged in such a way as to ensure the continued efficacy of the gel. Using a device that includes warming heat acceleration will make the gel work faster so you get faster results (like when a salon uses heat when coloring your hair). A dentist can whiten your teeth in their office in under an hour but you can also do it at home over a period of a few days for a lower cost. Yes, quality teeth whitening products that are created by a dentist and are clinically tested are more expensive but knowing that you are putting something safe and effective in your mouth is super important. And, your smile is definitely worth it 🙂

[Brutalitops]

@sunflower2005I don't have any suggestions so much as words of caution- a lot of the cheap methods I've seen like baking soda scrubs and lemon wedges can be super corrosive to your tooth enamel. In this case it might be worth the expense to save yourself the expensive dental work down the road