Have any of you used BriteSmile?

[LocaChica]

If you haven't seen the infomercial, it's a whitening job done at a dentist's office or a BriteSmile location. It whitens the teeth up to 9 shades (I need it, my teeth are orange, which is my they're not showing in my pic) :p The procedure takes about an hour and the teeth supposedly remain white for 2-3 years. The cost varies from one location to the next, the cheapest I've seen it around here is $450. I have a free consultation on Thursday to see if I qualify. I have the cash, why shouldn't I? LOL I guess they gotta see if my TEETH are good candidates.

Have any of you done this? If so, are you happy with the results? thanks! ;)


I want my teeth to look like this ----> :D

[cashhound]

I'm interested in what you find out. My teeth are...um...not quite as white as I'd like them. OK, OK...I drink too much coffee and I smoke :(

I'd really like to try something.....



(but not giving up coffee or smoking....that's lunacy :D )

[LocaChica]

I'll be sure to let you know what I'm told. :) I haven't been to a dentist in a while :( I may need some work done before they do the whitening :(

[whitequeen96]

I'm 95% sure this is what my sister did 10 days ago. She said she saw it on TV, and described it exactly like you did (1 hour, up to 9 shades, about $500). She said it really takes 3 hours, because they have to keep setting up separate bleaching sessions. (You have multiple bleaching sessions during your one visit to the office.) They warned her that she might get a "shock" feeling now and then, as if she had bitten on tin foil with her fillings. She said she got LOTS of them!

But then, when she left, the shocks increased in intensity! She went to the grocery store afterwards (you can only eat and drink CLEAR items, such as 7-up, for 12 hours afterwards), and she said the shocks were so bad that she was moaning out loud in the store. She couldn't stop from moaning, even when the cashier checked her out. She rushed home and took some radical pain killers she had left from surgery (I can't remember the name of them, but they're the kind that all the stars get addicted to), and that wasn't strong enough. She finally took a shot of whiskey (which she hates), even though she knew it was a bad idea with the pain killer. She said she didn't care if she died, at that point! She had a terrible night, and she says that the results were already fading by the next day! When she called the dentist about that, he told her that can happen. It is now about 10 days later, and she says they're only about 1/2 shade lighter (and she used to smoke and drink a lot of coffee), and it sure was NOT WORTH IT! So definitely talk to someone who has gone through it before you do. All that pain, all that money and time, for practically nothing.

[LocaChica]

aaack!! 8o 8o Sure sounds like the same thing I described. Will you ask her to find out for certain? I sure WON'T do it if it's gonna be painful! yikes!

thanks for the info, whitequeen :)

[whitequeen96]

I called my sister last night, and it WAS BrightSmile! And it took closer to 4 hours to do. She said her teeth weren't that yellow to begin with (despite the smoking and coffee), so maybe it would make a bigger difference in your teeth. But she said she definitely wishes she had NEVER done it! The PAIN was just too awful! 8o

[LocaChica]

oh sheesh! Just when I thought I found a good way to whiten my teeth :( oh well... yellow teeth aren't so bad, are they? LOL They're not THAT bad. I just see NEON WHITE on tv and I thought I'd like mine like that. (ok, not TOO white, but you get the idea)

thanks for the info. ;)

[kat]

Ok.. stupid question, but have you tried a Sonicare toothbrush yet?

I used to smoke (quit years ago) & still drink way too much coffee, plus I'm older, so I had those dingy yellow stains on my teeth too. :( And, being a diabetic puts me at a higher risk for gum diseases, so I'm always trying to keep one step ahead of any problems.

This toothbrush has really made a big difference in how my teeth look (not to mention that they feel as clean as if I've been to the dentist). I got my first sample brush from StartSampling awhile back & then ordered one from Amazon. I know they might look expensive at first (the Sonicare starts at $69.99 & replacement heads are around $15), but I think it's well worth it. I went in for a check up last week & my dentist noticed the difference too (this after he told me that the type of toothbrush I used wouldn't make a difference - hmmm... I think he was saving that box of samples for himself :P ).

[ninjarascal]

If you're looking for a cheap option, I just did those Crest WhiteStrips, they go for $40 normally but you can probably find some sort of deal online.

This is what they are:
[url]http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?pid=69313&catid=19320&trx=GFI-0-EVGRTS-FI&trxp1=19320&trxp2=69313&trxp3=1&btrx=BUY-GFI-0-EVGRTS-FI[/url]

It takes a while, 2-30 minute sessions a day (you can do them one after the other), 14 days on top, and then 14 days on bottom. But my teeth were a few shades lighter, and it made a HUGE difference. I drink a ton of coffee, and my teeth were really getting yellow.

Just a suggestion for those of you who don't want to spend a lot of money.

About Sonicare: This is a GREAT product! If you want a cheaper brush, the Braun version runs between $50-70 and has the same capabilities. Make sure you get the vibrating AND rotating one.

=)

[Brittwoman]

I got the sonic care toothbrush also from SS and after 1 month of use I noticed a slight difference. For my anniversary my DH bought me one because I was to cheap to buy it for myself and I really see a difference now after 4 months of steady use! Even my dentist noticed a difference in color and my gum condition!:D Sonic Care and good oral hygiene are by far the best!

[LocaChica]

thanks for the info! No, I haven't tried Sonicare. SS didn't offer me a sample. Apparently they're prejudiced against CATS-- perhaps they think I can't hold the toothbrush up with my paw?

I was also thinking of the Crest Whitestrips but if not applied correctly it could get onto my gums and make them hurt! (cause sensitivity to hot and cold is what I read) plus I want results NOW. I didn't want to have to wait 2 weeks to see if it works or not. :( I'm so impatient.

So for now I'll look into the toothbrushes--one that vibrates and rotates and twists and turns and dances and sings :D :)
again, thanks Kat, Ninjarascal and Britt! :) :D

[autumn96]

Here's another vote for sonic care...

My teeth are pretty white, not yellowed. I do drink coffee but only started a couple of years ago so I guess it hasn't taken a toll yet, and I've never smoked. I go to the dentist faithfully every six months and usually just need a cleaning. But everyone would like whiter teeth! So when I started using the sonic care (about 3 months ago) I immediately noticed a cleaner feeling, like you just had your teeth cleaned by the dentist, AND, in about a month or so I noticed that they really looked whiter. My last dentist appointment was just a couple of weeks ago, and both my hygenist and my doctor commented on the difference too. When I told him I used the sonic care, he said he did too!

So, it might take longer... and I don't know if toothpast matters (I use mentadent whitening) but you might try the sonic care for a couple of months before investing in what might be a painful and/or uneffective procedure.

Good Luck with whichever decision you make:)

[whitequeen96]

Oprah was doing a show on her favorite things, and the Sonicare toothbrush was on her list! So maybe I'll give it a try, now that I've had your feedback here!

[snooze14]

I have heard that some of the home whitening products are almost as effective as the ones done in the dentists office except that they are less expensive. A lot less expensive....

I have tried Plus+White 5 Minute teeth whiter gel. Directions say to use twice a day for at least two weeks. I have noticed that it removes stains and whitens teeth.

I would be leary of spending hundreds of $$$ on something that you could do at home for a few dollars. Just my opinion though...:)

[jen6889]

Sorry to "Dig" this post back up but just got August's copy of Self magazine yesterday and read something in it under Beauty Flash (pg. 38 ) that made me think of you Loca!

It says here "Chomping on cucumbers, celery, artichokes and carrots will lighten your teeth naturally" Says Dr. so and so in NYC. It goes on to say " Chewing these hard veggies increases saliva production, which flushes out color-staining bacteria and leaves a film of moisture that prevents new stains from sticking."
Hmmmmmmmmm.......... I could force myself to eat these veggies if it really does lighten your teeth. If anybody tries this, let us know if it works.