Teeth Whitening- 5 Ways I Whiten My Teeth At Home
Ever since I discovered teeth whitening kits in high school I have been a little bit crazy about whitening my teeth. I'm no saint about it- I still drink plenty of Crystal Light and Diet Coke, but I do love white teeth! I've tried most of the over-the-counter whitening kits and also used the custom whitening trays from the dentist. Today I've got my best teeth whitening recommendations for you.
1. If you are on the hunt for a new dentist and you have a few choices- look for one that offers free teeth whitening as a new patient. This service is expensive so if you can get it for free, from a well reviewed dental office, do it. I see offers like this all of the time, but you can always ask around. Custom whitening trays from the dentist are high strength and have always worked really well for me- although they use a gel that can squirt out of the tray and doesn't taste great.
2. Buy teeth whitening strips from the store. There are plenty of brands and strengths, but when I want to whiten my teeth I find that I want them whitened that day- not in 10 days. So I think its best to just go for the one or three day strips. I found the 3D Crest Whitestrips LUXE at Sam's Club for the best price. They also came with a whitening toothpaste which I found I liked.
These strips have really improved over the years. They go on very tightly now with no gel feeling. They stick well to your teeth and you can almost drink with them in. I've found they don't get excess gel on my gums which used to be a problem. These strips take 30 minutes and I can tell a visible difference after that amount of time.
3. Use a whitening toothpaste. I always use a whitening toothpaste and find that they help with the upkeep between whitening sessions. My favorite is Colgate Optic White, but I just tried the Crest 3D White LUXE and liked it as well. It isn't as spicy (as my kids would say).
5. Try home remedies like rising with Hydrogen Peroxide. I've tried this when I don't have strips on hand and I think there is something to it. I usually swish a cap-full at night and it doesn't taste too bad. I've never tried brushing with baking soda- but apparently it's a thing too.
Bonus #6. Use self tanner and use cool toned lipstick to make your teeth appear whiter. I don't wear a lot of lipstick, but I do use self tanner and it helps!
I know some people have issues with whitening because of teeth sensitivity and I'm not sure how to help there. I don't have sensitive teeth but if I whitened too often sometimes I can feel it in my teeth. I would say I whiten my teeth once or twice a month and I use whitening toothpaste daily.
Do you whiten your teeth? What are your tricks and tips?
