A lot of people ask me what I use to whiten my teeth, so I've decided to write a review on what products I have come across and what ones have worked the best for me.
Back in 2011, my obsession with teeth whitening began! Being a bit addicted to make-up and vibrant lipsticks, I really noticed the difference between lipstick against white teeth and lipstick against yellow or stained teeth. Getting your teeth whitened was something that few people did, a bit like plastic surgery, too expensive and definitely not a priority! But after watching a few American make-up gurus on YouTube, I noticed that they all had amazingly white teeth! So I decided to investigate, surely not everyone could afford to pay the huge sum at the dentists?
I soon discovered that the good old Americans had in fact found a cheap and mainstream way to whiten teeth at home. The most common way to whiten teeth was to buy a gel which usually came with a cap you molded your tooth shape in to. I told my mum of my latest beauty addict discovery, so when my birthday came around, I received the magic potion that was the 'Dr. George's Dental White' kit.
I hadn't heard of this brand as, like I said, it was American, but it looked promising with 'featured on Oprah' printed boldly on the box. So off I went, determined to get those minty white teeth! The taste at first was hard to ignore but if you really want something, you put up with things like that! The trick with whitening your teeth at home is to be consistent. It takes patience and dedication as the formula isn't as strong as it is at a dentists. I left the gel on for an hour every night for 2-3 weeks, at first I didn't notice a difference as its a gradual process, but people kept commenting on how white my teeth had become. So I did the lipstick test and put on a deep red to see if my teeth glowed like my YouTube idols..... and they did! It worked!
Once you get them to that whiteness, they basically stay like it! I left mine for 2 years and then decided to get 'Crest 3D White strips' (another popular product in America & non existent in the U.K), just to re-fresh my smile. (OCD?) ... The strips work just as well and are definitely easier and more comfortable. You don't get the gel seeping out as its just a kind of tape you glue to your teeth for an hour.
The main side effect of any good teeth whitener is sensitivity. I noticed with the strips, the next day my teeth would feel really sensitive and a little bit painful, I later realised it was because the strip went over the tops of my bottom set of teeth, so I cut the strip down just so it didn't over lap the tops and that seemed to solve my problem.
DIY teeth whitening kits are so worth the money, on average they sell for £30-£50, a fraction of a dentist's price, and I still have the gel left over from my first Dr.George's box which I can mix with my toothpaste for a subtle whitening top up. Just be sure to do your research, and stay away from cheap, off the shelf products. They are usually cheap for a reason!
I hope this review has helped ! Feel free to comment if you have any questions :)
-Robyn <3
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