Do you whiten your teeth?

Whitening your teeth is one way to shave ten years off and a bright vibrant smile is the first thing people notice. You teeth are the giveaway as to the socio economic class you were born into.

Who cares during Covid? Can people really see how white your teeth are in low def Zoom?

I'm doing so right now! White Strips are worth every dollar (tho the drugstore knock offs work too).

[quote] Who cares during Covid? Can people really see how white your teeth are in low def Zoom?

Covid is over in the US, but the UK is facing an extended lockdown so it depends where you are.

Same R3. They work so well. I'm using the ones for sensitive teeth.

I did whiten my teeth (dentist) a long time ago. Happy with the results. It really is a cheap way to look better. Can't go too far, though. My sister's teeth are so white they're almost blue. It looks obvious if you go too far.

The British thing made me laugh op.

It is interesting. I spent a summer abroad there. I had a British friend in my classes who was a self-described metro sexual (a straight one.) Tanning, hair gelled to the max, great designer clothes yet gnarly teeth.

What surprised me was some of the other kids told me he came from an extremely wealthy background. Braces? I guess they just don't care about them.

R5, how long does it last though? You said you did it years ago and they're still that white?

I know it's probably not worth it, but I was looking at 'Shiny Smile', one of those companies that does those removable veneers. I admit I saw a girl on youtube who had them, and they looked really good on her. However when I saw other girls try them, it didn't look as realistic.

Considering this because it would kill 3 birds with one stone (whiten, hide a small chip on my front tooth, and conceal a gap that wasn't there last year....)

Look at Williams chompers. They are like a brownish-gray and look like they could go through a large apple in one bite. I love the Brits, but they do make fun of our "unnatural teeth", so it's all in good fun.

Funny poll OP but you know that a lot of British people have better teeth than Americans these days right?

What is it with you Americans’ obsession with teeth and bathing?

Oh honey @ R9. No. They really don't.

That horsey bitch who stole my Oscar could eat corn on the cob thru a picket fence.

[quote] [R5], how long does it last though? You said you did it years ago and they're still that white?

R7, it lasts as long as it doesn't get stained. Yes, it's amazing that I haven't had to do a touch-up for so many years. I didn't use Crest White Strips, though. My dentist made bite molds and gave me the whitener to put into the bite molds. Then you soak your teeth in the bite molds / whitener.

I do drink coffee and Diet Coke.

I would recommend teeth-whitening if it's bothering you at all.

When was the last time you visited the UK though R11? I was genuinely surprised at how good British teeth were. They do a more natural version of American teeth which are less in your face.

Be less white, OP. Have a Coke and a smile!

Scottish here. I have several colleagues who have gone to Turkey for cheap dental implants. They look like horses with blindingly white teeth. It’s not just an American thing any more.

More American racism.

What teeth?

"British people have better teeth than Americans these days right? "

"Oh honey @ [R9]. No. They really don't. "

This woman is from one of the wealthiest families in the world who spent her entire life in the public spotlight...

You'd think she would have done something about those teeth, but noooo

Even the hot ones have bad teeth.

And the beautiful ones.

What's the best brand of strips these days? I do use a whitening gel in my toothpaste but I need to ramp it up a bit. The Rembrandt used to work really well years ago, the one with the small tubes of whitening paste.

R16) there’s a difference between chiclet teeth (dental veneers or implants that look like perfectly square white teeth) vs. dental artistry that is done by a cosmetic dentist. I had my top six teeth capped (the social six) and my dentist said he would not do neon white. They look amazing and i wish I would have gone in debt to do it sooner. It totally changed my look and the way people respond to me.

R9 is correct - statistically, the British do have better condition teeth on average than Americans, plus they have more of them.

Americans don’t seem to realise that the UK has free or heavily subsidised dental treatment on the NHS.

R19, R20, gross but who are they? Why would we care about obscure British celebs?

Are you kidding, R25? R19 is a perennial DL fav.....Henry Cavill and R20 is Keira Knightley. Hardly obscure.

Back around 1999 I became slightly addicted to whitening. I bought a ginormous kit from the dentist (the good stuff back then, not OTC). I think it was supposed to last like a year but I went through it in less than a month. When I went back for more they wouldn’t sell me more, the hygienist told me to stop & said my teeth were starting to look fake. Everyone would say my teeth were really white but I didn’t see it. At work I’d hold a post-it next to my teeth & that was literally the color I saw. A coworker said I have “dental dysmorphia” but I think she made it up. I went on a rollercoaster & in the pic they take it looks like my teeth were glowing, but I don’t see that in real life. Around this time I went to a party @ drank some red wine, my teeth were stained purple for a few hours, I think from the over whitening. Now I just use White Strips every couple yrs, even in my off-years my dentist tells me my teeth look really white, but I think she’s just saying that.

R22, how in debt are we talking? My natural color is just not going to bleach out to anything spectacular, partially because I have super sensitive teeth.

[quote] I have several colleagues who have gone to Turkey for cheap dental implants. They look like horses with blindingly white teeth. It’s not just an American thing any more.

Those are veneers. They make everybody look like horses, even Americans, and they are very transformative to the face. A lot of actresses (Hillary Duff comes to mind) got veneers and they just look terrible.

I've done the Brite Smile back in the early aughts. It was very expensive and I used my Dad's emergency CC. He was pissed when he got the bill!!!! The dentist uses this high power light while your lips are pried open. It was pretty painful and didn't last very long. I am just using Crest White strip. Use the whole box and then just do once a month for maintenance. They are about $40-ish a box.

Teeth can be a deal breaker when dating. I don't care, but a lot of guys have a thing for nice teeth and will write it in their profiles.

R28- approx 2k per tooth.

It is not that such much, R31. Not even for a top LA dentist.

R13, thanks for the information.

Ironically, my dentist just sent out a special he's doing, a $100 off whitening treatment. I have a lot of questions for him but I'm looking forward to doing this otherwise, especially if it will make me feel more confident post-masks. I've heard of BriteSmile (mentioned above), Zoom, etc. so I'm curious to see what he plans on doing.

I do love a latte and hot tea come winter though; afraid I'll have to give this up and other foods due to my teeth...

I bet Danielle Pintauro's teeth now look like Indian corn from all that meth. That's the least white thing about her.

I've always had a problem with yellow teeth. In fact, the bottom ones have a line across them and they're gray below that. A dentist told me it probably had to do with some vaccination I had as a kid. No amount of whitening will do anything. I've had dentists do it, I've had laser procedures, nothing. I'd have to get veneers and I can't afford that. But now I'm old, so I'm just resigned to it. It sucks.

Last time used Whitestrips the result wasn’t great and the price keeps going up - How much is it to get teeth whitened at the dentist?

Who can see your teeth anyway with a mask?

Off-white teeth were all the rage during the American revolution.

Does anyone know how the costs compare with store bought whitening products versus going to the dentist? I had cataracts removed 2 weeks ago and can now clearly see how discoloured my teeth are. I’d like to whiten them if possible. I’m ashamed of their appearance. I’m in my 50s.

R39, I finally gave Crest WhiteStrips a try this past September and I have to say I'm very pleased with the results.

There is quite a variety to choose from, so I'm linking the ones I purchased ($39.99 then a $5 coupon at Target). Only needed to keep them on for 30 minutes. Depending on how stained your teeth are, there are different levels of whitening; I would go up a level next time when I do this, probably next fall since it will be a year, but I still think the level I went with worked great. I definitely saw an improvement.

Keep in mind if you have any veneers or crowns/caps, it will not whiten them. I have two, but they're towards the back so this was not an issue.

My own dentist was running a 'special' of $100 off Zoom over the summer, and that was $500 with the discount. I obviously went the less-expensive route, and I don't regret it.

I drink coffee, grape and cranberry juice and red wine and use Rembrandt whitening toothpaste several times a week and it works fine. The result is not super white nor dingy.

PS when using the Rembrandt spit it out after brushing but, wait a minute or so before rinsing.

I find that toothpaste that promises whitening doesn’t have any effect. Thanks R40-R42 for your feedback. It’s probably wiser to try the less expensive route first to see if it works.