Scrolling through your Instagram feed, it’s inevitable to be bombarded by perfectly white smiles. I’ve sat and sighed as I scrolled through pictures of perfect teeth, because my teeth have never been dazzling white like the pictures I gawk over.
Summer is coming and there are a thousand reasons to get your teeth ready for all the candid summer photos you know you’ll be taking. Instead of feeling self-conscious of your smile as you get ready in the morning, I’m going to help you feel confident in your pearly white smile. I decided to do some research and try a few different products, to see what works the best, and to finally get the smile I’ve been dreaming about. Here’s 4 of the best ways to brighten up your teeth:
1. Smile Brilliant
I was drawn to this product because of their promise to whiten your teeth as well as you could if you went to a Dentist in Oakbrook Terrace and had them professionally whiten your teeth. As someone with the budget for pack of “whitening gum” but not quite someone who could get their teeth professionally whitened every few weeks, this product really appealed to me.
What sets this product apart (and makes it my favorite product) is that they make an exact mold of your teeth, so the whitening gel can perfectly coat every single tooth. My teeth were noticeably whiter after only one use, and they send you desensitizing gel to apply after, so you’re free to drink ice water without pain.
Worth the buck? Yay, absolutely. It’s the best teeth whitening experience you’ll get without going to a dentist, in my opinion.
2. DIY Teeth Whitening Kit
My husband tested this product out, because obviously I couldn’t see the results after trying the first product. Neither of us really noticed a big difference in the quality of the whitening gel that was sent in the kits. However, a huge disadvantage to this kit was that the molds are not customized, making it hard to white all of your teeth quickly and effectively. It also comes with a UV light, but the one that came with our kit was broken, so I can’t honestly say if that makes a difference.
Yay or nay? I would say yay. Not my top pick, but it works.
3. Mr. Blanc Teeth
Teeth whitening strips are more convenient for some people, and they’re definitely easier to use. You just ease them onto your teeth and wait before peeling them off and rinsing. With the convenience of the strips comes a slightly less effective result. And I honestly didn’t see a difference between these and the whitening strips you can find at Walmart.
Yay or nay? I’m going to say nay on this one, it’s just a fancy name for the same thing as Crest Whitening Strips (which is cheaper).
4. Activated Charcoal
The idea behind this is that you get a capsule of activated charcoal and make a paste with water, and you scrub it into your teeth. Rinse after 15-30 minutes. I would say this option works almost as well as strips, and doesn’t make your teeth sensitive. But the results don’t last that long, so if you choose to go this route, you’ll have to do it more often.
Yay or nay? This is my favorite DIY option. I’ve used it before, but it won’t give you the dazzling smile you’re hoping for.
5. DIY Baking Soda Scrub
For someone who doesn’t want to venture into the world of activated charcoal, you can try a baking soda scrub for you teeth. In all honesty, though, I’ve never had a lot of success with this. It may help if your teeth are relatively white already and you’re willing to wait a while(weeks) to get them a little lighter. The idea behind this is just to mix water and baking soda into a paste, and brush your teeth with it every day.
Yay or nay? I think that this is a good starting point, but if you want to go a DIY route, definitely go with activated charcoal (don’t let the black charcoal scare you!).
Overall, there are so many options available to us to get the teeth that we want(and deserve). I tried these four products and now you don’t have to search through dozens of products to find the one that works best for you. Keep smiling and share your favourite treatments below in the comments!
Featured image via Derek Perez on Unsplash
