Metal Mouth Message Board

Note: You should NOT whiten your teeth when you are wearing braces! Either whiten them before the braces are put on, or after they are removed!

Now that my braces are off, I've had a chance to try a few different at-home whitening kits.

The good news is: you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars at your dentist to get really nice results. Most of the kits available at your local drugstore will do a good job, because the concentration of active ingredients is the same, or close to, what dentists use.

Most kits use is Carbamide Peroxide to whiten the teeth. The stronger the solution of this ingredient, the more rapid and dramatic the results will be. However, when you start getting above about 15% strength, the chemical can cause your gums to tingle or even "burn." And, it may cause tooth sensitivity (i.e., minor pain or hot/cold discomfort).

I bought the Rembrant 2-Hour Whitening Kit, which comes with two silicone trays you can heat and shape to your teeth. I didn't use it as directed (for 2-3 straight hours) because my gums were just too sensitive to the gel, which is 18.5% Carbamide Peroxide. I used it for about 40 minutes the first day, then for 20 minutes per day for several more days in a row. This helped alleviate some of the sensitivity but still produced nice results. At first, my teeth appeared rather "streaked," but this evened out after a day or two, leaving an improved, whiter smile.

I had a syringe of 16% whitening gel which I got as a sample at a dental show. I was curious, so I used it for the recommended hour. Even though the product strength was only 2.5% weaker, it made a big difference on my gums -- no burning or tingling with the 16%! However, I had to wear the trays for a longer period of time.

Finally, I got some Crest Whitestrips (Supreme) from my dentist. The Supreme strips have a 14% Hydrogen Peroxide solution (as compared to about 8% for the "Professional" strength strips you can buy in the drugstore). The strips are easy to apply, and you wear them in 30-minute intervals, but sometimes they feel like they're slipping off your teeth, and this can be rather annoying. However, the Whitestrips didn't leave my gums or teeth feeling sensitive, and there were no white streaks, either. It just left my smile looking a bit whiter, with a very even tone.

In conclusion -- before you rush out to the store to buy an at-home whitening kit, do some homework. Find out:

1. What ingredient does your "kit of choice" use: Hydrogen Peroxide or Carbamide Peroxide?

2. What is the strength the Peroxide solution? (If it doesn't say on the package, call the company's 800 number or visit their website to find out).

3. How long do you need to wear the tray/strip to produce results?

4. How sensitive are your teeth/gums. My dentist said (and I believe he is right about this...): a weaker solution worn for a longer period of time will produce good results with less sensitivity. Hint: if your teeth are extremely sensitive, brush with a toothpaste like Sensodyne for at least two weeks before whitening.

Lynn, I was wondering about the whitening strips. I have never used them but it seem to me they would not do a very good job at the sides / between the teeth. Do they fit on the teeth well enough to get in all the spaces?

You can "flatten" them so that they reach between some of the teeth. But I suppose if you really want the whitening to get between the teeth, a gel would work better.

The strips are really thin...membrane thin.

Great advice Lynn!

I tried the original Crest White Strips when they first came out a few years ago. My teeth are just too crooked for them to work properly. The strips never stayed on my teeth! Now that I am braced, I might be able to use them in 2 years when my sentence is up! By then, there will likely be some new fangled product. Ironically, I went to my new dentist with plans to have him do a Zoom whitening on my teeth. He sent me to the ortho instead!!! He told me to save my $$$ on the whitening and get braces FIRST!

I decided to expand this post into an article, which will appear in January's update of ArchWired. The new article has a lot more info, so be sure to check it out!

Would it be safe to use crest vivid white toothpast with braces on?

Most dentists recommend that you don't use whitening toothpaste when you have braces on.

Darn!

Hi! In reference to the whitening toothpaste - I asked my ortho assistant and she said it was fine to use it (I used the whitening expressions because it tastes yummy! Not necessarily for the whitening). She even said it could be good because it will prevent the exposed tooth from staining so that it wouldn't leave white squares in the spots where the brackets are (meaning that the tooth around the bracket will stay just as white as the tooth under the bracket). I expressed my concern (the same as everyone else has on this board) about it whitening my teeth and leaving yellow squares below my brackets but she said that those toothpastes don't do much whitening. I am wondering - does this seem correct? I believe her because that is what she does - I am not an expert in this in any way. I was just wondering if anyone has experienced any different though?

I just read your article, Lynn. Thanks for doing all of that research.

Thanks for the info. It was very helpful.

Hi! I'm really concerned most about getting streaky teeth, the level of whiteness doesn't bother me that much I just DON'T WANT STREAKS lol, so what would be best for this-a gel or strip? I don't care if it takes longer or anything, I don't need movie star white teeth I just want them to be streak-free.
Thanks! Eve

YES!!! i dont want streaks either!!! even tho i havent gotten my braces on yet ...well after i get them off i dont know what to use...gel or strips????

I had braces on for nearly 6 years with average (or less at times) hygeine (ewwwwwwwwww I say now that I'm obsessive about it...). I have one tooth with such a small spot of demineralization no one but me and the ortho can see it. I have no other marks that show I had braces, which is SO cool to me because I only drink Dr pepper. It's rare for me to drink anything but pop. Granted, I was blessed with super healthy teeth and have never had a cavity. I suspect I have a tiny one on a molar though, the molar band on that tooth was loose so it's probably needing some TLC from the dentist, but that's not too bad considering I'm 21 and *most* adults have had a cavity. I forgot the stat....

As for whitening, don't buy store brand white strips. They are HUGE, not thin like the crest brand. I only used it a couple times and gave up. I got rembrandt professional white and like it but it did cause temporary white spots that looked like demineralization. They were gone in a few hours though. I may have my dentist, when I finally get my COBRA plan sorted out, do in office whitening or make me trays or something. The ones that come with the kits are just too big for my teeth so they don't get a good contact with all teeth.