The products we've tried:
- Colgate Simply White Whitening Gel
- Crest Whitestrips
- Colgate Simply White Toothpaste
- Listerine Whitening Rinse
Following is a brief review of each teeth whitening product, and the results we obtained from each...
In the order we tried them...
Colgate Simply White Gel
Our introduction into the whole teeth whitening craze was this brush-on product. Though we felt that our teeth might be getting a bit whiter, we weren't crazy about the application process AT ALL!
You had to "paint" it onto your teeth. Then wait for it to dry. But you never really felt you could close your lips while it was "working". Thirty minutes of THAT for a few days in a row, and we were ready to toss the bottle out the window!
THEIR CLAIM:
"Takes less than one minute a day to apply [EDITOR: but 30 minutes to work!]. Clinically proven to whiten in 14 days with a money-back guarantee."
---> Details of how brush-on teeth whiteners work.
---> Here's what other users think.
---> And still what even more users think.
Crest Whitestrips & Night Effects Gel
To get our teeth looking even whiter, I decided to try Crest Whitestrips Original (press-on) while Jim tried Crest Night Effects gel (paint-on).
Jim had better luck than I did in a shorter amount of time.
Neither of us is crazy about the "application process" per se, though like other things... it's just about taking the time to actually do it.
We chose bedtime. My strips had to be removed in 30 minutes or so. Jim could sleep through the night with the gel on this teeth.
We've actually intended to purchase another supply of the Crest tooth-whitener products, because we were relatively pleased with our results, but we just haven't yet. I think it's the cost... whenever I'm in a grocery or department store, I ALWAYS think twice about items that cost more than $30...
THEIR CLAIM:
"These flexible, virtually invisible strips only need to be worn for 30 minutes twice a day. Use them for 2 weeks and you'll see whiter teeth for at least 6 months."
---> Here's what a dentist thinks about Crest Whitestrips.
---> Details of how Crest Whitestrips (& tray-based systems) work.
---> What others think of Crest Whitestrips and their overall results.
Colgate Simply White Toothpaste
We've also tried Simply White toothpaste by Colgate. While we couldn't really notice any WHITER teeth, we did like the way this toothpaste made our teeth feel: smooth and slickery!
THEIR CLAIM:
"Brush 2 minutes, twice a day, for 2 weeks for whiter teeth, guaranteed!"
---> Read what users think in the Simply White diaries.
Listerine Whitening Rinse
Now, we're currently trying Listerine Whitening Prebrush Rinse in a "clean mint" flavor.
(...you'd think our teeth would be all sparkly by now, huh?)
It's much cheaper, compared to the other methods above, and much easier, and comes highly regarded by others who've tried it.
To use it, you simply rinse with a 1/2 oz of Listerine Whitening Rinse before brushing your teeth in the morning and again at night.
...We'll see where this leads.
Hopefully, our teeth will be rock-star shiny in no time!
THEIR CLAIM:
"A dynamic faoming action lets you know that it's hard at work whitening your teeth. Use every day for whiter, brighter teeth."
---> Check out this hilarous morning routine count-down, detailing how one's morning routine has drastically changed due to Listerine's new product.
---> Here's what other users think.
Pros & Cons of Listerine Whitening Rinse
PROS...
- ...inexpensive for the number of uses you get from each bottle
- ...bubbles & foams in your mouth - you can feel it working
- ...doesn't have to be left in your mouth long to be effective
- ...there's no "application process" and no need to wait around for the next step
- ...special offer on specially-marked bottles: Try it for free!
CONS...
- ...doesn't taste quite as "minty clean" as the label states
- ...doesn't go with "morning breath" well
- ...can't get past the fact that I'm rinsing to get this product to "adhere" to my teeth, only to turn around and brush it off right away
Check back for our "bottom of the bottle" review!
What I Learned Today:
As long as you keep your expectations in check, you should be able to find a teeth whitening product that meets your needs.
UPDATE 9/7/05:
Despite what a few others have experienced with the Listerine Pre-Brush Rinse, we never had any bad reaction to the Listerine during the entire time we used it.
Nevertheless, we didn't see much "whitening" from it either. If at all, it was very, very subtle -- after almost 3 weeks.
So the day I spotted a "special offer" on Crest Whitestrips, we decided to go back to the Crest white strips. This time, it was the PREMIUM strips, though.
Man, what a noticeable difference!!!!! No joke.
The label says you'll notice a change within 3 days, and that's no lie. In fact, we didn't even use them twice a day like you're supposed to. We just used them once a day, and after 3 days -- big improvement. Now, after the full 7 days -- we're 100% satisfied. (...and we've got some leftover for "touch-ups" a few months from now!) The box says the whitening lasts 12 months...
I will add this... The instructions say not to brush your teeth before applying the strips. I sometimes brushed first. Aside from the fact that it stings the gums a tiny bit, it's not bad at all. I just don't like applying the whitestrips in the morning without brushing first. That's just me.
FYI: I got the "special offer" boxes from Target. Inside each box: a week's supply of Crest Premium Whitestrips, a full-size tube of Crest Extra-Whitening Toothpaste, a Crest toothbrush, and a full-size container of Glide dental floss... all for a clearance price of $22.85! Even though we've still got a few strips left for future touch-ups, I went back last night and snatched the last two "special offer" boxes at my local Target.
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so the stringy substance that you have all been talking about is happening to me with CREST PRO HEALTH toothpaste. my lips always seem extra dry afterwords, but i haven't had any other side effects. although i like the toothpaste i don't find this stringy stuff appealing at all.
UNBELIEVEABLE. Two months ago standing in line at Starbucks I noticed something in my mouth. Got back into my car and stuck my tongue out and found this mouth full of slimy skin. Every morning driving to work now im running my tongue along the side of my mouth. Trying to get this crap out. At times I have almost gagged. Anyways, I WAS using CREST VIVID WHITE NIGHTS. I did wonder but after reading this...its pretty obvious. I'm pretty sure the white patch was caused by this too!
We bought a bottle of the Listerine Whitening Pre-wash and within two weeks I had a nasty black hairy growth on the back of my tongue. I found this site and was relieved to know I wasn't going to die and most likely what caused the ugliness in my mouth. Two weeks of no mouth wash and brushing my tongue cleared this up. Went to my dentist yesterday for a checkup and told him of my symptom. He said the mouth wash likely killed of the bacteria in my mouth that keeps the natural occurring fungus in check, thus the out break of fungus (black hairy tongue).
I haven't used the listerine version, but I've used the Scope White version, which is, essentially, the same thing. I very much doubt the validity of these claims of 'black fillings' and 'hairy tongue'. I did experience a little bit of shedding, however, off of my tongue, but I always thought my tongue had a build of of white-ish flesh before I used it, and now my tongue is a healthier redish colour. As far as peroxide is concered it is not in any way poisonous or bad for you. Certainly not at these concentrations. Although the reviewer said he is concerened about getting the product to 'adhere' to his teeth, peroxide really doesn't work that way. All it does is release its extra oxygen atom (peroxide is H2O2), and in doing so, whitens your teeth that way, as the oxygen acts as a bleach. But it does work over the long term and is also good for keeping a professional whitening whiter, longer.
I cannot comment on the black tongue thing. But I can address the white stringy filmy stuff. I have been using this stuff since it came out (2+ years) and I can say that it does work for whitening. But it also does cause that white stringy stuff too. And yes it's gross. However, it's NOT TOXIC, DEADLY or HAZARDOUS. It's the same stuff Peroxide will cause if you use it. The ingredients are not going to kill you and will not be taken off the shelf. Demand all you want.
If you want whiter teeth at a lower cost then I recommend this stuff. If I had a black tongue I might argue against. However, these comments of this stuff being evil...come on? It's peroxide. The stuff that foams on cuts. The film is just that, a film of the dead tissue and membranes in your mouth. I don't want them there anyway. So if the rinse gets finds it and removes it, so be it. So after I brush and rinse, I clean them out in the bathroom before I go to work.
It's not ACID people. My goodness, relax. If you want perfect white teeth then save up spend the money on a professional job. It may not be for everyone, but the crazy gibberish has got to stop. I mean really, "Acid", "Evil", "Pure Evil" "Burning My Skin Off" etc...
If you drink anything besides water, Listerene Whitening Rinse will not work. This includes soda, juice, coffee, sports drink, flavored water, tea, smoothies, and high amounts of milk (in moderation is actually good for your teeth). How do I know all this? My local dentist. :)
I've been using Liserine whitening pre-rinse for alittle over 1 month- 6 weeks, twice daily. I haven't experienced ANY of the problems discussed above. No hairy tongue & no skin peeling off my mouth. However, I also haven't noticed much difference in teeth color..... bottle says it takes about 12 weeks!! It better start soon!!