Tooth Whitening: Is Cheaper Better?

BellaSugar — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 14:00:27 -0800

Lately, I've been thinking of having my teeth whitened at Brite Smile, but the idea of spending a few hundred dollars for gleaming chompers doesn't sit so well with my inner cheapskate. So this morning, I asked my dentist which method he recommended.

"Honestly," he said-and I paraphrase-"I'd just get some Whitestrips." He went on to say that while Brite Smile would give me slightly better results than Whitestrips, he didn't think the difference was worth the significantly larger cost.

He's not the only one. My former dentist once told me the same thing: Whitestrips are effective and relatively inexpensive. Thought you all might like to know that in my completely informal survey, the at-home stuff gets the thumbs-up from dentists. It's been a few years since I've done Whitestrips, so I'm curious: Do you think they work? Or would you rather save up and do something like Brite Smile?

New Product Alert: Enbrightenment BriteSmile Whitener and Tarte Lip Gloss

BellaSugar — Wed, 28 May 2008 13:00:38 -0700

I haven't tried this new Enbrightenment BriteSmile Whitener & Tarte Lipgloss ($26) yet, but it totally caught my eye when I was web shopping over the weekend. From what I understand, one side of the tube contains a vitamin-rich lip gloss and the other side houses a teeth-whitening formula.

The teeth-whitening side contains .05 oz. of BriteSmile bleaching formula with a brush on the end of the wand to facilitate application. I've heard mixed reviews about BriteSmile. Some say it's worked wonders, while others have experienced overbearing toothaches and post-treatment sensitivity.

The lip gloss side contains .05 oz. of antioxidant-rich fruits such as goji berry, maracuja, acerola, pomegranate, jojoba seed oil, and acai and there's also a brush on the end for smooth and even application. The two available shades; pearly pink and radiant red are described as sheer with a peppermint flavor. The idea behind the product sounds interesting and practical enough to me - a bright, white smile (within 14 days) enhanced by a lip gloss. Have any of you tried it yet? If so, what are your thoughts?