BellaSugar

Five (Cheap!) Tips For Getting Whiter Teeth

BellaSugar — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 07:00:23 -0700

The rich and famous trek to Beverly Hills to get a brighter smile from Dr. Kevin Sands, who you might have seen on Dr. 90210. But if you can't make it in for an appointment, here's the next best thing: Dr. Sands's advice on getting whiter, healthier teeth at home. (Be sure to check with your own dentist before starting a whitening regimen, of course.) For his five easy and affordable ways to get your gleam on, keep reading.

Tooth Whitening: Knowing Is Half the Battle, Say Dentists

BellaSugar — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 06:00:33 -0800

Well, the corn-toothed brigade isn't going to like this bit of news: Dentists are dissing tooth-whitening services done at salons, and now the Matlocks of the world are stickin' their litigious noses into the issue.

Here's the deal: Many salon owners who already provide spa services (such as brow waxing and spray tanning) have added tooth-whitening to their list. They say it's a cosmetic service, but people like Dr. Leslie Seldin, a spokesperson for the American Dental Association, feel otherwise. And now that lawsuits are beginning to pop up, it may just be a matter of time before regulations declare who can perform tooth-whitening services. Would you get (or have you had) whitening sessions outside of a dentist's office?

Source

Beauty Mark It Results: The Best Tooth Whitener

BellaSugar — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 15:00:47 -0700

Having sparkling white teeth can give you a confidence boost, and there are so many products on the market claiming to do the trick. That's why it was so enlightening to find out which ones you think are best.

Marcella brings up the point that many whitening products can be tough on sensitive teeth. Because of this, she prefers Denblan toothpaste, saying "I can't use the hard abrasive whiteners, so I love the mellowness of this one."

On the other end of the spectrum is hollylyn, who goes for Aquafresh predosed, disposable trays, saying she prefers them over whitening strips because "they don't slip and slide all over your mouth."

Thank you to everyone who participated. Check out everybody's picks below!

Product Review: Crest Whitestrips with Tartar Protection

BellaSugar — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 10:00:49 -0700

When two dentists in a row recommended Whitestrips over more expensive tooth-whitening products, my inner Scrooge McDuck was giddy. It's always great when experts sing the praises of relatively inexpensive treatments over spendy ones. Alas, the original Whitestrips formula requires users to wear 30 minutes a day, and frankly, that is too much of a commitment for me.

But now I am back on the Whitestrips bandwagon because of a new variety. Crest has released a tartar-control version that promises to whiten teeth and reduce tartar - and the best part is that you have to wear the strips for only five minutes a day. I've been using these for the past two weeks, and I'm already seeing pearlier whites. What's more, I credit them with minimizing a stubborn bit of tartar that always seems to pop up on my incisors. Usually I have to break out the ol' Sonicare to get rid of that buildup, but now my chompers are clean without it.

Since my teeth are brighter and cleaner, the new Whitestrips a big thumbs-up from me. The retail price is $39.99, but you can get a $7 coupon to make the price more palatable.

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?

How to Whiten Teeth... Safely

BellaSugar — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 09:03:04 -0700

Well, this didn't sound like good news. A recent British report says that some at-home tooth-whitening kits had levels of peroxide so high that in some instances they approached the amount found in hair dye. Yikes, and then this:

In a study conducted by the University-Hadassah Faculty of Dental Medicine in Jerusalem, doctors found that "all groups exposed to bleach showed an increase in mercury release over time."

None of that sounds good. But just as I was ready to succumb to a life of yellow corn-teeth, I read onward and was relieved. The story quotes multiple dentists who say that whitening your teeth isn't a health hazard. One dentist, Dr. Jeff Golub-Evans, director of the New York Center for Cosmetic Dentistry, says to follow these guidelines:

Get a product recommendation from your dentist.
Purchase only well-established brands.
Don't buy teeth whiteners over the Internet, particularly from another country.

For four more tips on safe and effective whitening, read more

Always follow package directions.
Don't double up on product, leave it on longer than recommended or use it more frequently than recommended.
More is not better. Lower concentrations used over a longer period get better results than blasting teeth with high concentrations.
If the packaging doesn't look right (for instance, if there are misspellings) or the product looks or smells strange, don't use it.

Source

Bellissima: SexySmile Three in One

BellaSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 15:25:33 -0800

This tooth whitener, breath freshener and lip gloss/lip balm is pretty fab. This cool invention called, SexySmile, $28.50, has been brought to us by celebrity cosmetic dentist, Dr. Pia Lieb. It is a double-sided teeth whitener, breath freshener and either lip gloss or lip balm.

This is what every chocoholic, coffee and red wine drinker needs in their purse to prepare for Valentine's Day! Fret no more about dry lips, bad breath and gross yellowing on your teeth. You can use it safely up to six times a day - just don't eat or drink for 20 minutes after application. Apply in a circular motion for six to ten seconds per tooth.

The lip gloss is available in seven shimmery shades and the lip balm is available in one shade; a berry color called just kissed. Also, don't forget to check out more posts about breath freshening lip glosses and one super charged really minty lip gloss.

Tuesday Giveaway! GoSMILE Advanced Formula B1 Tooth Whitening on the Go

BellaSugar — Mon, 09 Jul 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Do you, like us, obsessively inspect your skin in the mirror, and at the site of a new blemish, wrinkle,or age spot, lament, "Why? Why me?" Sephora is here to tell you exactly that. From the "whys" to the "hows" to the "what-ifs," they're answering all of your frequently asked questions-even those you're embarassed to ask. Even better, every day we're giving away one product to help you implement their expertise. Congratulations to Redsugar, who won yesterday's giveaway for a L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream.

Today's question: Is there an easy way to whiten my teeth?

The answer: Yes, and you won't believe how easy it is.GoSmile Advanced Formula B1 Tooth Whitening on the Go is ingeniously simple. Each ampoule contains a safe, gently whitening agent that lightens and brightens teeth. Just toss one in your purse, rub it on your teeth, and you'll get a brighter, white smile on the run.

To enter today's giveaway for this whitening kit, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday, July 10, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow when we post the next giveaway. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, click here.

Wednesday Giveaway! GoSmile ADVANCED Formula B1 Tooth Whitening On The Go

BellaSugar — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 23:30:51 -0700

We're teaming with Sephora to celebrate the Best of Sephora. Sephora's clients have voted and now we reveal the results of what they thought were the best products. Each day represents a different best-of category from concealer to shampoo, eye treatment to tools. Congratulations to all of the brands!

Today's winners are all contenders for the biggest beauty breakthrough. The top dog is GoSmile ADVANCED Formula B1 Tooth Whitening On The Go, which is honestly the easiest tooth-whitening system I've ever used. Other winners are Smashbox O-Glow, Anastasia Nu Brow - Brow Enhancing Serum, Lavanila Eau de Parfum spray, and Care by Stella McCartney 5 Benefits Moisturising Cream.

To enter today's giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, October 3, and we'll announce the winner tomorrow. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, click here. Congratulations to Tarah716, who won yesterday's giveaway for a Sephora Bronzer Brush!

Saturday Giveaway! GoSmile Jet Set Kit

BellaSugar — Fri, 29 Jun 2007 23:30:00 -0700

Thanks to our very generous friends at Sephora, we've been giving away a different product every day throughout the month of June. Congratulations to Joyceay, who won yesterday's giveaway for a Bliss Sinkside Six-Pack.

This week, we're featuring airline-approved beauty-great products that you can take on an airplane without dealing with any security hassles. Today's giveaway is the GoSmile Jet Set Kit ($12). There's a toothpaste for the morning, and one for the PM-and both are formulated to keep your teeth clean and white. (I took this kit to Paris and felt oh-so-glamorous brushing my chompers.)

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment in the comments section below by 5 p.m. PDT / 8 p.m. EDT Saturday, June 29, and we'll announce the winner Monday. Please, only ONE comment per person; duplicate comments will be discarded, so commenting more than once won't up your chances of winning. You must be a TeamSugar member to comment, so if you're not a member, please register here for an account. For all of the rules and regulations, click here. Good luck!