I've noticed that me teeth have been getting really yellow lately. Now don't get me wrong, I have really good hygiene practices. I brush, floss, ect at least 2 times a day, but they are still really yellow. I went to the store to get some of those crest Whitening strips and I was amazed at how expensive they were. Plus there was many different brands. I noticed that Listerine also has whitening strips.
Does anybody have any good suggestions for whiter teeth? Have you used the Crest Whitening Strips or other brands? Do they work or not??
I drink a lot of coffee which is part of the reason why my teeth are starting to get more yellow.( And it will be a cold day in hell before I kick my coffee habit!

Suggestions???

Coffee drinking will certainly stain your teeth. Tea is even worse. Some foods can also stain your teeth, even if you brush carefully. I would recommend discussing this with your dental hygientist the next time that you go in for a cleaning. Excessive use of some types of whitening products could damage the enamel on your teeth, so I would recommend playing it safe by living with yellow teeth until you can get a professional opinion. If you are lucky, some or most of the staining may come out when they polish your teeth during the cleaning (I know this from personal experience).

But the over-the counter products should be safe to use Alfredo like the Crest Whitening strips!
I can't imagine they would sell them if you cant use them for long periods.

I can't remember whether it was Dr. Dean Edell or a dental website where I heard the warning. In my recollection what was said was along the lines that if you use over-the-counter ADA approved bleaching products following the directions on the package, you will be OK. Some people get obsessed with having the whitest teeth possible, and it is those individuals who get carried away and use the bleaches in a way that could put their teeth at risk.

The reason that I like the idea of asking a dental hygientist is that these people look at a lot of mouths, so they can see the big picture of what dental products work the best. For instance, I once asked a dental hygientist if there were any mouthwash that she would recommend to promote gum health, and her answer was no. She said that mouthwashes good only for the "fresh" feeling that they give to the mouth, but they should not be counted on to prevent gingivitis by killing germs. This was a very different answer than I expected, and I doubt that I could have gotten this perspective from a lay person.

Thats interesting because THose Listerine commercials calim that the mouthwash helps prevent gingivitis. Talk about false advertising!

This is a case of marketing guys getting tricky with subtleties in language. The commercials often say that the mouthwash kills germs that cause gingivitis, which is true. What they don't tell you (but the hygientist pointed out to me) is that some germs will always survive, and these will continue to multiply, as long as there are food particles on the teeth. There is no other choice than to remove all the plaque with thorough brushing and flossing. Note, as you pointed out yourself, that the commercials say that the mouthwash "helps" to prevent gingivitis, but not that they actually prevent gingivitis. Sneaky, huh?

P.S.: I am going to have my teeth cleaned next Monday. I will ask the hygientist what she thinks about tooth whiteners.

They'll be a bit biased though . . . whiteners direct revenue away from dentists . . . her very job might be on the line.

Most tooth whiteners are snake oil. Just like penis enlargement pills and hair growth products (excluding propecia and rogaine).

The Crest Whitener strips do work though. People concerned about yellow teeth ought to try it once and make up their own minds. I wouldn't use it more than a few times a year though.

Most tooth whiteners are snake oil. Just like penis enlargement pills and hair growth products (excluding propecia and rogaine).


Do you know that for a fact Vitalogy? Have you used them before?

I know people who have used the Crest Whitening strips and say they do work. Do they turn your teeth pearly white? no but they do help with coffee stains, and are a lot better than not using anything at all.

I had mine whitened about 8 years ago under my dentist's supervision. It's a lot of work to keep a tray in your mouth for 2 hours every day for a few weeks. Most of the stuff you can buy off the shelf helps a small amount, but in my opinion, the over the counter stuff is overpriced and underdelivers on results. If you want it done correctly, go to a professional.

I had my teeth cleaned today, and I asked the hygientist about tooth whiteners. Her response was very detailed and informational.

She said that many people start out with the Crest White Strips. These are safe to use, and for some people, they deliver satisfactory results. The only caution with these products is that they can irritate the gums, so you should try, as much as possible, to prevent contact with the gums.

An alternative one level up from the over-the-counter White Strips is a product made by Crest that is only available through dental offices. She said that these trays cost about $60.

Kaiser (who I go to for dental care) also offers a more potent tooth whitener, and these trays cost about $250-$300.

She mentioned that there are other professional whitening techniques, not available at Kaiser, that use light to enhance the action of the bleaching agents. She did not have any figures on how much this costs.

In my post above, I forgot to include two tips from the dental hygientist on getting the most out of whitening kits. The first was to start the whitening treatment right after a cleaning. The second was to use a fluoride mouth rinse after finishing the treatment. The fluoride helps seal tubules in the surfaces of the teeth so that it is more difficult for pigments from food to stain the teeth.

I am a regular coffee drinker too (albeit mainly just during the week at work) and the thing was that once I really started to put the powdered creamer in my coffee some gnarly brownish stains started showing up on my teeth that wouldn't brush off...my mom heard from her dentist that creamers can cause this so after my last cleaning at the dentist which removed the stains I stopped using them and voila the stains have failed to reappear.

That explanation for the stains is very interesting! About nine years ago, I had some mysterious brown stains like that appear. I was drinking coffee every day at work. At first, I freaked out, thinking that my front teeth had started to decay. On closer inspection, I noticed that the "stains" were actually a very thin sediment-like buildup that could be removed by scraping (don't try this at home). I had become self-conscious enough that I scraped the worst of the "stains" off with a fork. About two months later, I went in for a cleaning, and the hygientist removed the rest of the stain with a scaler and a polisher. However, she said that she thought tea might have caused the stains. I drank tea as well, but not as often as coffee.

I've always heard that coffee browns your teeth ... I drink it by the 55-gallon drum, black, and I've never had a problem with it browning my teeth. Had no idea creamer did that!