# tooth whiteners **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 20, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379 "2003-08-20T05:13:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/1 "2003-08-20T05:13:02Z")
Has anyone used any of the numerous tooth whiteners to any positive effects? Which ones actually work? How about sped and ease of use? ---
**Author:** ![Palo\_Verde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Palo\_Verde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Palo_Verde)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/2 "2003-08-20T05:33:19Z")
Make that “ **speed** and ease of use” ---
**Author:** ![Necromancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ac91a4/32.png) [@Necromancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Necromancer)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/3 "2003-08-20T05:47:43Z")
Almost two years ago I had my teeth whitened by my dentist, and he gave me a bleaching kit to use at home for a week. I was supplied with a custom made mouthguard that fitted my teeth perfectly and I think the result was excellent. ---
**Author:** ![NoGoodNamesLeft](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/8797f3/32.png) [@NoGoodNamesLeft](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoGoodNamesLeft)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/4 "2003-08-20T12:31:44Z")
My Mother and I both used the strips you stick to your teeth. A bit awkward to use (my wife gave up), but effective to some degree at least. ---
**Author:** ![AmericanMaid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@AmericanMaid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AmericanMaid)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/5 "2003-08-20T12:38:00Z")
My dentist told me the over the counter whiteners don’t whiten. They just eat away your tooth enamel and if you use them regularly, you’ll end up with teeth that have been whittled down to sticks. Avoid. ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/6 "2003-08-20T18:36:07Z")
I had good results with the Whitestrips although they were a little uncomfortable. I didn’t want to talk or move my lips much when they were in, so I just wore them on my commute to work. I was thinking about doing it again soon, until I read AmericanMaid’s post! Think that’s true? ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 8:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/7 "2003-08-20T20:45:37Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by AmericanMaid \* > \*\*My dentist told me the over the counter whiteners don’t whiten. They just eat away your tooth enamel and if you use them regularly, you’ll end up with teeth that have been whittled down to sticks. Avoid. \*\* Same thing here. In addition, he told me to stop using toothpaste with whiteners in them, because they were scarring the enamel. ---
**Author:** ![Teaira](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9d8465/32.png) [@Teaira](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Teaira)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/8 "2003-08-21T01:17:37Z")
I used whitestrips about a year ago and was pleased with the results. They seemed to work really well… For me at least. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2003, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tooth-whiteners/196379/9 "2003-08-21T05:40:34Z")
I used a dental bleaching kit and got rid of tetracycline stains! Yahoo! That was several years ago and I am still happy all the time. My dentist told me the danger with OTC methods is misuse.