# What's the best way to whiten your teeth? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 7, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057 "2004-06-07T04:32:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dreamer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/6bbea6/32.png) [@dreamer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dreamer)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/1 "2004-06-07T04:32:14Z")
I’d like to try to whiten my teeth and there are many products out there. What products have you tried and how well have they worked? Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Maxxxie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f14d63/32.png) [@Maxxxie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maxxxie)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/2 "2004-06-07T05:19:39Z")
> [@dreamer](#): > > I’d like to try to whiten my teeth and there are many products out there. What products have you tried and how well have they worked? > > Thanks. Liquid paper. 😃 ← see how white they are now??? Failing that, I’m using one of Colgate’s new “tooth-whitening” brushes, it’s got some sort of polishing thing built into it, and the whitening toothpaste. I’m not seeing results (yet) but it’s only been a couple weeks. Plus the last time I went to the dentist was 15 years ago, so maybe that’s as white as they’re gonna get without professional intervention. Max. ---
**Author:** ![HerMajestyLorna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/7cd45c/32.png) [@HerMajestyLorna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HerMajestyLorna)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/3 "2004-06-07T05:22:46Z")
Crest Whitestrips really worked for me and my boyfriend. The color will eventually come back, I think, but it’s good for at least 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/4 "2004-06-07T12:23:44Z")
The heavy-duty white strips are the best. Seven days, twice a day, and my teeth look maaahvelous. And I’m a smoker. I’ll tell you what NOT to try. Anything that requires you to mix stuff. In my experience, it tastes way shittier than the strips, and it’s messy and time-consuming. ---
**Author:** ![fubar\_tabarnac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/cdc98d/32.png) [@fubar\_tabarnac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubar_tabarnac)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/5 "2004-06-07T14:09:36Z")
most whitening products contain either abraisives or chemicals that degrade the enamel as they strip or bleach stains, and hasten decay. the once or twice a year treatments like the strips are likely much better than the everyday whitening toothpastes or chewing gums, though if you can afford it or have a dental plan i suggest getting your dentist to take a look & suggest an appropriate remedy. ---
**Author:** ![fizzestothetop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e79b87/32.png) [@fizzestothetop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fizzestothetop)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/6 "2004-06-07T14:36:07Z")
I used the regular Crest Whitestrips and they worked to a degree. I didn’t finish the whole two weeks though because they made my bottom teeth ache if I used the strips twice a day like I was supposed to. Not my top teeth, just the bottoms and just enough so I couldn’t get any sleep for my teeth hurting. I don’t know if anyone else experiences that problem but it was enough for me to stop using them for awhile. I might finish off the rest of the strips by using them once a day instead of twice. ---
**Author:** ![Middlea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@Middlea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Middlea)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2004, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-best-way-to-whiten-your-teeth/249057/7 "2004-06-07T16:19:40Z")
I have the custom dental trays and “Opalescence” product from my dentist. Cost is about $400 to start (dental mold), but the gel in the trays costs ~$8. I get 2 refills about every 6 months. They work really well, except you have to keep your teeth very clean to keep the plaque build-up down or it becomes whiter than your teeth. My dentist says this is the only product that works - stuff sold OTC doesn’t have enough strength to whiten to such a degree. The only drawback I find is that the gel causes my teeth to ache for a day or 2 after use. It can be very annoying to downright painful. He recommended I use Gelcam for the tooth sensitivity. Overall: worth the up-front cost of $400.