So i am kicking back off with something that I have tested extensively on myself and spent many an hour researching- (inexpensive) teeth whitening. What is one of the first things you notice about someone when you first meet? maybe it's their hair, their shoes, the way they hold themselves? whatever it is without doubt their smile and teeth are high up on that list and for me i'd say it was the first things i'm drawn to, that may sound a little superficial but lets be honest if you have teeth that look like a set of yellow stained glass windows it's gonna be hard to get past that, althoughhh have teeth like a cave mans necklace that are pearly white i'd be prepared to turn a blind eye, haha.
Most products advertised are going to promise you Simon Cowell-esk teeth after just a few uses... urgh lies, unless you go to the dentist and lay out some serious dollar for professional bleaching it's just not going to happen. Now we have that harsh reality out the way we can talk about realistic results.
Megawhite (above) is my most recent endeavour into the whitening world, I purchased this when I recently visited the scottish hair and beauty show and was coerced by the overly friendly sales woman promising me with her well rehearsed pitch 'outstanding immediate results with no pain, peroxide or sensitivity' and even though I knew she was merely blowing smoke up my arse I wanted to believe her so badly that I caved and handed over my £20 (usually £49...hmm)
I was told to use this for five days straight for an hour in the evenings, seems simple enough, but if you have ever had to hold a gum shield in your mouth for more than 10 minutes you will understand how real the struggle is... felt like mike tyson had jabbed me in the jaw and well then there is the drooling, just be prepared to be in a vegetative state for the next hour or so. I was pleasantly surprised by the results I got from this as I wasn't holding out much hope, ok so it hasnt made them gleaming but i'd say it's lifted a shade or 2, maybe more like a strong stain removal effect, which is pretty much what you will get with all high street kits and pastes. See my results below.
Another product I have tryed in the past and that worked well for me was the crest 3d whitening strips a little more pricey at around £45 and can only be bought online as far as i'm aware at the moment in the uk. These are soo simple to use, just like little stickers for your teeth that you place on the front (downside with this method is that it will only treat the prominent front teeth and not catch the ones on the side) leave on for around 30 minutes, no fuss or mess. This isn't a quick fix treatment as they recommend you use it for up to 20 days, but you will start to notice a small difference after a week or so. These can make your gums and teeth a little sensitive though so best avoid if your into biting ice cream and brushing your teeth with ice poles.
Maintaining white teeth can be just as hard as actually achieving the results of white teeth, two of my favourite in expensive products that I swear by and use twice daily to try and up keep my results are, Oral B 3d white £3.50 and Colgate Max White with stain prevention mouthwash £5.00
Or be a super basic bich and make your own at home for alot less!
Ideal.
baking soda & lemon;
Mix a few spoonfuls of baking soda with fresh lemon juice (or water) enough to make a gritty paste, then wipe over teeth with a towel or kitchen roll to make them feel dry, apply the paste to teeth using your toothbrush and leave on for 1 minute (3 if you're not using lemon) and very lightly brush in circular motions- use once a week.
coconut oil rinse;
Everyone will have seen an abundance of celebrities advertising 'coco white' between their teeth all over insta for £10 a sachet... fuck that, its just coconut oil. Fire down to holland and barret grab yourself a massive jar for a tenner. In the morning before brushing, take a teaspoonful of oil, ram it in your gub and swish it around and pull through your teeth for 15 minutes, then rinse and brush, easy peasy. This won't insanely whiten, but the acid in the oil can rid teeth of bacteria found in plaque that can cause that yucky yellowyness- use every second day.
banana skin;
so banana skins have other uses than just their slippery comedic value! rubbing the inside layer of a banana (or orange) skin over your teeth for around two minutes twice a day, the skins hold alot of minerals that bananas are so well known for and can be easily absorbed into the teeth, sweeeet- use as often as you like.
strawberries;
Another easy home remedy, cut and mush up 3-4 strawberries and mix with a very small amount of baking soda to create a paste (potentially alot tastier than the very first option) the acids in the strawberry work at polishing and whitening- use twice a month as can be abrasive.
Ok so thats all just my take on teeth whitening and the things that have worked in the past for me, I am in no way a dentist and have nooo idea what the lasting effects of any of the above have on teeth.. apart from making them white, any lasting effects meh i'll worry about later. And if you are just not into any of that or it seems like too much hassle, stay basic and stick with red lipstick, your teeth will never have looked whiter.
Thanks again to everyone for reading and messaging, I love love hearing what you think and what you are wanting me to write about or which topics you want me to cover, its amazing.
