How to Keep Your Teeth White

Buxtehude · Mar 17, 2011

My teeth have reached a shade of yellow that I cannot live with.
 
So, I'm using one of those home whitening kits.
 
I've also bought some straws to drink my coffee and tea through. So far, drinking through a straw is not as satisfying.
 
Or I could just move to the UK.
 
Share your tooth-related stories here, please. Whitening and otherwise.

Buxtehude · Mar 17, 2011

I mean, I look in the mirror and my teeth, literally scream "YELLOW!"
 
Literally.
 
I look like a crypt-keeper with these.

Grizzly · Mar 17, 2011

Jaune sounds more appetising.

Tech Tee · Mar 17, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Buxtehude <a href="/forum/thread/73056/how-to-keep-your-teeth-white#post_1989243"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> 
Or I could just move to the UK.
 
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OK, that made me laugh.
 
Laughing aside, have you discussed this with your dentist?

Buxtehude · Mar 17, 2011

I don't have a dentist, currently.
 
No dental coverage.
 
But I use my sonicare and my floss and I wait in joyful hope of the coming of the dental coverage. I really need a cleaning.

airehead · Mar 17, 2011

I know I'm going to get reamed for this--I have & pay for dental, but I am so terrified of dentists I haven't been in three years.
 
When I was a little girl, I was visiting South America, and I had to accompany a relative to a dental appointment.
 
I had no clue at that age yet that dentists could be cruel or malicious. Sitting in the nausea-green waiting room, in a tropical climate,
no AC, the humidity pressing on me, the smells in the room, and the sounds going on--I literally passed out, fell out of my chair, and landed on the floor.
 
I remember that day so clearly.
 
 
Anyhow, my original point: Livingsocial, KGB, and Groupon will sometimes have deals for local dentists that will do a checkup and a home whitening kit for a low price. Usually very affordable.

Tech Tee · Mar 17, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Buxtehude <a href="/forum/thread/73056/how-to-keep-your-teeth-white#post_1989266"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> I don't have a dentist, currently.
 
No dental coverage.
 
But I use my sonicare and my floss and I wait in joyful hope of the coming of the dental coverage. I really need a cleaning.
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Don't go too long. This may sound extreme, but, remember, I'm a guy, so...we sometimes are manly men...
 
I went 15 years without seeing a dentist. And I have paid the price (so to speak). No, I haven't lost any teeth, but, now I have to go every 3 months and have "deep pockets" (not the kind of deep pockets you want to have) that have gotten better over the last few years, but not as good as they should be. Also, I have had 2 sets of 'quads", which are INTENSE cleaning/scraping below the gum line (requires anesthesia). Go if you can. You can probably get a cleaning for $100 or so.

RaisingArizonainNH · Mar 17, 2011

GO for a cleaning. 
I hate going. I have HUGE dental phobias but I make myself go ( My hygienist now realizes it;s not her .. I am one big ball of anxiety in that chair!)
 
 BUx - call around, and I bet you can book a cleaning for under $100. Some places do it free with a first consultation. 
 
 Long story- I went to a really old dentist as a kid ( No novacaine - just drill away.he graduated dental school in the 1930's ! YIKES ... Think WIlly WOnka's dad !) 
 NExt dentist in College grinned when he showed me an xray of all the spots on my teeth in the dentin.. (soft teeth ) He was thinking $$$chaching!
 I did not go again for ABout 10 years. Ifound a guy who was good with kids.. and that worked- mellow, quiet little office waited out my anxiety attacks.
 
 Now - I have lost several teeth and cannot figure out how to pay the BIG bucks for new implanted ones. ( Over $6000 .. I wouldn't have paid that much for cleanings) SInce I have been going regularly =no cavities ,no more abscesses. no more root canal... (All of which cost me greatly even with insurance !) 

 Go. It's worth a little cash up front

Floridaboiler · Mar 18, 2011

Bux,
 Some dentists will work with you on the payments. Get in there. I am overdue myself so this is sort of like the pot calling the kettle black.
 
I hate dentists also.

Grizzly · Mar 18, 2011

Dental school? Dental Hygienist school? They do work for cheap. It's supervised.

Jensparks · Mar 18, 2011

Keeping them white: Regular Cleanings.

Brush and floss after each meal or after drinking coffee, soda, juice, or anything that might stain. 
 
I paid to have the dentist professionally whiten mine @7 or so years ago. I had smoked for 10 years and my teeth were really yellow. I am no longer self conscious about the stains, so for me it was worth it.

jcumming · Mar 19, 2011

I was in a flea market last weekend and there was a "Tooth Whitening Centre" booth with two dentist chairs right out in the middle of the market.
 
$59.95
 
Kinda creeped me actually.

Buxtehude · Mar 24, 2011

I'm looking into getting a cleaning done, you all gave me some good ideas. Thank you!
 
Also, this product really works:
<a class="H-lightbox-open" href="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/80352/width/1000/height/800/flags/" target="_blank"><img alt="crest-3d-white-whitestrips-professional-effects.jpg" class="lightbox-enabled" data-id="16520" data-type="61" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/content/type/61/id/16520/width/300/height/300" style="; width: 300px; height: 300px"></a>
 
After only ONE use, My teeth stopped screaming "YELLOW!" Supposedly, it's the strongest over-the-counter whitener available.

Tech Tee · Mar 24, 2011

The guy who used to live behind me, being a young (we were all so young back then) aspring dentist with no money and loads of loans and a house that needed repair, would strike, what I considered totally ethical deals...he would do his contractors dental work for free, given that they would do work for him for practically nothing. Other than getting his house fixed up, he got lifelong clients and a good reputation. They got their teeth fixed for "free". yeah, it wasn't really free. Bartering is still alive!

kerfwango · Mar 25, 2011

<div class="quote-container">Quote:
<div class="quote-block">Originally Posted by Floridaboiler <a href="/forum/thread/73056/how-to-keep-your-teeth-white#post_1989342"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border-bottom:0px solid;border-left:0px solid;border-top:0px solid;border-right:0px solid;"></a> I hate dentists also.
 
 
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 Anti-dentite.

How to Keep Your Teeth White

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