Question:
Has anyone had their teeth whitened? if so, what method...

...did you use? I've heard of "Zoom" and others, but i want to pick the one that gives the best result. I've been told by dentists that my tooth color is "naturally yellow," and wonder if any tooth whitening will help me in this case? I've never smoked, have only drank coffee for four years (and not religiously, either), and seem to have had yellow teeth since childhood. Any information would be greatly appreciated! <i>(Proximal OPEN RNY 7/7/03, 227/175/132)</i>    — sweetmana (posted on October 23, 2003)


October 23, 2003
Hiya, I am currently using NiteWhite, from my dentist. It involves having impressions made to create bleaching trays that I wear at night. 3 days, and I'm thrilled already!
   — DebPKansas

October 23, 2003
hi im 4 months out and did some checking on teeth whitening, its about 200.00 here and i was told by several dentists that the crest white strips do the same thing as the dr.s tray system, the only thing is you have to do it 2 times a day for 14 days, but its only for 30 minutes each time, plus i only gave 20.00 for the crest white strips, and i love my results so far!!! i was a smoker for over 10 years and and quit 6 months ago. im serious try them, it doesnt get the back teeth but the front ones. good luck. shelly
   — shellypoe

October 23, 2003
I had a pretty good result using the over-the-counter Crest Whitestrips for two weeks. Definitely a noticeable difference.
   — Jim F

October 24, 2003
TRACY, while teeth whitening may not be an issue for you, many bypass patients experience dulling or discoloration of their teeth. My dentist thinks it has to do with how much chewing we do now and the amount of enzymes this releases into the mouth. But that's just an opinion :>) Do you have a problem with us asking question though, that may not be WL related???
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 24, 2003
Since I have been loosing weight, I have been considering teeth whitening also. I have looked into an over-the-counter brand called "White Brilliance" which I read in my local newspaper was as good as going to the dentist but at a fraction of the cost. I know they sell it at Walgreens & I think they have a website also. Tracy B - why the rude response? If you don't like someone's question, just skip over it. Apparently the moderators of Obesity Help thought this was a relevant enough question to allow it to be posted, so why do you feel the need to be so hateful?
   — Dawn P.

October 24, 2003
I have used Crest White Strips. They are a bit spendy but they work VERY good. I am a tea/coffee drinker so my teeth get pretty stained. I would say they lightened about 5 shades. I did not use it faithfully (only once a day) and it still worked. So I could imagine if you follow the directions it would work very well. I tried Crest's Night Effects and it was horrible. I couldn't sleep because it felt like I had putty on my teeth. With the strips I put them on during my drive to work and when I get there brush my teeth. good luck :)
   — Emily H.

October 24, 2003
Thanks to Ruth..........you answered a question for me without me asking. I've had my teeth professionally whitened and I had noticed that they had definitely become discolored since I had surgery. I've started using a brush on product to see if I can whiten them back up again. And in answer to original poster, according to my dentist, my teeth were "naturally yellow" too but they whitened up considerably with the crest strips then with the professional whitening so I sure don't want to let them get yellow again.
   —  SCbabe B.

October 24, 2003
Tracy - because Crest.com would only give an opinion about their product and here we can get multiple opinions about multiple products. I hope I didn't come off like you were attacking anyone, but your question (and consequent reply) came off as a bit harsh. LINDA - you're most welcome :>)
   — [Deactivated Member]

October 24, 2003
I think teeth whitening has a lot to do with WLS... we are changing and feeling better about ourselves, want to look better in other ways too... I've often wondered what works as well... professional whitening is so expensive...the strips etc are a bit pricey too, but nothing compared to professionally doing it... anyway I think the strips would be worth a try... has anyobe tried the paint on stuff, like crest is it?
   — MF

October 24, 2003
I've had a lot of trouble with my teeth and gums post op, and I'm not the only one either. I don't really chew as well as I should so I don't think it's that. I think it's either being low on some vitamin or protein or? I really wish someone would look into it. Prior to my RNY I went to the dentist got the tray and whitener. It did a pretty good job of removing stains but not as good as I'd hoped. My teeth stained back up very rapidly. I think I'll try the strips to rebleach them since the dentist was so expensive and it sounds like the strips do an ok job. I would imagine all the over the counter stuff has the same active ingredience (although I haven't checked) and probably they all do about the same job? Check the labels and see when you go to get them. Hope you love your results. Try to stay away from the coffee and tea, decaf or no they stain teeth. :o) Good luck. S
   — sherry hedgecock

October 24, 2003
I have used a product that I got from my dentist called Opalesque* (spelling?) I had fitted trays made and did it at home at night for a week and my teeth and pearly white and have stayed that way for over 2 years without a touch up. I love my smile now.
   — tara821

October 24, 2003
I did the "teeth whitening" thing at the dentist a couple of years ago (BriteWhite, I think it was called?), and wasn't overly impressed with it considering the high cost. Once in awhile, I play with the Crest whitening strips and they seem to do just as well (and are way cheaper). In addition to whitening my teeth, I sought to improve my appearance by having weight loss surgery. (There! Now it's related to WLS!) <--- Just kidding, Tracy :-)<P>Since my WLS, I also get my teeth cleaned three times a year instead of two, because I think maybe they get dirtier (if that's the word) due to the "no drinking for half an hour after eating" rule that many of us follow. It can't be good to have those food particles just sitting there, ewww, I hate even thinking about it. I chew sugarless gum after I eat to try to minimize that concern, as it's not always possible to brush after every meal, but I worry about the effect of that particular "pouch rule" on our teeth.
   — Suzy C.

October 24, 2003
My brother is a dentist. He has offered a number of products over the years to his patients, including Rembrandt, but he thinks the Crest white stips work best. Although he used to advocate the trays (impressions) he told me they are not good for people who are suspectible to gum disease. My teeth are yellow because I took a certain anitbiotic as a child. My brother has tried all sorts of whitening techniques on me since 1975, including referring me to other dentists. Nothing will dramatically improve the discoloration due to antibiotic use as a child. I cannot get porcelan veneers because I have a problem with resorption. My brother isn't impressed with veneers anyway, as he says they are not very durable.
   — juvpd

October 24, 2003
First of all let me say that having naturally yellow teeth is a good thing because naturally yellow teeth whiten better than grey tones. Second I work in the best dental office in chesapeake va (just a little biased) and I can tell you the BEST way to whiten your teeth is the dental tray system (nite white...ect) With our office we also sell the PROFESSIONAL and SUPREME Crest Whitestrips the ones you can only buy at a dental office. (p.s. if you try the prof or supreme strips please buy them from your dentist and not online I know horror stories about strips purchased online.) and we don't guarentee any results with the strips they work but not for people who have deep yellow stain. As for the expensive in office stuff such as zoom they work but you still have to use the take home trays too. Also you may want to check with your dentist because after surgery it is common for teeth to look yellow because when you are intibated it can chip the enamel down to the dentin which is yellow in color. In my opinion I would go with the tray its not too expensive and the results can be controled. GooD Luck
   — Mischief1212 A.

October 24, 2003
Funny you should ask. I am having mine tomorrow. My sister in law is my dentist and offered me the choice of the system at home where you wear the trays for an hour a day for 2 weeks or do the Brite Smile thing as a one shot deal. She is doing it because she is replacing my crowns on my 2 front teeth and figured she may as well bleach them before the color is chosen. E-mail me after tomorrow and I'll let you know how I made out!!!
   — Fixnmyself

October 25, 2003
I got mine laser whitened ($1000). They look amazing after they're done, but you have to keep up with them (crest whitestrips, etc..,) Lasts 12-18 mos. & I'd do it again in a second.
   — jengrz




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