The Best: Whitening gel for terrific teeth
Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel works - without a hassle
By Lucynda Koesters
Who likes her coffee black, her teeth white
I am a coffee drinker. I drink it in the morning. I drink it after lunch. I drink it at night. No, it does not keep me awake. I am immune to the caffeine. I thrive on it.
What's wrong with that? I am certainly not the only American to be completely addicted to the lovely dark brew. Could I quit my five-cup-a-day addiction? No. I have tried to cut back. It didn't work. I am resigned to the fact the coffee-making and drinking ritual I live with will be with me forever.
There is one problem with my coffee consumption. It happens to turn my lovely pearly white teeth an embarrassing shade of ecru.
That's right, without intervention, my teeth would probably have the dark-brown coloration of the stubs of those rank "Pirates of the Caribbean" characters (those who have teeth).
I have tried to reverse the darkening process with a myriad of over-the-counter teeth-whitening products, and, in general, they do work. However, most are not pleasant to use and some can be costly -- although not as much as professional teeth whitening, which I have not yet tried.
I tried the thin plastic-wrap-like clear strips. They were disagreeable to use. The gooey bleaching gel makes the strip slide around on your teeth. Keeping these strips in place for the required time is not easy. Most require a half-hour of use twice a day. Talking and smiling during this time are fairly unmanageable.
And using gel with a mouth tray? Ugh, gag. That's right -- the trays caused a severe gagging reflex. Trying to talk sounds like talking with your mouth full because you are, in fact, talking with a full mouth.
I tried the overnight whitening bleach. Horrible! The white paste went on chalky, then dried to near-cement consistency. Falling asleep with this stuff on your teeth is not easy. Waking up with it is even worse. Scrubbing it off your teeth in the morning with your toothbrush is challenging. But what a relief just to get the hardened paste off.
I also tried various tooth-whitening toothpastes. Easy to use, but much less effective in brightening the teeth.
As I mentioned, I have not gone the professional route because of cost concerns and the fact that, while it's effective initially, any dentist would tell me that with my coffee consumption, no treatment will last forever. I would simply have to come back in six months and pay again.
I wanted an over-the-counter, inexpensive, easy-to-use and pleasant product to whiten my teeth. Well, as you may have guessed, I finally found one.
The product I discovered while perusing the teeth-bleaching aisle at my local Meijer store one day was Plus White 5 Minute Speed Whitening Gel. The 3.0-ounce tube cost only about $5 and stated that it would deliver "one step bleaching power fast and easy!" For the price I thought it might be worth a try. I bought it and tried it that night.
The clear gel was applied very easily with a cotton swab to the front surface of any tooth needing whitening. The directions said to leave on for five minutes, then simply rinse off with cool water. Apply twice a day for two weeks, or until desired results are seen. It could be left on for up to 20 minutes for very stained teeth.
Well, I thought, I can stand anything for five minutes. I simply brushed the gel on while getting ready in the morning and the evening. Five minutes passed very quickly (much better than a half-hour, or overnight). I rinsed off the gel and away I went. The gel tasted nice -- slightly minty and refreshing. I liked it! The best part was that this product worked as well as all the other highly unpleasant and more expensive ones I had tried. My teeth were noticeably cleaner and brighter in just a few days.
Now, I use this product for the stated two-week treatment plan (morning and night for five minutes each) about once every six months. In between, I may use it here and there at night or morning if I feel my teeth need a bit of whiteness.
No, it's not as dramatic as a professional whitening, but Plus White does do a good job of cleaning and brightening dull-looking teeth. It is quick and not unpleasant to use. It's inexpensive. One tube should last through several two-week treatments, at least. Mine has lasted a year!
And the best part? I do not have to quit or even cut back on my consumption of the fiendish caffeinated drink that gets me through my day. In fact, I just finished my large morning mug writing this article. It's about time for me to go brew another pot of delicious, hot, dark java. I'll bleach later.