Difficulty whitening teeth - is this common?

bo0li5eumx12kp · 01-03-2020 10:09PM #1

Started with whitening toothpaste, all different kinds, including activated charcoal.

Then tried whitening gel with moulds.
I used DIY moulds initially, then used a dental custom mouthpiece (actually sports mouthpiece but same thing, right?) with the gel.

Then tried two different types of strips.

One type of strip called "White Nights" made a mild impression, but other than that, I just can't get them white.

First four teeth on the front, upper and lower - perfectly white, always have been.
It's from the K9's back and lower corresponding tooth, back - yellow.

Not a huge issue, but I really want to get them white.
I understand the teeth in question are thicker so tend to be yellow in contrast to the thinner front teeth.

There's gotta be a way though, right?

Laser treatment or something?
Or would I be burning my money - as in some people teeth just don't whiten?

Fishorsealant · 01-03-2020 10:39PM

Vital tooth bleaching can be unpredictable.

You need to go to a dentist and get bleaching done that way.

Those over the counter products and abrasive toothpastes won’t make the difference you are looking for.

You need bleach of a certain concentration which can only be prescribed by a dentist and is not available over the counter/online.

bo0li5eumx12kp · 02-03-2020 08:21AM

Fishorsealant wrote: »

Vital tooth bleaching can be unpredictable.

You need to go to a dentist and get bleaching done that way.

Those over the counter products and abrasive toothpastes won’t make the difference you are looking for.

You need bleach of a certain concentration which can only be prescribed by a dentist and is not available over the counter/online.

Do you mean in-office bleaching?

That would certainly be a favoured option cause getting take-home custom trays made costs a fortune.

Also the gel I used was 44% concentration from China.

02-03-2020 08:29AM

Alina Wet Jock wrote: »

Do you mean in-office bleaching?

That would certainly be a favoured option cause getting take-home custom trays made costs a fortune.

Also the gel I used was 44% concentration from China.

Actually the take home trays are the favoured option, better control, better effect, less concentrated gel, lasts longer, and you can top up whenever you like.

44% is three times the recommended safe concentration of carbamide peroxide and almost 8 times the safe hydrogen peroxide concentration. Plus the gel you are buying is not regulated or subject to safety standards. You are a bit of a numpty if you are using it, it’s effectively demestos in a syringe.

bo0li5eumx12kp · 02-03-2020 01:36PM

Thanks a bunch for the clear response.

Trays at home sound good - cost wise, what would I be lookin' at?

I should mention that, finances wise, I'm not exactly ballin' outta control so, want to keep that as regulated as possible.

Many clinics seem to advertise trays and gel for about 300.

But then this clinic near me is advertising for 150.
150 I can swing.

I had actually assumed given 44% gel wasn't working that, maybe I just needed in office whitening but, clinics I've looked at - the "zoom" procedure it seems to be called - they're coming in about 450.
But your response suggests that it was the trays I was using were just not facilitating correct whitening - which is aces cause I was terrified I'd have yellow K9's forever.

Price wise, users prob don't want to recommend any specific clinic but, what would be roughly my best budget price if I looked around (but naturally still up to par work, cause the China gear cost me like, 7 euros)?

reg114 · 02-03-2020 01:39PM

Alina Wet Jock wrote: »

Thanks a bunch for the clear response.

Trays at home sound good - cost wise, what would I be lookin' at?

I should mention that, finances wise, I'm not exactly ballin' outta control so, want to keep that as regulated as possible.

Many clinics seem to advertise trays and gel for about 300.

But then this clinic near me is advertising for 150.
150 I can swing.

I had actually assumed given 44% gel wasn't working that, maybe I just needed in office whitening but, clinics I've looked at - the "zoom" procedure it seems to be called - they're coming in about 450.
But your response suggests that it was the trays I was using were just not facilitating correct whitening - which is aces cause I was terrified I'd have yellow K9's forever.

Price wise, users prob don't want to recommend any specific clinic but, what would be roughly my best budget price if I looked around (but naturally still up to par provision, cause the China gear cost me like, 7 euros)?

Prolonged periods of antibiotic use can irreversibly alter the colour of the teeth (making them more yellow), this may or may not be relevant in this case but worth thinking about.

rawn · 02-03-2020 01:47PM

I'd love to know the answer to this! I did get laser treatment in a dentists and while they clearly lightened a few shades, they were still yellow and dark, the dentist said I could maintain that shade with top ups but they wouldn't get any whiter. I've been considering veneers at this stage. I don't even want Hollywood white but the yellowness is depressing. I don't smoke whereas some of my friends smoke heavily and have whiter teeth that me, which is a little frustrating

btkm8unsl0w5r4 · 02-03-2020 01:55PM

This is actually a very complex topic. There are a lot of variables. What concentration of bleach, and what concentration of that bleech is still active by yhe time you put it on your teeth. How well do the trays fit your mouth? How well do you apply the bleach. Its is at home only or in office. At home is better to a combination at home and in office work the best.

There are then factors to do with your teeth, how permeable are they to the bleaching ions?

Some peoples teeth bleach well with little effort, however for most people a precise and careful method is needed. The dentist needs to provide active gels within the legal limits. Generally bleaching that is not in a custom made tray is worthless.

reg114 · 02-03-2020 02:03PM

Pharmaceuticals that cause teeth discolouration ...

https://www.colgate.com/en-in/oral-health/cosmetic-dentistry/teeth-whitening/medicines-that-stain-your-teeth

bo0li5eumx12kp · 02-03-2020 05:13PM

reg114 wrote: »

Prolonged periods of antibiotic use can irreversibly alter the colour of the teeth (making them more yellow), this may or may not be relevant in this case but worth thinking about.

My front 4 teeth top and bottom are perfectly white.

Would anti-biotics discolour all the teeth?

bo0li5eumx12kp · 02-03-2020 06:34PM

I should mention also, the sports mouth piece I have is a dental impression one.

Not a boil and bite.

Would that be the same basically as whitening moulds?

The dental office I attend sends the impression mould to the same lab for making the trays, be it for sports or whitening purposes.

Are the whitening moulds made different to the sports moulds?

02-03-2020 07:25PM

Alina Wet Jock wrote: »

I should mention also, the sports mouth piece I have is a dental impression one.

Not a boil and bite.

Would that be the same basically as whitening moulds?

The dental office I attend sends the impression mould to the same lab for making the trays, be it for sports or whitening purposes.

Are the whitening moulds made different to the sports moulds?

Yes they are different.

Sportsgaurds are made to fit snugly against your teeth so that they don’t move. Whitening trays typically have a 1mm space between inside of tray and front surface of teeth to allow for the gel. If your sportsgaurd did not fit against the surface of your teeth, it would move on impact and be incapable of absorbing the force applied.

Out of interest, how would you know where a clinic sends their laboratory work? From your posts, I don’t get the sense you are on first name terms with your dentist and I can’t imagine they tell you which laboratory they use for each prosthesis.

bo0li5eumx12kp · 02-03-2020 08:56PM

Dav010 wrote: »

Yes they are different.

Sportsgaurds are made to fit snugly against your teeth so that they don’t move. Whitening trays typically have a 1mm space between inside of tray and front surface of teeth to allow for the gel. If your sportsgaurd did not fit against the surface of your teeth, it would move on impact and be incapable of absorbing the force applied.

Out of interest, how would you know where a clinic sends their laboratory work? From your posts, I don’t get the sense you are on first name terms with your dentist and I can’t imagine they tell you which laboratory they use for each prosthesis.

Nah they were pretty open about it, it's a lab across town.
Been there a bunch of times also to have some minor filing down done to my mouth piece.
He told me he does all the mould work for that clinic, sports guards, whitening trays etc.

bo0li5eumx12kp · 04-03-2020 06:24PM

Dav010 wrote: »

Sportsgaurds are made to fit snugly against your teeth so that they don’t move. Whitening trays typically have a 1mm space between inside of tray and front surface of teeth to allow for the gel. If your sportsgaurd did not fit against the surface of your teeth, it would move on impact and be incapable of absorbing the force applied.

From a dental lab technician and several dental clinics - I got no feedback that they actually do this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQr0a800ic8

That being said, there is an outline it's what they SHOULD do - include that 1 mm gap - but apparently some don't do it?

Is that possible?

Dianthus · 04-03-2020 07:30PM

From the other thread; you posted that you are now attending a technician to have trays made.
Ensure they are qualified, registered, insured, licenced, have correct cross infection control measures, ect ect
Beyond that, advice has been given inasmuch as possible; mainly; to see a dentist

Difficulty whitening teeth - is this common?

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