Anyone ever try the "free" teeth whitening products advertised

[yy4me]

all the time on my MSN home page. It is a two part deal. Free samples from both companies, just pay 3.99 for shipping. Ivory Bites and Teeth Whitening Pro. Use one, then the other. This is the first time I have ever bought one of this kind of promo so I hope it works. No hope for me to ever have it done by a dentist, too $$$$.
If it is no good, then no big loss but if it works it will be great. Just curious as to what to expect. The regular over-the-counter things have not worked. At least the cheaper ones, and even they are not cheap.

[MarjorieG]

1. Many of these close-up ads produce colors by printing filtration. Look at overall cast.

[BlueJazz]

2. I tried it but my results are just "So-So"

[MADem]

4. Oh, that's just...ghastly. That poor person. Imagine the pain.... nt

[BlueJazz]

5. Yeah...I don't eat much Popcorn....No..I'm kidding..Actually that's a before pic. the "After" pic ..

...looks pretty good ..so I'm glad the person is OK now. :)

[MADem]

3. There's a much cheaper alternative.

Two affordable products, that you probably have in your house. Back in the old, old days, this is how people got their "pearly whites:"

http://www.ehow.com/how_2054497_make-homemade-tooth-whitener.html

Step 1 Buy some baking soda and hydrogen peroxide for this particular tooth whitening recipe.

Step 2 Take one teaspoon of baking soda and a couple of drops of hydrogen peroxide. Be careful to only use a small amount of the peroxide.

Step 3 Mix the baking soda with the hydrogen peroxide and use as you would toothpaste.



You can also gargle and swish with peroxide and water.

http://www.myhomeremedies.com/topic.cgi?topicid=200
Whitening teeth with Hydrogen Peroxide:

Studies on humans repeatedly using oral health products containing hydrogen peroxide have shown that:

* using mouth rinses or mouth washes that contain up to 1.5% hydrogen peroxide once or twice daily for up to 2 years had no adverse effects on the inside of the mouth, gums or tongue and can even improve gum health significantly.

However, one study reported discoloration of the inner lining of the mouth and the tongue when used 4 times daily for 5 weeks.
* adults who brushed with a toothpaste containing 0.87% hydrogen peroxide twice a day for 6 months showed no differences in gum health
* rinses containing 3% hydrogen peroxide used 3 to 5 times per day can cause irritation in people with a previous mouth injury; and
* rinsing and brushing 2 to 3 times daily with products containing more than 6% hydrogen peroxide can affect the tongue and gums in some healthy people.

There are studies being conducted upon hydrogen peroxide and DNA damage, cancer, reproductive disorders, etc.
So I cannot stress enough to use the proper dilution rate, no more than twice a day, and do not swallow!

[earthside]

7. Yup. H2O2.

Look at the active ingredient in virtually all the teeth whitening products: hydrogen peroxide.

You can whiten your teeth and reduce the build-up of plaque and calculus simply be rinsing with hydrogen peroxide ... LESS than a penny a rinse!

Rinse with a 3 percent once a day for one minute for about three days on, four days off. Or you can dilute your drugstore H2O2 by half and rinse more often.

Consider also going on line and buying some food grade hydrogen peroxide and use -- DILUTING accordingly -- very, very, very important (you can find charts by Googling).

Drug store peroxide is 'stabilized' usually using a metal ingredient, something I prefer to avoid; food grade is pure.

I have had great success doing this ... after I started doing this about a year ago my dentist just couldn't get over the fact that I had almost nothing to work on during my twice yearly cleaning visit. My gum health has also improved. And ... my teeth are noticeably whiter!

[dipsydoodle]

6. When I was a kid

I wondered if Vim which was a bath cleaning powder would make my teeth whiter if I brushed them with it. It kinda had that effect : it made my gums red. :rofl:

[MADem]

8. OUCH!!! That's like brushing with....Bon Ami!!! Gaaaah!!!! nt

[MUAD_DIB]

9. I wouldn't use it!!

I'm wary of real professional whitening, but as I understand it these kits might leave you with the fronts of your teeth whiter, but the edges between the teeth may remain the same color: leaving you with a weird contrast of white and darker areas.

[azmouse]

10. OTC whiteners make my teeth very sensitive to heat and cold.

I stay away from all of them.