Beauty / Trying On A (Whiter) Colgate Smile

Trying On A (Whiter) Colgate Smile

Beauty Jun 02, 2013

by Farah Khan

Don't have time for a whitening appointment? Include a whitening toothpaste to your routine!

The holiday season brings with it great cheer, joy, relaxation…and stained teeth! The crime of having turkey dinners, yams and warm cups of cocoas leaves behind an ugly proof that dares to expose itself every time we smile. And come first of January, a panic attack follows the realization that Valentine's Day is a mere month-and-a-half away.

One of my many new year's resolutions, and the only one I have kept so far, is to work on making my teeth as white as possible. First impressions, more often than not, do become last impressions. And who doesn't want to look ravishing for a Valentine's dinner?

In their natural generally well-kept state, teeth are usually within light-greyish yellow tones, and are not meant to be pearly white. Hence, the Canadian Dental Association(CDA) considers teeth lightening a cosmetic procedure. Most teeth-whitening products fall under two categories; surface whiteners and bleaches. The former usually come in the form of toothpastes or chewing gums, clean only the superficial surface stains, and are much less abrasive. However, being much less abrasive, they are also much less effective. Bleaches, on the other hand, use a higher concentration of hydrogen peroxide, whether the method is using heat on a bleached tooth, wearing a custom-made mouth-guard for a given period of time each day, or including a toothpaste in your daily brushing routine that has a bleaching agent mixed in it.

If you are like me, that is to say, generally lethargic, you most likely would not bother making a trip to the dentist, or wearing a mouth-guard at any time of the day, both of which may end up being quite expensive. This is where the toothpaste comes into action. Whitening toothpastes are excellent in that they combine your daily cleaning needs with the bleaching effect you desire, and do not force you into redoing your monthly budgets.

About a month ago, I started using the new Colgate Optic White as part of my daily brushing routine. The paste has hydrogen peroxide mixed in it, the same whitening ingredient that is present in whitening strips, albeit with a less concentration of about 1%. Colgate claims to go beyond the surface stains and deep within the tooth to whiten and brighten them.

After a month of regular use, I can say without making an overstatement, that my teeth have certainly gone a shade lighter. My central incisor teeth(upper front two teeth) in particular look and feel great. This is probably because they are most easily accessible when brushing and are in great shape in general. No, my teeth are not pearly white, not yet atleast. That would be a miracle. Yet they do look brighter and healthier!

For those looking for a quick solution, whitening strips would appear to be a more feasible idea. However, whitening strips cannot always reach the tricky corner areas that a toothbrush can. Skipping wearing braces as a child rendered my bottom teeth non-aligned, which makes it difficult for teeth whitening strips to be thoroughly effective. Using Colgate Optic White allowed me to significantly lighten the appearance of a nasty yellow stain on my lower left canine tooth, which had so far won the battle due to the tooth's crooked position.

The toothpaste comes with a minty flavour that leaves your mouth feeling fresh for a long time. Personally, it is a little too strong for my taste, but then I am one of those people who would rather buy a Juicy Fruit gum rather than an Excel. If you love chewing gums with a strong mint, you will love this toothpaste. The two flavors available are sparkling mint and cool mint. Lots of mint!

The toothpaste produces the largest amount of foam I have ever encountered. More foam to me means more cleaning power. It also means my skin tingles as the foam runs down my chin. Do remember to lean over the sink as you brush, or your night suit will also get some nice foaming action.

For optimum results, use it with the new Colgate Optic White toothbrush. The length, shape and size of the bristles and whitening cups are custom designed to help you achieve the best possible outcome. The bristles, being softer than other toothbrushes I have used, work well with my sensitive gums, and to a good extent have relieved me from being horrified at the general blood loss every time I brush too rough.

All in all, this is a good whitening product for a continued use. However, if you are short on time, whitening strips would be your best alternative. Tooth sensitivity and the general condition of your mouth should always be taken into consideration before going for a product like this, as it may be temporarily irritating. It is wise to follow the Canadian Dental Association's recommendation that you consult your dentist before going for a bleaching system.

Now that I am satisfied with my bright new smile, I can turn the focus on clearing my skin. A green tea overdose perhaps? It comes out in March at your local stores and pharmacies.
_{Sources: cda-adc.ca, colgate.com, 3dwhite.com, and juicyfruit.com}

Farah Khan

Author

Farah joined ANOKHI LIFE while finishing up her degree in English Literature and Writing at the University of Toronto. Her position since then has expanded across all departments, everything from office administration and corporate affairs, to ANOKHI's online presence and events. . .

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Trying On A (Whiter) Colgate Smile

by Farah Khan

Don't have time for a whitening appointment? Include a whitening toothpaste to your routine!

Farah Khan

COMMENTS

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