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Beauty Board: Teeth Whiteners

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 28, 2009

If you're never quite sure whether the ads for popular beauty products can be believed, relax. Our 4you Beauty Board is made up of veteran testers ready to try the latest when it comes to all things beauty. We'll share what worked and what bombed with the hope of making life a little easier for you. This week: teeth whiteners. Did they make us smile or will we be keeping our mouths shut?

Rembrandt Intense Stain Toothpaste
Available at most supermarkets and drugstores; $7.99 for 3 ounces

"Formulated with a unique blend of high-performing micro-polishing particles to cleanse, stain-fighting ingredients and fluoride to restore and strengthen enamel"

Rating: C

Michelle says: Maybe if I had used it over several months, this toothpaste would have done all the magical things promised. Or maybe all the bad news these days is taking away my vibrant smile. All I know is that one tube did not do the trick. One promise definitely wasn't fulfilled: "Enhanced foaming ingredients create the perfect rich and creamy lather." It was pretty much plain ol' toothpaste to me. Since I'm more of an "instant results" gal, I prefer using white strips; you really can see the difference in a week or so. I would say this toothpaste is fine, but don't expect any miracles if you use it entirely on its own.

Michelle Bearden, 53, covers faith and values for the Tribune.

GoSmile Tooth Whitening Kit

Available at Sephora stores, www.Sephora.com, www.Gosmile.com and other online retailers; travel kit is $39.

"Clinically proven to whiten your smile up to 10 shades in just 7 days. No fuss. No mess. No gel. No strips. No trays. No pain!"

Rating: C-

Cloe says: Everyone wants whiter teeth. And the number of products that promise to give you a dazzling smile is dizzying. The GoSmile tooth-whitening system relies on hydrogen peroxide tooth-whitening gel you apply with a toothbrush. The kit includes a toothbrush, antibacterial mouthwash and lemonade toothpaste. It's easy, convenient to use and involved zero gum or tooth sensitivity. I loved the minty-fresh mouthwash, which I happily used to douse the unpleasant flavor of the toothpaste. But, alas, after using all the gel ampules, my choppers were none the whiter. I'm sticking to my Colgate toothpaste.

Cloe Cabrera, 42, is the Tribune's fashion and beauty reporter.

Crest Whitestrips Daily Whitening + Tartar Protection

Available at Walgreens, www.drugstore.com; $39.99 for 38 pouches

"Congratulations! You just took the first step toward a whiter, brighter smile!"

Rating: B

Kim says: I used a great whitening kit from my dentist's office to brighten my teeth last year. I didn't expect to get the same effect from an over-the-counter product - and I didn't. But the Crest Whitestrips kit is an easy-to-use method for maintaining a whiter smile. I can manage five minutes in the morning, and that's all that was required - my teeth looked and felt cleaner. A significant plus is that the Whitestrips are supposed to prevent tartar build-up as well. The minuses: The gel on the strips tastes funky. And if you're not good with Band-Aids, you're certain to struggle with getting the strips out of the pouch and onto your teeth. However, the overall packaging is well-thought-out and attractive enough to keep out on your vanity.

Kim Franke-Folstad, 50, is editor of 4you and Baylife Magazine.

Dr. Katz TheraBrite Plus Ultra Whitening Toothpaste
Available at retail and drugstores and online at www.Amazon.com; $15 for 3.5 ounces

"Extra-strength clinical formula keeps your teeth white!"

Rating: D

Sara says: When the directions called for a dry toothbrush throughout the whitening process, I should have known it wasn't going to be a pleasant experience. The toothpaste was white and had no flavor. This made the full two- to three-minute brushing time less than pleasant. As for my teeth, I started to notice a subtle brightness after a couple of weeks; however, the result wasn't any better than when I use Crest Whitestrips for a couple of days. The toothpaste is supposed to be good for your gums and help with bad breath. I have neither of these problems, but I'm sure if I did, the zinc gluconate, CoQ10, aloe vera, xylitol, and fluoride would help mute it. I'm a firm believer that if you don't find something easy or enjoyable to use, you're not likely to stick with it.

Sara Minton, 31, coordinates the events listings for TBOEXTRA.com and Friday Extra.

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