Teeth whitening costs - especially these days - are high enough to deter some people from their goal of having that beautiful white smile. And, at almost $500 for the complete treatment, unless you’re a dentist - or married to one - you probably don’t have the extra funds lying around to even think about it. And furthermore, everyone knows that this service isn’t covered under most dental policies. So, are there things you can do to whiten your teeth, that you can actually afford? Well, yes! And here is a short list for you:
Over the counter products - You can choose from many brands of tooth whitener these days - and the prices vary. You can go really cheap, and in this case the paint-on gel sells for under $10 - so it’s pretty affordable. However, cheap isn’t always synonymous with quality.
In addition to being the weakest link in the store-bought whitening category, it also falls into the “not convenient to apply” category. Things like gel that collects and thickens on some teeth, yet slides off others, is a common problem reported by consumers. But the biggest complaint is, the product doesn’t really make that much of a difference in the way your teeth look - and it leaves a disgusting taste in your mouth, as well.
Whitening strips - Many people have found the strip to be effective enough that they use it exclusively for their whitening needs - however, depending on what brand you buy, one kit can be as high as $27 a box. Then, you have to memorize which strip goes on the upper, and which one goes on the lower set of teeth. But, after you get the routine down, you can plan on relaxing for the 10 minutes it takes for the strips to do the bleaching work.
Moreover, the “taste” of the strips, while not GOOD, is at least, bearable - when compared with the paint-on gel, anyway. And, there are even some strips you can get that are flavored - and dissolve on the teeth once the treatment is over. However, you should be aware that “dissolve” is too optimistic a word in some cases, and consumers have reported that the strips only partial dissolve, at best - and then hang around to gum up your teeth. However, it is true that with continued use, your teeth will get whiter!
Natural alternatives - There are a couple of ways to whiten your teeth the Mother Earth way - and very affordably, as well. By making a paste of baking soda, salt and hydrogen peroxide and using it as you would toothpaste, you not only get your teeth super clean, but the peroxide will eventually whiten them. But be prepared to wait it out for awhile, as far as looking for the “brightening” to happen overnight, goes anyway. Also, be warned that this is one of the concoctions that doesn’t taste good - thanks to the baking soda. And finally, if you tend to be a “hard brusher”, you will need to lighten up - as abrasives in the baking soda can wear down tooth enamel very quickly.
And there’s even a aromatic way to spit shine those pearly’s - just rub each tooth down with the inside of an orange peel. This is said to work amazingly fast, however, you can damage your teeth if you’re not careful - as citrus contains acids that wear the enamel down. So, if you are going to use this system, make sure after you “rub”, you “rinse” really well.
So, there you have some facts on how to combat high teeth whitening costs. Hopefully, one of these ways will work for you, and you won’t have to save up for 10 year to have a pricey professional treatment done at your dentist’s office. If you wish to research this subject further, feel free to surf the internet - where you’re sure to find many more alternatives than were addressed here.
