Teeth Whitening - Crest Whitestrips Review

In preparation for my wedding, in (argh!) 80 days, I started doing some research about different teeth whitening products and treatments on the market. I was quoted around £70 for a teeth bleaching kit (via my Denplan dentist) but there were no guarantees it would actually make my teeth a whole lot whiter.

I read quite a bit about Crest Whitestrips online - mostly from blogs and Youtube videos from the US. The results looks pretty incredible so I thought I'd give them a try. I bought some gum shields a couple of years ago from a pharmacy in San Fransisco and they did work but I felt for my wedding, I needed something a bit stronger!

I used the Professional Effects strips. They cost about £40 for 20 sets of upper and lower strips.

Advertised as:

"The latest Crest 3D White Whitestrips Professional Effects contains the identical fenamel-safe ingredient dentists use. It’s so quick and easy to use. Simply apply once a day for 30 minutes and you’ll start seeing a white smile within just a few days and a complete transformation within only 20 days."

I ordered some Crest Whitestrips from a website called Dent Store (http://www.dentstore.co.uk/). They seemed to have good feedback and it all looked above board! I'd watched some Youtube videos where users reported pain, headaches and tooth sensitivity for days after using the strips so I was anxious to say the least. I haven't had the best dental-related experiences over the last 15 years with 4 root canals, braces and one implant, I try to take care of my teeth as much as possible!



Peel off the strips and stick them firmly onto the row of teeth (avoiding gums!)

They say you can use the strips for 30 minutes each day and if used consecutively, after 3 days, you should see the difference. I first used them on Wednesday 22nd February....and boy did it hurt! My teeth aren't particularly sensitive normally but even after about 10 minutes there was tingling, intermittent shooting pains and burning! Sounds scary doesn't it, but it wasn't quite THAT bad - I have had much worse dental pain!

I managed to keep them on for the requisite 30 minutes for maximum effect and once I took them off, my teeth hurt slightly when drinking cold water but I really could see the difference already. Rather than using them daily, I've opted for every other day. I'm due my fourth use tonight.

Please note: these are not my teeth! An example given by the website!

The second and third uses were absolutely fine. I sat still and read a book, trying not to concentrate on any slight tingling! Actually, there was no pain or sensitivity at all after the first use. Perhaps it was just my teeth getting used to it. Although its not the most pleasant experience, I would definitely recommend them because my teeth are now noticeably whiter and I can't wait to see how white I can get them before the big W-day!

Have you used these or other white strips before? Were they painful? Did you have good results?

Love TM

The Real Housewives...an update.

Now I know this is the height of tack but I cannot get enough of the Real Housewives series. I seem to have become obsessed then afterwards, full of shame for being entertained by such trash! H2B refuses to watch and mocks me relentlessly!

The Beverley Hills lot are my far the best but I've also been series linking the RH of Orange County on ITV daily at 3.40pm! In case you haven't seen the last series of the RH of BH, here's a quick catch up!

Kim has gone insane. Lets face it, she was pretty messed up before but she's seriously koo koo now. (Did you see her in the ski chalet episode?) Kyle claims she's an alcoholic and her voice mail to Adrienne doesn't do much to dispel this theory. I've heard that Kim has opted out of the next series, choosing instead to enter rehab, again.

Adrienne still argues with her long suffering husband Paul. Why are they together again? She can barely seem to look at him without frowning! And what's with all this glittery hair extensions? Is she 9 or 49? Her basketball (?) team hate her for some reason along with her Maloof brothers yet despite the threat of 'beer cans being thrown' she so valiantly attended the game and risked her life!

Camille seems to have gotten over Frasier and is actually staying out of the bitching (to a degree) for once. Her weird ginger friend makes a come back but at least the fake cigarette-smoking mind reader has so far been avoided! But alas, she is selling the ski chalet. (Not because she can't afford it though - she so subtly makes clear) Just because it holds such painful memories : (

Lisa, ah Lisa Van Der Pump, you gotta love her! And who calls their daughter Pandora?! I did love her wedding though, the flowers and cake though the sickly sweet pink got a but much. I still admire anyone who has the balls to marry a 'Ken' - such a fab English name! No nonesence, straight talking 'therapy is a sign of weakness' Ken. Still not entirely sure where the Van Der Pump name came from!

Then there's poor little Taylor. Taylor whose teeth are too big for her head, lips too big for her face and cheekbones that could serioulsy injure a passing child. Taylor who claimed in Series One that she saw her late husband over a crowded room and just thought 'that's the man for me.' Hiding in a suitcase? Flipping out over her make-up bag? I really hope she's getting help now because something was very wrong and made for pretty uncomfortable watching that last episode.

Kyle has moved into a bigger home bless her. At least now in the opening credits she admits 'I'm not the richest girl.' You're right, you're not. Your husband is. But her daughter Portia is adorable so I'll let her off.

Lisa and Kyle are the most likeable characters. Kyle looks gorgeous with her long thick dark hair and amazing clothes and earrings and Lisa....well, I can't get enough of the helicopter shots of her house (and by that I mean mansion, grounds, estate!)

Please leave any comments below. Which is your favourite? Are you enjoying this season? 

Love TM