Readers share their teeth-whitening woes

Your teeth are gleaming white. Or in some cases blue. And maybe sensitive to air conditioning, cold water and even breathing. But you look good. Was it worth it?

When we asked readers to weigh in with their experiences bleaching their teeth, we learned how much some of you have suffered for beauty.

One reader described a pain so piercing it made him jump, but he doesn't regret it: "The teeth are whiter now, even three years later and I am happy."

Granted, some of you brought it on yourselves by being overly ambitious and using your whitening strips for longer periods of time than recommended. But others followed directions to the letter and still wound up in agony.

"Now I drink everything through a straw due to very sensitive teeth," wrote one dental assistant who over-whitened.

One said her whitening experience was more excruciating than childbirth without an epidural: "I have never gone through anything like that in my life and will NEVER again."

Read on for more reader responses:

I made the one time mistake of thinking that I could sleep with the 30-45 minute whitening strip ... why wait five days to achieve optimum results, right? Well, the next morning, I found out why! I was in misery for about 48 hours — sending my husband out to fetch Orajel tooth desensitizer (which didn't work nearly good enough). And, on top of this, my teeth didn't appear to be any whiter. Even if they were whiter, it would do me no good because the feel of air on them was excruciating! That was one of the absolute longest days of my life! Never again! --Tracy Autry, Lubbock, Texas (submitted on Oct. 18, 2006)

My teeth whitening experience was very positive and affordable for me. I started about six years ago at the dentist. The tray and gel costs around $250. I didn't have to pay for it all at once. I was examined and my dentist said that I was a very good candidate for bleaching. Not everyone is. I bleached at night for about 10-14 days, but if my teeth became a little sensitive I would skip a night or two before continuing. Today, my teeth are still very white and I do touch-ups yearly for around $20. I would recommend bleaching, but have a dental exam first. --Jane Beltrano (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

I went to the dentist a few months ago to have the "Zoom" whitening done. The procedure itself went fine, except for the last session. I had to stop a couple minutes early due to the "zingers" I was feeling. But, the worst was yet to come. After I left the dentist, I kept getting zingers. Their intensity increased and it was painful. Then the zingers subsided and my teeth just started to ache. I was glad the zingers were done, and the ache was mild. But, over the next hours the ache continued to grow in intensity. By that night I was pacing the floor in my house, going for long walks/runs outside, taking Advil, working out vigorously, etc. — anything to not think about the pain. It was horrible! I have never gone through anything like that in my life and will NEVER again. I've given birth (without an epidural!), and this experience was worse than that! I even have a high pain tolerance. I literally felt as if I were going to go crazy because of the constant pain. Finally around 12-13 hours after my procedure, the ache started to subside and finally went away and I fell asleep EXHAUSTED around 1 a.m. I spoke to my dentist office afterwards and was told that the reaction I had was very rare. I figured that, because if it were common, no one would be doing it! --Teresa Wilkins (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

I have been a dental assistant for the last six years; there is nothing wrong with tooth whitening. Sure there is some sensitivity after bleaching, that is normal. Just like everything else, it is fine in moderation. The problem today is, people don't know what moderation is. Tooth whitening is an amazing procedure, especially if you need crown and bridge work. The dentist matches the shade of your teeth to your new crown or bridge. Assuming you're going to have that in your mouth the rest of your life (not to mention they are not cheap), you want it to look nice. Natural teeth fade and change color throughout the course of life, crown and bridge work does not. So do you want to be able to have your natural teeth match your work? Of course, so go ahead and bleach away, just make sure you follow directions and use moderation. --Sarah Queen, Wildomar, Calif. (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

To the college student [in the article] who stated that when her teeth fall out she'll just get veneers: You can't put veneers on teeth that aren't there. Veneers are essentially the front shaving of a crown that is placed on your actually tooth. Hence, no tooth, no veneer. You'll be looking at dentures, sweetheart! --Jenna Getchell, Portland, Ore. (submitted on Oct. 18, 2006)

I figured I would check out a BriteSmile teeth whitening promotion offered by my dentist. After filling out all of the required paperwork I settled in for the treatment — three, 15 minute sessions with a special light and bleaching gel. The first treatment went smoothly, but by the second treatment several of my teeth felt as though they would "vibrate" right out of my head! I have suffered from sensitive teeth for years (affected by cold and sinus issues) but I wasn't prepared for this! The pain was intense and intermittent. When I would begin to think it was subsiding it would hit me again out of the blue. I "bit the bullet" through the final treatment, my finger chalk-white from gripping the armrests so tightly. Afterwards I was given some painkillers but I became nauseous just thinking about the pain that would return out of the blue. This lasted for about 24 hours, after which I did notice a difference in the appearance of my smile but I sincerely doubt I'd ever go through that process again. --Giovanni Gordon, Cleveland, Ohio (submitted on Oct. 18, 2006)

I am a dental assistant and for a while was bleaching constantly and although my teeth are pretty white, I have had to have twp root canals and a crown. I have only had two fillings my whole life until I started bleaching. Due to bleaching too much, the pulp in a couple of my teeth died. I also bleach teeth in my office and while it works, I've never seen teeth get as white as movie stars do. You also have to remember many of them have crowns or veneers put on to make them look Tic Tac white. Bleaching works but it can make teeth extremely sensitive, so now I drink everything through a straw due to very sensitive teeth. --Stephanie Short, Prescott Valley, Ariz. (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

I took the trays home from the dentist. I, too, thought more was better. I would put in 1/4 of a tube of the cream in my trays and did it twice a day. After the second day, I burned a hole in my gums. It took a couple of days for the soreness to go away. So then I went to BriteSmile. That worked great for six months. Too expensive now, back to the trays I guess. --Erik Hassold, Anaheim, Calif. (submitted on Oct. 18, 2006)

I used tray bleaching and found myself with sensitive teeth and occasionally stabbing pain in the nerves of my teeth that made me jump. But the teeth are whiter now, even three years later and I am happy. --Tim Nelson, Seattle, Wash. (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

After using the "strips" sold in stores for a week, my slightly dull teeth (I don't smoke or drink coffee or wine) turned BLUE! For the $40 dollars it cost me to whiten my teeth, it then cost me $500 to go to the dentist for a "zoom" treatment to get the blue out. In all fairness, when I called the company, they sent me my money back. It seems, according to the company, that if you took certain antibiotics in childhood, it will turn your teeth blue if you bleach them as an adult. --R. S., Nanuet, New York (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

I am a dental technician who fabricates porcelain crowns and bridges, and I can attest to the fact that overbleaching makes color matching impossible. The blue-gray color of bleached teeth cannot be replicated with products available on the market today for use in the dental lab. If you ever do need a crown, several will have to be done so they all match. This will represent a sizable investment that could be avoided by not bleaching any whiter than the whites of your eyes. --Christine Scnell, Raleigh, N.C. (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

I have to admit that I have used whitening strips. My teeth are actually pretty white but once in a while a want to touch them up as I am a coffee drinker (OK, addict). I had in the distant past used Crest WhiteStrips but found that they did indeed make my teeth sensitive after use. So I then quit using them and tried Rembrandt Whitening Strips. The Rembrandt strips I feel work better - as I see better results instantly. I am not a whitening addict and use the strips maybe two-three times a month which, if you have fairly white teeth already, is all you need to do. --Robin Sunny, Quincy, Ill. (submitted on Oct. 19, 2006)

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