If you’ve been looking to get whiter teeth recently without spending large amounts at cosmetic establishments, then you’ve likely heard of the Colgate® Optic White™ Toothbrush + Built-In Whitening Pen which is a whitening solution that’s available at your local pharmacy. The Toothbrush plus with Whitening Pen, Colgate® Optic White™ Whiteseal Mouthwash, and specialty toothpaste form the basis for this solution and are as affordable as anything else on the market.
I’ve had the opportunity to try out these products and will be showing you just how effective this option is. Let’s face it: you want to see someone actually using it before you spend your money and time.
Compared to Other Whitening Solutions
As someone who used to smoke quite a bit, I was self-conscious about the look of my smile. Not to mention the amount of coffee I drink. Over the years I’ve taken the time to try out several teeth whitening solutions to various results. I’ve tried strips, gels, toothpastes and bleaches of different kinds all of which felt fairly tedious. If you’ve ever slept with a mouth guard filled with chemicals you’ll know what I mean.
Whitening Strips
Some of the more successful solutions I’ve tried include the Crest Classic Whitestrips. Granted this is some years ago but the process isn’t a whole lot different these days. Basically you’re placing these strips on your teeth twice a day for 30 minutes each.
Aside from the fact that I’d regularly forget to use them or not have time to (can’t really do much when you’re teeth are wrapped up), I found that the hydrogen peroxide sort of burned my gums a bit. It wasn’t painful but I did worry some if I was damaging my mouth to some degree.
Also, while it did work, the success was by definition superficial. I didn’t know some of the tricks people use such as using a toothpick to press the strips in between your teeth, or drinking liquids that would stain your teeth through a straw to avoid it touching your teeth.
Bleaching Trays
Ok, bleaching trays do work. The gels you can use in the trays coats every part of your teeth. But the fact remains that you still need to schedule this into your day so it becomes very easy to miss a few and then several treatments.
Even if you aren’t the type of person to forget and do dedicate the time necessary to the chore, this process is even more tedious than the strips. Some of them require you to sleep overnight with it in your mouth! I found that to be quite unpleasant.
Still, as I said, they do work. Though it’s not unusual to pay between $200 and $400 for a kit. That’s not what I’d call affordable, especially when you’ll have to repeat the process over time.
That Being Said
I have abandoned everything I’ve ever tried feeling that the results weren’t worth the effort. In fact, I ended up quitting smoking rather than continue with teeth whitening regiments.
So when I was asked to review Colgate’s solution, I wasn’t exactly enthusiastic. I figured I would get some kit filled with tools and a 22-step list of instructions and warnings. DON’T SWALLOW in big bold letters next to a skull, that sort of thing.
Easy to Use and Not Easy to Forget
Fortunately, that wasn’t the case here. Colgate did the smart thing by making their solution part of what most everyone is already doing. Brush, mouthwash and tooth paste. Simple and straight-forward. I don’t have to get anything else on top of what I’d normally get.
Now there is a tooth whitening paste that needs to be applied to your teeth, but luckily the pen fits right inside the toothbrush. I found that the weight of the toothbrush is all the reminder that I need to apply the paste when I’m done. Were I to forget to fit the pen back into the brush when I’m done, the unmistakable lightness of the empty brush would immediately remind me of what I need to do.
Results Posted in 1 Month
“That all sounds good, Tom,” I hear you say, “but does it work?” Well, that I don’t know yet. I just started using it. But I’ll be posting before and after pictures in a follow-up article within the next few weeks to let you know for sure.
What I can say is that it’s been a no hassle experience so far and that’s the first and most important hurdle for any teeth whitening system, as far as I’m concerned. And since their nailed that aspect, I’m hopeful that the results will follow.
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