[Disclaimer: I’ve partnered with Smile Brilliant to bring you this post. All opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this blog!]
I’m so excited to finally share my first professional teeth whitening experience with you all! I’ve been working with Smile Brilliant since last summer, but because I was pregnant, I decided to wait until Olive was born to begin my teeth whitening journey. So, you can imagine I was VERY anxious to get started last month (remember to always consult with your doctor first if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding).
My First Time
This was my first professional teeth whitening experience, ever. That’s right. I’ve only used Crest White Strips a few times in the past, and I never thought they worked very well for me. However, I’ve always been too terrified to professionally whiten my teeth because, well, these are my teeth we’re talking about!! I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopardize my smile and that includes putting weird chemicals in my mouth. I also have very sensitive teeth and get aches and pains very easily. Not to mention, when it came to cost, there was no way I was going to pay $500 or more to get the job professionally done!!
When I heard about Smile Brilliant, I was instantly intrigued because the first thing they told me was that they take tooth sensitivity very seriously and assured me their product was would help with that. Their products are also cruelty-free and vegan, which was important to me (they don’t do any animal testing nor do they work with any factories that do so. The glycerin in their gels is vegetable based). It was also inexpensive (starts at $139/kit depending on how deep your stains are) and the results I had seen were amazing. Plus, it seemed really easy to do at home, which was a huge bonus as a new mom.
Did you know that the #1 dentist recommended way to whiten your teeth is with custom-fitted whitening trays? This is to ensure every angle of every tooth receives consistent coverage, and the Smile Brilliant kit (which I’m giving away at the link below) is exactly that! I received the T3 Non-Sensitive System in the mail, which came with custom trays, the paste to make your teeth molds, and teeth whitening/desensitizing gel. It only took me about 30 minutes to create my molds and drop them in the mail (postage is included), while I waited 5-7 business days to receive my trays.
My Routine
My nightly routine for the past few weeks has consisted of feeding my newborn daughter, Olive, around 7 pm, putting her down for a quick nap, while I spent an hour on myself and my beauty routine. The Smile Brilliant whitening process involves two phases, so first I would first fill my trays with the whitening gel and leave those in for about 45 minutes. You can actually leave these on as long as 3 hours, but because my teeth are super sensitive, I wanted to keep it as short as possible.
Once the 45 minutes was up, I’d brush my teeth to remove all the whitening gel, clean out my trays and begin phase two, which was filling my trays with the desensitizing gel for another 15 minutes. It did seem like a lot of work in the beginning, having to clean trays and do two rounds, but the desensitizing gel is SO important because it helps with tooth sensitivity and prevents future staining. I even used this gel on my ‘off’ nights from the whitening gel (I whitened every other night, or sometimes took two nights off if my teeth were feeling extra sensitive that day). I’ve completed 11 treatments so far, and the results are impressive!
The Results
If you know me, it’s no secret that I love my coffee. Especially as a new mom….coffee is needed now more than ever before! So, there is no way I’m going to slow down on the caffeine anytime soon. As you can see in the top photo (my BEFORE), my teeth were discolored and a little bit yellow from years of drinking coffee (and wine). And now, even after drinking coffee 24/7, they’re much brighter and beautiful! I plan to continue using my kit for a few more treatments to get them even a little bit whiter, but I’m SO happy with these results so far!! It’s exciting to see the difference and prove to everyone that Smile Brilliant really works. I’d recommend it to all my friends!! I don’t think I could ever go back to white strips after this experience.
How to Get Your Own Kit
Smile Brilliant was kind enough to give away one T3 Sensitive Kit to our readers – that’s a $149 value for FREE!! All you have to do to enter is fill out the entry form here (it takes less than a minute to complete and open to Australia, Canada, the U.K., and the U.S.). BUT, if you want your own professional teeth whitening kit right now, you can also use code LAURLORE15 for 15% off any Smile Brilliant purchase!!
Do your friends whiten their teeth? Would you ever try Smile Brilliant? Let me know in the comments below. xoxo – Lauren
You can try one of the above home whitening remedies, such as using baking soda or hydrogen peroxide for a month or so. If you are pleased with the result, keep doing it once every 3 days but avoid smoking and also colored foods or drinks. If the result is not satisfactory then you should opt for a professional whitening in the dental office.