If just reading the words "teeth whitener" makes your pearly whites zing, this review is for you. I just celebrated my 18th year as a beauty editor, and over my career I've tested thousands of products. One of those categories is teeth whiteners. Some are crazy expensive, pain-inducing professional ones (like the worth-the-pain one I did before my wedding), some involve ugly, at-home lights that take up counter space and look like they're from outer space and feel a little too time-consuming to make part of your routine, and others are pastes that marketers swear will remove a lifetime of coffee and wine stains after just one brush (we wish!). I've tried them all, and what I've discovered is that the ones that deliver the best results are usually the ones that cause some discomfort. And while some say beauty is pain, there's nothing worse than teeth sensitivity.
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A few weeks ago, I met with the company Made By Dentists. And, as their name implies, they're an oral care company created by sisters and dentists Dr. Lisa Creaven and Dr. Vanessa Creaven.In 2016, the two women sold their practice to work on innovating the oral care market. A few points of difference: their tubes are made from post-consumer recycled materials and are 100% recyclable; they don't contain SLS, parabens, DEA, propylene glycol, or triclosan, which are still found in many of the larger oral care brands; and they don't test on animals.
The kids' rechargeable electric toothbrushes and quirky pastes are decorated with green monsters, blue sharks, and purple aliens (my toddlers love them), and their adult products are sleek, reasonably price, and sold at Target. Their Sonic Toothbrush is under $100 and my husband's new favorite (he replaced a much more expensive brand with it; I swear).
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Then I tried their new Teeth Whitening Powder. After 18 years of seeing new products, I rarely stumble upon something I've never heard of before or something that gets me super excited—but when this landed on my desk, I was genuinely intrigued. The white pot of powder reminded me of the dry powders skincare brands make so consumers can add them to their favorite cleansers for an exfoliating boost, and turns out, that's kind of what this does for your teeth.
The dentist duo created the powder using three whitening ingredients that work to oxidize stains: Phthalimido-peroxy-caproic acid (PAP), Hydroxyapatite, and diamond powder. You simply dip your toothbrush (with your regular paste on it) into the powder, or you can sprinkle some onto your brush with your fingers for a whitening boost that's safe enough to use up to twice a day. Any new form is fun so I was excited to try this. The packaging is minimal, so I was fine to store it next to my current electric toothbrush. I blobbed on my paste per usual, then dipped it into the fine white powder and got to brushing. There's no jarring taste or scent (just a subtle minty freshness), and my brushing experience felt normal (there's no sandblasting going on here) and it rinsed clean. After about a week of use, I could see a difference in the whiteness of my smile. The best part? Others noticed too. My mom asked what I did differently. I've been sending her home whitening treatments for years but she's always too nervous to use them, fearing they'll increase her already sensitive teeth. Not this one. And unlike many of the abrasive whitening treatments (remember the aggressive charcoal craze?) that can actually damage your enamel, this powder is microfine and not abrasive.
My parents always preached to me the importance of good dental hygiene. I've never missed a six-month cleaning and, humble brag, I've never had a cavity. While I might still get a profesh whitening treatment every few years, as far as an at-home product, this powder takes the cake. At under $25 and at Target, it's small, easy to use, and super effective. Here's a pic of my smile after incorporating the powder after a few weeks. Hot tip: The right nude lipstick for your skin tone also helps your teeth look brighter. I'm feeling extra ready to "say cheese" in my holiday photos.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/IMG_0109-249e4518d7e04bc687d9264c4c88cfc3.jpg "This Whitening Powder Is the Toothpaste Upgrade That Made My Teeth Noticeably Brighter—Just In Time For Holiday Photos (1)")
