Posted by Healthy Bitch Daily on Nov 13, 2012
'Cause your chompers can be pretty without all those chemicals
And with fall here to stay, we’re switching up our beverages. We’re trading white wine for red, frosty margaritas for toasty rum and iced tea for hot. We’re also guzzling tons of coffee to make it through the day now that it gets dark before we're even done with afternoon meetings. So lame.
But all those dark, warming drinks come with a price—they stain your chompers. Along with aging, tobacco products, alcohol, tea, coffee, food coloring and other additives can all turn down the gleam on your grill. And with holiday season right around the corner, no one wants to be running around with dark or yellowed teeth. We’ve got holiday photos and parties filled with flash-happy frenemies to contend with, damnit. And while lightening your teeth is as easy as dropping a few hundred dollars at the dentist or picking up some whitening strips at the drugstore, think again.
The Price of Pearly Whites
Anything that makes you look good that quickly usually comes with a price. And with teeth whitening, it’s ingesting a ton of toxins. So not pretty. Yep, sit in the dentist’s chair for a teeth-whitening process and you’re basically soaking your teeth and gums in a bath of nasty chemicals, including coal tar, benzene, fluoride, aspartame and aluminum. Some of these chemicals are carcinogenic. Others contribute to headaches, dizziness, fatigue, allergic reactions, seizures, tremors, confusion, asthma attacks and dementia.
In addition, there’s pretty much no way to avoid swallowing these ingredients, no matter how diligent you and your dentist are. The chemicals usually leak from the trays into your mouth at some point. That’s why the procedure usually comes with a warning that you might experience “heightened sensitivity to hot and cold beverages and food.” What they’re not telling you is that it’s because the bleaching agents are reaching nerves within your teeth. In addition to extreme sensitivity, the chemicals can also cause mouth sores.
Because they're considered cosmetic products, teeth whiteners aren’t regulated by the FDA—and there’s been no research done on their long-term effects. The active ingredient in most is hydrogen peroxide. Studies show that during a teeth-whitening procedure, at least 25 percent of it is swallowed, which releases free radicals into your body and can stimulate cancer-causing cells. And as the use of teeth whiteners has tripled since the year 2000, oral cancer rates have increased in young people at alarming rates—even in people who don’t use tobacco. Hmm....
So in your pursuit of pearly whites, don’t drown your mouth in a sea of toxic shit. Try the natural versions we’ve discovered instead:
Whitening Lightning ZERO White Teeth Whitening Pen. Vegan, cruelty-free and not tested on animals. The latest product from a Hollywood mobile teeth whitening service, it’s made with all-natural botanical ingredients. Peroxide-free. Brush it on your teeth before bed to whiten 7-10 shades in 14 days. $79 for a pen with at least 15 applications at www.whiteninglightning.com. Use the code HEALTHY70 for 70% off your order.
White Glo Express Whitening System. Uses carbamide peroxide as the active ingredient, which has a lower potency than hydrogen peroxide and is safer on teeth and gums. Australian company offers a range of products, including mouth trays, whitening strips and pens. They're unavailable for purchase in the US, but American customers can purchase it from www.whiteglo.com and receive free shipping with a $75.00 AUD purchase (about $78.00 US).
The Verdict
Pros: Freshens your face without the extreme chemicals.
Cons: Results not as obvious as with a pricey in-office treatment.
Want to know the deets on what else to buy? Click here to browse through our "What the Hell Do I Buy" category on the website!
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Liz Farrington, Features Writer
A vegetarian who wishes she could stay vegan, Liz is a media professional and former editor at several fitness and lifestyle publications throughout Southern California. Now principal in Farrington Communications, she does sales, marketing, writing and editing for a range of clients. When she’s not shopping for leather-free handbags or deciding which companies to boycott, the Austin resident enjoys following liberal politics, detoxing at the co-op, scoping farmers’ markets and volunteering for animal rescue.
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