Taking good care of your teeth ($200 toothbrush, 3 minute brushing, not too hard) vs. whitestrips, trays, etc.

I have white teeth but I want them brighter (like the celebrity's teeth), and I was wondering what would you prefer, taking good care of your teeth (I was planning on buying a $200 SoniCare toothbrush) or using those whitestrips, trays, etc.?

I already have a $20 Oral-B toothbrush. I brush in the morning with Crest VividWhite toothpaste from 1.5~3 minutes and after that I use Crest Whitening mouthwash for 1 minute. Before going to sleep, I brush my teeth with Crest VividWhite Night toothpaste from 1.5~3 minutes and after that I use Crest Glide Floss with Scope on all my teeth, then I use the Crest Whitening mouthwash for 1 minute.

Taking good care of your teeth is something that should be standard, whether or not you want them bleached. keeping them clean will help maintain the whiteness, provided you keep away from things that may cause staining (ie smoking, caffiene (tea, coffee), etc).

If you have white teeth but want them brighter, you may need to see a dentist to get professional strength whiteners. The whitestrips you buy OTC are only at a certain strength; the ones purchased in an office have a higher level of bleach, and depending on the type you get, can have custom trays made to fit the exact contours of your teeth

You're wasting your money on a $200 toothbrush. The $20 Oral-B toothbrushes, when used properly, get your teeth just as clean.

You need to take good care of your teeth regardless. There's no point in having super white teeth if they're decayed and you have periodontal disease. So brush at least twice a day and floss every day and get regular cleanings.

Bleaching works well on most people who have coffee/tea/food stains. : )

Taking good care of your teeth is necessary even if you want to make them brighter.

200 dollar toothbrush may be excessive when manual brushing and floosing can do a good job, or brushing and using a water-pic.

Extra whitening is OK if you are young, but older people with chemically whitened teeth look gross and unnatural.

Look at Regis Philbin etc.

Buy a bottle of hydrogen peroxide and write "ORAL" on it so that you do not mix it up with your other peroxide that is used for minor injuries. This stuff only costs about a buck.
Swish a capful of hydrogen peroxide in your mouth morning and night--do not swallow it. After ten minutes spit it out. Your teeth will look whiter very soon. Also, your breath will be fresher because it is bacteria on your tongue (actually it is the waste the bacteria on your tongue produce) that cause halitosis and peroxide kills off the tongue bacterial.

The toothbrush isn't going to make them any whiter. The strips work if you have fairly yellow teeth and want to see a few shades difference. The best is any product containing carbomide peroxide w/ custom dental trays you get from the dentist. They usually use 10-20% strength. I use my custom trays but buy the 35% carbomide peroxide on line. I don't have to sleep in it- just about 5 min a day every few months. I'd like my teeth even whiter but I must have a blind spot when it comes to my teeth as even my dentist says they are already too white. I do get constant compliments, so I guess they are white enough. I just don't think there is such as thing as teeth being TOO white.

Custom trays from a dentist will cost you a bit more than $200 unless they are running a special. In my area a lot of dentists do it before Valentines Day or school events like proms, etc.

Each persons teeth whiten differently. They claim they will only go back to the color they were as a very young age, but comparing photos of when I was a kid, mine are much, much whiter now.