Psst! Read to the end for a discount code & a giveaway (worth $139)!

Let’s start with the basics of beauty, something Cali and French girls do alike: Care for themselves. It doesn’t matter how much money you spend on makeup or hairspray, your hair, skin, and smile are what make you beautifully you. They will continue with you, every day of your life. No amount of money or procedure can make up for neglecting your body. What makes French and California girls so alluring is that they exude health and beauty in an authentic, organic way. There is something to be said for taking the time to care for yourself and liking your appearance that hasn’t been altered with a flat iron or eyeliner.

Present the best version of yourself.

A candid from a “no makeup day,” in front of my first apartment in Bordeaux; a year after my study abroad. With time, I’ve learned to care for myself and be confident in my au natural appearance.

Let’s. Talk. Teeth.

I’ve always been meticulous about brushing & flossing. I’ve never gotten a cavity. I have healthy teeth.

That said, I drink coffee. Like A LOT of coffee (DIY Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe here)

I drink tea. (Holistic Benefits of Spicy Tea here)

I drink wine.

I eat berries and drink turmeric lattes (Turmeric Latte Recipe here)

BOTTOM LINE:  There are lots of things that stain my teeth.

Wine Tasting in St. Émilion. One of the best regions in the world. No time to worry about “red teeth.”

My NUMBER ONE RECOMMENDATION is to brush or even just rinse with water after eating/drinking these staining foods. It’s easy, effective, and free. But who does that?

Most of the time I sip my large black coffee at work and never leave my desk. 4 hours later, I wish I done a little more for my teeth.

I do a lot to keep my teeth healthy, but it’s not enough to prevent staining.

So I decided to get serious about my teeth. Like most people, I’ve tried whitening toothpaste, gum, and strips. However, these aren’t as effective as a true, professional-grade whitening treatment. But I don’t have lots of time or money to get it done through my dentist.

When I was contacted by Smile Brilliant, I decided to give it a go.

Now, remember when I said I had worked hard to maintain healthy teeth? I didn’t want to destroy them with a cheap bleach kit. NO THANK YOU.

This is from my Instagram Live Unboxing!

You can watch the video on my Facebook here.

Before anything touched my teeth, I had some questions and did my research.

Is the gel professional grade?  Will it ruin my teeth’s enamel?

“Self-administered carbamide peroxide bleaching gels have become increasingly popular for whitening of discolored vital teeth… Its use may induce increased levels of sensitivity and surface roughness of the tooth due to demineralization.” The study supported the use of fluoride which “showed a remineralizing effect on demineralized enamel …compared to unfluoridated 10% carbamide peroxide gel.” Fluoride “did not affect the whitening properties of the gel.” (Source: “Role of fluoridated carbamide peroxide whitening gel in the remineralization of demineralized enamel” )

How do I get the gel on my teeth?  Will it get all over my mouth?

“It is not recommended to use an over-the-counter whitening product, especially over-the-counter products that use mouth trays because the tray will not fit your teeth properly. If the tray does not fit, the whitening gel can leak, which results in gum irritation and less effective whitening, according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. The ineffective fit can also cause you to swallow the whitening formula.” (Source: “Flouride and Whitening”, Livestrong.)

Guess what? Smile Brilliant had beat me to the punch.

– Smile Brilliant uses professional teeth whitening gel, dentist-strength 22% Carbamide Peroxide in 3ml syringes. Lab-direct teeth whitening (like Smile Brilliant) has been shown to be safe and effective. (More here & here)

-They also have a Desensitizing Gel that contains Fluoride -OR- follow with a fluoride rinse to decrease sensitivity and enamel dimineralization. After using the flouride, do not eat or drink for 30 minutes. You need to let the fluoride do its thing.

– Smile Brilliant lets you make your OWN trays. This was the most fun! You will use a catalyst and base (1 extra set is included in case you mess up!) to mix together like Play-Doh to take your own impressions. Then send them (with a prepaid envelope) to a professional dental lab and in 3-4 days receive your custom-fitted trays.

Happy Halloween, amIright?  I made my molds correctly the first time around. It’s easy as Playdoh.

Ok, but did it work?

Yas!

I was so impressed. It’s like turning your bathroom into a dentist’s office and it was so fun to make your own molds.

I typically whiten at night. Before bed, I’ll do a round of whitening, that way my teeth have a chance to recover during the next 8 hours while I’m sleeping. Follow the included instructions, of course.

I got a LOT of use out of one syringe. They say you can get up to 4 uses out of them so I took a pen and marked the side of the syringe to be exact.

What about gum sensitivity? A great tip is to use coconut oil. I dabbed the coconut oil on a Q-tip and ran it over where my gums would meet the gel. I never had ANY gum irritation.

Because I’m concerned about my teeth’s enamel, I started with the minimum amount of time (45 minutes). Most people need 7-14 applications (once per day, 1-3 hours per application) to completely remove all stains from their teeth.

Night 1        45 min.                                                Night 6       45 min.

Night 2       1 Hr.                                                      Night 7       1 Hr.

-rest day-                                                                Night 8       1 Hr.

Night 3       45 min.                                                       -rest day-

Night 4       1 Hr.                                                      Night 9       1 Hr.

-rest day-                                                                Night 10      1 Hr.

Night 5       1 Hr.

I definitely see myself using this product in the future. (*update* I packed it with me for France, so you know I love it)

Let’s be real, I’m not planning on quitting coffee anytime soon. Even better, the gel will remain effective for 1 year (if stored at room temperature) and 2 years (if refrigerated). I would recommend this to anyone, especially if you have noticed staining on your teeth or have a special occasion coming up.

Wish you could try too?

Giveaway

Smile Brilliant was kind enough to collaborate with me on this post and host a giveaway for you.

One winner will receive a complete whitening kit, like the one I reviewed!

To enter, CLICK to fill out the entry form!  (  www.smilebrilliant.com/g/thecalifornienne )

Promo Code

You can use the coupon code ” thecalifornienne20 ” for $20 off trays.

Tooth Whitening Gel

Bisous Babes,  Annie

This post is in collaboration with Smile Brilliant. All opinions are 100% my own. Thank you for supporting the companies who support The Californienne.