There is nothing more attractive than a killer smile, but my daily cup of coffee and glass of rosè are constant reminders that my teeth are not as white as they could be. Here's how to whiten your smile - fast. By editor Trudi Brewer. By editor Trudi Brewer.
Give me a beauty service that offers instant gratification, and I am there. Exactly what's on offer at The Whitening Co in-chair teeth whitening you can have in your lunch break.
What's involved
The clinic co-owner and MD Ruby Mills (who has a blinding white smile BTW) met me on arrival and the consultation process starts. After answering a few questions on the iPad provided, Mills colour matches my teeth with a shade guide my shade was S18 on the top bottom row. She explains what I can expect during the treatment, and with four year's dental experience, she's well-practised in the art of whitening teeth. Offering me a cosy blanket, comfy pillow, port to charge my phone and play tunes, I am reclining in the dental chair, and the procedure was underway. 'The Confidence Package' was my complimentary service, designed to offer a brighter smile in a little over an hour.
The procedure
The service kicks off with Mills fitting a Hannibal Lecter-style mouth guard and applying a blue liquid gel to the gums. This acts as a shield (that dries hard) protecting the skin from the 12 per cent hydrogen peroxide whitening solution, used on every tooth. The gel-like solution is activated by an LED blue light in a series of two, 20-minute sessions, refreshing the gel-solution, in-between each session. And that is it. Once Mills removes the gel-solution, you rinse your mouth, and you are glancing at a much brighter smile (my teeth whitened by five shades to S10 from where they started at S18). Relaxing back in the chair during the service, I thought it feels more a skin spa than a clinic dedicated to teeth. The homely touches of pot plants, great music and luxurious monochrome cushions make it inviting, yet still efficient and super professional. After only being open for two weeks, it is busy. My chair was taken by a guy, which gave me confidence that it's not just us girls who see the benefit of a white smile; men are catching on to that too. Teeth whitening is a grooming service; it's not an oral hygiene check-up; it's a luxury for sure, but one that will boost your confidence, and most certainly make you smile.
Editor Trudi Brewer had a complementary The Confidence Package costs $299, allow 60 minutes.
Take home
Post-treatment, your teeth may be sensitive, mine feel tingly for 24 hours, but by the next morning, they felt fine. This is normal, a desensitising gel is provided in your take-home pack to soothe any discomfort. To maintain the best results, make sure you avoid eating or drinking anything that could re-stain your teeth post-service such as coffee, tea, red wine or brightly coloured foods for 48 hours.
Before & After
Editor Trudi Brewer’s results on the top row of the teeth, went from S18 to S10 on the shade guide, while the bottom row whitened by 10 levels from S18 to S8.
Style director Louise Hilsz results, on the top row of the teeth whitened by eight levels S18 to S8 on the shade guide on, and the bottom row of teeth, 10 levels S22 to S10.
The Whitening Co is now open in two locations in Auckland, Mt Eden and Takapuna, and both sites and both are open Tuesday through to Saturday, for more information email: bookings@whiteningco.nz
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