I have a confession to make here today (and definitely fits with my blog title today for sure!). Over the years, one thing has made me feel a bit self conscious.
I never dreamed growing up that I would have to worry about smiling.
In my youth, I went through years of braces, palette expanders and retainers, too to ensure that I had a straight, perfect smile. My parents truly spared no expense here for me and am thankful for all they did spend on me for this.
But in getting and dealing with braces, the after was definitely straight, however for some reason my teeth once the braces were indeed removed might have been straight, but the white shine I once had before the braces were installed was definitely gone.
Apparently the adhesive that held my braces on took away the pearly white smile, I once indeed had.
I recall being so happy to no longer deal with braces when they were removed, but then I realized that my teeth were not longer milky white, but more of a yellow white.
I spoke with my dentist that told me not to get teeth whitening at such a young age (still a young teen at this point). I waited and then in my twenties, I no longer had dental insurance and was told the actual cost of teeth whitening, which was less then affordable for me.
Then, I once again had dental insurance in my thirties, but was a mom to two small kids and truly didn’t have the time to sit in the dentist’s office for cosmetic purposes, barely having time for checkups and regular cleaning let alone teeth whitening procedures.
So, when I was contacted recently by a representative for Smile Brilliant! to test drive their teeth whitening process and trays, I immediately answered back that I was more then interested to try out their service for my blog and myself, too.
I was immediately sent out an impressions kit to be able to have Smile Brilliant! make my trays to be able to indeed try the whitening process out.
Once the impressions were indeed done, I then mailed them back to Smile Brilliant to make my whitening trays. It took a little over a week for the impressions to be received and my trays to be mailed back to me.
Once my trays were received back by me, I got to work that weekend test driving their whitening process out.
The first step is to use the desensitizing gel in the trays first, because the bleach could indeed make your teeth more sensitive to cold and hot foods and drink after using. On a side note, Kevin tried an over the counter product once and remarked that indeed his major complaint was teeth sensitivity, so I made sure to indeed use the sensitivity gel, because I did not want to experience any teeth sensitivity if I didn’t have to.
The sensitivity gel is to be used for 15-20 in total before you use the whitening gel. Once, I did this then it was time to get down to using the teeth whitening gel, which can be left on from 20 minutes to 3 hours total.
I used the whiting gel for 20 minutes the very first time, because I truly didn’t want to overdo it and even for 20 minutes was very happy with those first results and could definitely see a difference from one use at such a short time duration.
And now have used the whitening gel more in the the last few weeks, because my initial use was a success with whiter teeth in a weeks time and definitely no sensitive teeth, too.
So happy teeth whitening customer and would highly recommend Smile Brilliant for all looking to whiten their teeth in the convenience of their own home for a very reasonable price, as well.
Please take a look and watch a video to further explain the Smile Brilliant! process here now:
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massholemommy says
I used Smile Brilliant about a year ago and it definitely made a difference in my teeth!! It's a great product.
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Janine Huldie says
So glad you got to use it too with such great results!! 🙂
Billybuc says
Janine, at my age, white teeth are low on the priority list…..having teeth is a huge plus. LOL
Have a great day my friend.
Janine Huldie says
Bill, you sound like my dad and makes perfect sense to me! Thanks and also hoping you are enjoying this spring day so far!! 🙂
ashleyinnc says
WOW!! That is amazing! My teeth are in the same boat because of braces…and the sensitivity issue has always been my fear…so glad that they combat that with the gel! This is awesome, and I am definitely going to check it out! :)-Ashley
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Janine Huldie says
I hope you do check it out Ashley and let me know if you do 😉
notinjersey says
wow, it really made a difference!
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Janine Huldie says
It really did, Dara 🙂
day-with-kt.com says
Wow – awesome results!!
I wore braces as an adult and after I had them taken off I did the whitening – I think I need to redo them but I have too many gum problems right now to introduce another factor. Plus, I hate having the molds made!!!
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Janine Huldie says
Kim, I totally understand gum issues and they do offer desensitizing gel, but it is totally something you would have to make sure was ok for you. I will say though I was so surprised how well this did work 🙂
dishofdailylife says
My daughter is going to be all over this. Her teeth are slightly discolored (not bad though), they think due to antibiotics I had to take when I was pregnant. She has been wanting to whiten her teeth forever.
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Janine Huldie says
Michelle, they are so reasonable and I was shocked at how well they worked. If you want shoot me an e-mail and will give you my contacts name (maybe you could review with your daughter).
Rosey says
That's a big dif. in the before/after pics. My oldest two boys and hubby use a whitener. I'll ask them if they've heard of Smile Brilliant.
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Janine Huldie says
Thanks Rosey and let me know if they have 😉
@MamaRabia says
Wow! That looks great! I never had braces, but my teeth still aren't as white as I'd like them to be.
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Janine Huldie says
Truly a great product Rabia and just happy I got to try it 😉
Amanda Love says
Wow! What a difference and I can surely see it. That's an amazing product, I've always wondered about those teeth whitening products and the one's I've used were such a waste of money. I'm going to have to check out this and your white smile is truly brightening.
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Janine Huldie says
Aww, thanks and if you do check it out let me know!! 🙂
tamaralikecamera says
Very nice! And what a difference. I've had every dental problem under the sun, I think. I did have mine whitened once by the dentist and it hurt so badly because of the sensitivity! Brutal.
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Janine Huldie says
I know that is what I was afraid of to be quite honest and we all know what a baby I am going to the actual dentist!! 😉
lovingmarshall says
That's an amazing transformation! Congrats! I had the braces too….ugh…..and now my teeth are starting to go back to being crooked again.
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Janine Huldie says
Ugh, I would scream if after all that I went through with braces, palette expander and retainers, too that my teeth went back to being crooked!
dianeroark says
Janine,
O.K. I am sold!! I need this product. I whiten my teeth all the time because of how much coffee and tea I drink.
Thanks for sharing,
Diane Roark
Janine Huldie says
Aww, totally my pleasure and keep me posted Diane if you get this!! 🙂
Nellie says
The difference is amazing!! you totally sold me on this one Janine! wow!
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Janine Huldie says
Nellie, I really loved using this and as you can see it was totally worthy it 🙂
Brittnei Washington says
I didn't realize that braces could do that to your teeth! So cool that we can do this right at home now instead of having to go to a dentist and spend all of that money! Wow your teeth do look amazing!
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Janine Huldie says
Thanks Brittnei and I had no idea about the braces until it happened to me.
MelChi says
Must admit teeth whitening is a biggie for me right now too. I've been meaning to put the gel on again (have some left from my dentist trip in Jan), but dreading it because my teeth ached and were sensitive for 10 hours the next day. (I have to sleep with these ones in). So I'm trying to find a day when I won't have to work or go outside and see people and can just get lost in some series, LOL.
Hope you're having a super day – autumn has well and truly arrived this side, brrrr!
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Janine Huldie says
The sensitivity was one of the huge reasons, I held off for so long, but I have to say this kit with the gel that combats that issue really does gel a lot and didn't feel may at all afterwards. As fore the weather, spring here, but rainy, damp and overcast today. But yesterday was 70 degrees and sunny, so I guess I can't complain 😉
lisang@expandng.com says
Give it to me straight, Janine, are those REALLY your results from an at-home kit?? I'm SOOO skeptical because they look amazing. I had a procedure done in an office and even my results didn't look THAT good (and so much sensitivity, I cried for a few hours, some ppl cry for days!). How many times did you do this and for how long?
Janine Huldie says
Yes, they are totally my results, Lisa. I will admit I haven't used in the last week or so with my crazy schedule and the white isn't as bright, because of it, but if you keep up with it (that was a week every day 20 minutes straight) that I took on day 7. And the sensitivity gel really does work, because I had no pain (and not just saying that, because trust me huge baby as far as going tot he dentist here).
another jennifer says
Wow! That's quite the difference! I may have to look into this.
Janine Huldie says
I hope you do Jennifer and let me know if you 🙂
The Vanilla Housewife says
We reviewed Smile Brilliant too but I used my husband as the model LOL He loved it! Great result! Now I regret not using it myself!
Janine Huldie says
I am glad I was greedy on this one and didn't share with my husband, lol!! 🙂
pfchico says
I used to do this a couple times a year. Thanks for the reminder. My teeth could use a little whitening right now.
Janine Huldie says
Happy to remind you and I know how quickly life does get in the way and we forget the things we do need to do for ourselves.