Colgate Simply White: An Efficient, Easy Tooth Whitening System
Written: Sep 16 '02 (Updated Nov 04 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy to use, fast results, less expensive than other whitening options
Cons: May cause tooth sensitivity, it is somewhat easy to swallow some of the peroxide solution
The Bottom Line: Simply White is easy to use, gives fast results, is less expensive than similar products, and works!
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| moonsista's Full Review: Colgate Simply White Night Clear Whitening Gel |
I'm obsessed with white teeth - I want my teeth to be white and I don't want to suffer or pay a lot of money in order to get them! When I discovered Colgate Simply White in a magazine ad, I went to my local drugstore the next day and found it. I was surprised at how low the price was, and it seemed like the perfect whitening product - so I bought it that day and immediately began using it that day!
Since I have tried two methods so far (Crest White Strips and Colgate Simply White), I will compare the two as well as give details on my experience with Colgate Simply White in this review.
All About Colgate Simply White:
Colgate Simply White is a peroxide gel solution that comes in a small, white, plastic bottle that you brush on your teeth twice a day for 14 days. The bottle itself comes packaged in a colorful, somewhat flashy, silver, white and blue box. The bottle is small - just 3.75" high. The bottle cap is actually a brush applicator that screws off. The gel is housed in the bottle, and has a very narrow neck - which is made that way so that you will get exactly the right amount of gel on the brush when you pull it out of the bottle. The brush itself is made from clear nylon bristles and is just over .25" in length (not counting the cap it's attached to). The brush is angled, probably for better peroxide gel application.
You will receive .34 oz. in each bottle of Simply White. This is enough for at least two weeks, which is the prescribed time that it will take for this product to whiten your teeth.
Each package of Simply White has a small pamphlet in both English and Spanish languages, that has directions for use, common questions (and answers), and info on tooth sensitivity, maintaining your white teeth, and warnings.
Directions For Use (taken from packaging and package insert):
USE THIS PRODUCT TWICE A DAY FOR 14 DAYS.
1. Brush your teeth as you normally would. Dry the surface of your teeth. Try not to let your lips or tongue touch your dried teeth to avoid rewetting. Unscrew the cap from Colgate Simply White to remove the applicator brush from the bottle.
2. Apply a thin layer of Colgate Simply White one tooth at a time to your upper and lower teeth using an up and down motion. Re-dip the brush as needed.
3. Try not to let your lips or tongue touch your teeth for 30 seconds. For best results, do not eat or drink for 30 minutes so that the Simply White gel remains on your teeth and has time to work. For even whiter teeth, use for an additional 7 days.
Please note that the directions do not state that you should rinse the peroxide gel out of your mouth after the 30 minute whitening period is up. While it probably won't hurt you to swallow the gel that remains on your teeth after 30 minutes, I would recommend rinsing or brushing in order to prevent swallowing more peroxide gel than necessary.
Other Details (taken from package insert):
*You may perform each day's two applications at any time and they can even be applied back-to-back.
*Each dip of the brush will provide enough Simply White to cover approximately 3 teeth. You can apply Simply White to as many teeth as you would like to whiten.
*You should start to see results after a few days of using Simply White depending on the natural color of your teeth and the level of staining.
*Simply White is safe for your tooth enamel.
*It is hygienic to keep re-dipping the brush into the gel product - the ingredients in Simply White will kill germs on the applicator brush.
*Consult your dentist for use on children under the age of 12.
My Experience With Simply White:
I had just finished up my box of Crest White Strips and was pleased with the results I had received. My teeth were several shades whiter and I was about to purchase a second box of White Strips in order to get my teeth even whiter. The price tag, at about $30, was expensive, but in my opinion, worth it.
When I discovered Colgate Simply White, I was thrilled that the price tag was just $14.99. I purchased my Simply White at my local Rite Aid drugstore, where there were also a pile of $5.00 rebate flyers next to the Simply White display. This brought the price down to $9.99, which made it worth trying!
While using Simply White, I followed the directions to the letter. Twice a day, I brushed my teeth thoroughly, dried the surface of my teeth, applied the gel, let it dry for 30 seconds (this is hard to do at first!), and then refrained from eating and drinking for 30 minutes. At the end of the 30 minutes, there was very little gel to rinse or brush away, but I always brushed my teeth afterward in order to prevent swallowing more gel than necessary.
I applied the gel relatively generously. The gel simply brushes on clear - there is no foaming or other action. However, if you should do a bad job of brushing before applying the gel, the gel will foam slightly at the places on your teeth where you did not brush so well. This is the same thing that happens when you put peroxide in liquid form on a cut - it foams where the germs are!
I wanted to be sure I had enough gel on my teeth - I remembered that while using Crest White Strips, the amount of gel on my teeth when removing the plastic film seemed very generous. So I wanted to be sure to get plenty of gel on my teeth while using Simply White.
Because I had used Crest White Strips, I was already used to the tangy taste of peroxide gel. I knew what to expect when brushing the gel onto my teeth.
The thing that I don't like about Simply White is that there is no thin plastic film to shield the gel from my tongue like there is when using Crest White Strips - the gel in White Strips was very much limited to your teeth because it was shielded by the thin film. With Simply White, you taste the gel longer. While it is not an unpleasant taste necessarily, it is just not as reassuring that your saliva is not washing away the gel (even though it does dry on your teeth in the 30 second drying time after application).
After using Simply White for about 3 days, I noticed that my teeth were already getting whiter. I was thrilled with the fast results!
After using the gel exactly as indicated for the full two weeks, my teeth were approximately two shades whiter than they were before I started using Simply White.
So How Does It Stack Up To Crest White Strips?
I like Simply White better because it is faster to use. You are not ripping open little packets, peeling off strips and applying them, then peeling them off 30 minutes later the way that you do with Crest White Strips. You are just simply brushing on the gel and letting it dry, then rinsing your mouth out 30 minutes later. This process, to me, seems much more efficient, less wasteful, and of course, cheaper. At roughly half the cost of Crest White Strips, the price is
definitely right.
The whitening effect that I got from Simply White was about the same as I received from using Crest White Strips. Before using White Strips, my teeth needed to be whitened pretty badly - although I stopped smoking about 8 years ago, I still had smoking stains, as well as stains most likely caused by coffee, tea and cola drinks. My teeth were approximately two shades whiter after using Crest White Strips, so the four shades whiter that my teeth are now is a real change for me!
As I stated earlier, there is more than enough gel in a bottle of Simply White to last more than two weeks. I got about 17 days of use from my bottle.
I will definitely purchase this product again as needed. I do not know how long the whitening effect will last, although Colgate claims that the effect will last for at least 6 months. I will update this review in about 6 months in order to report the lasting power of this product.
About Tooth Sensitivity:
If you have sensitive teeth, or if your teeth have been sensitive to whitening products in the past, please keep in mind that you will most likely experience some sensitivity while using Simply White. This should be temporary and should last only a day or two. My teeth are not sensitive to heat or cold, but they are sensitive to whitening products - I experienced downright painful tooth sensitivity while using both Crest White Strips AND Colgate Simply White. This lasted about 5 days each time but eventually went away.
My Recommendation:
If you are looking for an over-the-counter product to whiten your teeth, but are less than happy about the price of either professional laser whitening or other professional whitening procedures, or even with the approximately $30 price tag of Crest White Strips, you may want to give Colgate Simply White a try. At $14.99, it's a lot easier to swallow
if it isn't the right choice for you.
You can find Colgate Simply White at a drugstore such as CVS or Rite Aid. My local Rite Aid had the best price in town at $14.99, while CVS offered this product for $16.99. This product will probably be priced for even less at your local Wal*Mart. Giant Eagle grocery stores carry this product for $14.99, but on sale at times for $12.99. No matter where you find it, be sure to look for the $5.00 rebate flyers that I have seen at both Rite Aid and CVS! There was also a $5.00 coupon for this product in some Sunday newspaper coupon sections on November 3, 2002.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
moonsista
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Member: Stacey
Location: Northeast Ohio
Reviews written: 921
Trusted by: 453 members
About Me:
I miss Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson. Both helped make the 70's and 80's great.
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