I think we can all agree that there are features of ourselves that we don’t like and we tend to be self-conscious of them. For me, my smile and teeth are those main things. I’ve been embarrassed by mine since my preteen years. So, when Smile Brilliant recently approached me about trying their custom teeth whitening system, and hosting a giveaway (see the bottom of post for details), I was excited, but a little hesitant at the same time.
I knew I wanted to try whitening my teeth. Everything I had seen or read about Smile Brilliant showed great results. However, I just wasn’t sure if it would do anything for me. Not because the product may not work, but because I had some issues with my teeth beyond just being a huge coffee drinker.
My History
When I was a child, the dentist informed my parents that I wasn’t getting enough fluoride. So, he gave them fluoride tablets for me to take every day. Plus, I brushed twice a day with toothpaste that had fluoride and there was fluoride in our water. I also received a special fluoride treatment every six months at my dentist appointment and had fluoride swish at school every Friday (I think some of you can remember this, where they gave everyone a little white paper cup filled with a yucky mint swish that they pumped out of a bottle. Then the whole class would swish together at the same time. I can still remember how awful that stuff was.).
In the end, as my adult teeth came in, they were stained from having received too much fluoride. At this point, there was nothing that could fix it. The damage was done, and the embarrassment over my teeth and smile started. In high school, I was able to have my two front teeth bonded which removed the worst of the staining, but the rest had some slight discoloration that to this day bothers me. The only way to get rid of the staining completely is to get veneers, but that just isn’t in the budget right now, or ever for that matter! ????
Why I said Yes to Smile Brilliant
So, fast forward to adult me, and you are probably wondering why in the world would I even try whitening my teeth after hearing my history. Well, I noticed that my teeth had started looking more yellow than usual. This was due to years of drinking soda and taking up the wonderful hobby of drinking coffee…after becoming a parent! ???? So, my teeth have developed some stains over the years. While I knew that this process wouldn’t make my teeth perfectly white, I did know it could help with some of the staining issues. So, I decided to say yes and give Smile Brilliant a try!
The Molds
I received a whole kit in the mail that had everything I needed. The first step was to make impressions of my teeth and get it shipped back. That way I could get my custom whitening trays made so I could get started. The great thing about this whole process is that I could do it all from the comfort of my home! That’s huge for a busy mom and wife like me.
The instructions are extensive and easy to follow. It walked me systematically through each step so that I could get the best molds of my teeth. After allowing them to dry overnight, I put them in the prepaid envelope provided and dropped them in my mailbox.
Within a few days, I received an email letting me know that they had received my molds and would be getting my trays made as quickly as possible. Then as soon as they were ready, another email appeared letting me know my custom trays were on their way! I was super excited and couldn’t wait for them to show up on my doorstep.
The Teeth Whitening Process
As soon as my trays arrived, I opened them and jumped into whitening my teeth that night! They suggest that you whiten at night after you’ve finished eating so you can go as long as possible without eating or drinking afterward. So, I took this to heart, and all my whitening happened every night. This also prevented me from snacking all night long.????
I will admit I was a little nervous about this part of the whole process. I had done some home whitening methods in the past, and they tasted nasty and were just not very pleasant experiences. So, I wasn’t sure what to expect from this. Plus, I had to put the whitening gel in the trays, and I was so afraid I would do it wrong.
Thankfully the instructions that come with the kit walk you through this part of the process, with pictures, as well. The first time through took a little longer than I thought it would but that was because I think I read the instructions like five times to make sure I didn’t screw anything up. Once I had that first round of whitening done, and under my belt, I realized it was a simple process and not hard at all!
I gradually increased the amount of time I left the trays in. So, by the end, it was around 2.5 to 3 hours. Not once did I experience tooth sensitivity. However, my kit included desensitizing gel which will help those of you that do have sensitivity and yes I even used mine, so I’m not sure if it prevented it or not but I had no sensitivity at all.
I Can Do Anything While I Whiten!
Remember up above where I mentioned I had done some whitening processes before that were horrible? Well, the whole process is so much easier than I imagined! There is no awful taste, and once the trays are in your mouth, you can move around and do whatever you want for that time. The first time Shadrach saw me whitening he couldn’t even tell I had the trays in my mouth.
So, what did I do while I whitened? I would get Logan ready and in bed. Then I would sit and work on the blog for a while, which usually made the time go by super-fast! Next, I would get ready for bed by washing my face and taking out my contacts. Some nights I did dishes, watched tv, and even read a book for a while. There are no limits to what you can do while you whiten, except no eating and drinking. ????
Final Outcome
I can imagine some of you are wondering if Smile Brilliant helped my teeth at all. I’m excited to say that I can tell the difference! Just as I predicted it did not make all my discoloration, from getting too much fluoride, go away, but it did help the coffee and soda stains. I went through the whole process with realistic expectations.
To say this journey has been easy would be wrong. It wasn’t hard to do the actual whitening, but it was hard to deal with the insecurities I have held onto for so long. I went into this whole process unsure of whether it would do anything for me and so desperately wanting it to change everything about my smile. However, I realized along the journey, that my smile is unique to me and should be shared.
I want people to remember me for smiling, not for being insecure about my teeth. There is something to be said about a warm, genuine smile and I realized my teeth do not need to be perfect for this to happen. So, yes, I’m learning to smile fearlessly. I will admit that it does help that they are a bit whiter. It has given me the boost to my confidence that I need to keep smiling.
A Giveaway
I can’t recommend Smile Brilliant enough! They are super helpful and are willing to answer any questions that may come up. I loved the entire process, and I’m so glad that I did this. In fact, because of the results I got, Shadrach has already bought his kit and will be starting his whitening process soon!
I’m excited to share that I am teaming up with Smile Brilliant to offer a giveaway to one of their kits! It is their T3 Sensitivity Kit which is the same one I used! All you need to do is click this link to enter. If you win, you will receive a $139 credit to their website. Also, if you just can’t wait for the giveaway, you can still receive 5% off your order. Just enter our code theramblingramnaths5 at checkout and you’re all set! How awesome is that?
So, what do you think? Is teeth whitening something you would try or something you have wanted to try?
* The giveaway will end on Friday July 14, 2017. It is open to residents of UK, Australia, Canada, and the USA.
Laura Ramnath
Latest posts by Laura Ramnath (see all)
- How to Have A Fun Family Day in New Bremen, Ohio - July 29, 2019
- The Ultimate Family Weekend Guide to Cincinnati, Ohio - June 7, 2019
- Top Homeschooling Resources and Curriculum for Pre-K and Kindergarten - October 19, 2018
to shop with us, so we can help these families together! Also, clicking our link does not affect your price, which is perfect! For more information, please see our page about 
Awesome post! Love to read it. Thank you so much for sharing great information. This website has been my gateway to information.
Love to read this post. Thanks a lot for another great information. This website has been my gateway to information 🙂
It’s nice to read your article pretty awesome in low cost we can smile fearlessly using teeth whitening by home remedies.
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wished to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
Thank you! And I’m so glad you stopped by!
Thanks for sharing your story. 🙂 Great article!
Thank you Amy! I always love when you stop by to read my posts and give me such great encouragement. I hope you are having a great summer! 🙂