We Ask the Dentist Your Questions on Natural Teeth Whitening

We all love a white, bright smile, but teeth whitening can be a tricky and sometimes expensive quest. DIY and at-home whitening kits are commonly found in supermarkets, but conventional teeth whitening gels, kits and toothpastes can actually wear down the enamel over time, causing long-term problems. What's more, sometimes ingredients are not fully disclosed on the packaging, so it's hard to be sure of exactly what you're putting on your teeth.¹ Natural dental care products which don't contain potentially toxic ingredients like Sulfates, Triclosan and Parabens offer greater peace of mind, but sometimes it's hard to know where to begin!

Dr Brite is a U.S.-based range of natural dental and skin care whose newest addition to the range is the Rejuvenate Teeth Whitening Kit, a professional-grade natural teeth whitening system which you can use at home. As a tea and coffee lover, I have to take extra care of my teeth, but I need to be sure that what I use is effective and completely safe. To learn more about this new Dr. Brite kit, I spoke to co-founder Dr. Pooneh Ramezani to find out how best to use it.

Your dental care and whitening range is called Dr. Brite. Are you a real dentist? What are your qualifications?

I am a dentist of over 20 years. I have multiple dental offices in California, USA. I am also a mother. The other co-founder of Dr. Brite and my business partner is my sister, Dr. Paris Sabo, who is also a mother and a surgeon.

Who are your products for?

Women are normally the ones who purchase personal care products for their families. We realised that most mothers tend to develop bleeding gums, pain in their mouth and stained yellow teeth after their pregnancies. We decided to include Vitamin C in our Toothpaste and Mouthwash to help women and new mums soothe their inflamed, painful bleeding gums. In fact, we are the only company that has Vitamin C in their oral care range. We don't use harsh, chemical based preservatives such as PG or PEG (that is found in the coolant you use in your cars) in any of our products.

What inspired you to create a natural range of dental care?

Both Paris and I have kids who love eating toothpaste! Also as a dentist, I happen to be the one that patients go to for advice on what oral care products are safe. For years, I was advising patients to buy conventional products that contained what I believed to be harmful chemicals. I honestly didn't know any better. Now that I know, I am on a mission to educate everyone to use safe, all natural products that do not contain harmful chemicals.

Is your range fluoride free?

Yes, our oral care range is 100% fluoride-free. The reason being is that the amount of fluoride used in some toothpastes and the duration of brushing your teeth (which is maximum 2 minutes) is not enough time for fluoride to remineralise the enamel. When ingested, fluoride can accumulate in the body. Instead, what I recommend as a dental professional is to have a professional fluoride treatment performed by your dentist once a year rather than being exposed to fluoride twice a day during daily brushing at home.

The clinical results of your whitening products are astounding! How are you able to create whitening products that are just as effective and all natural?

Every single product we create at Dr. Brite has years of research and development behind it. Having a team of doctors, a dentist and surgeon definitely helps! Our world-renowned chief scientist and formulator Dr. Giniger has been developing oral care ranges for famous U.S. brands for decades. Together, we have an all-star team that is unbeatable.

What is included in the Rejuvenate Teeth Whitening Kit?

In our Professional Teeth Whitening Kit, there is a Natural, Whitening Toothpaste, a Cleansing All Natural Mouthwash, a travel sonic toothbrush with a blue LED light, along with Nite and Day Whitening Pens. This system gives professional teeth whitening results at a fraction of the cost of a visit to the dentist and does not cause pain or sensitivity. The included toothpaste and mouthwash help whiten your teeth without harsh chemicals thanks to the help of Organic Coconut Oil and Activated Charcoal. The Nite and Day Teeth Whitening Pens work to lift internal, dark stains while you are sleeping as well as remove surface stains on the outer layer of the enamel. The toothbrush also has a blue LED light that helps cleanse your mouth and get rid of bad bacteria that can cause bad breath.

Do you use these products in your own professional practice?

Yes, all of our Rejuvenate products are sold in our four dental practices in California as well as in hundreds of dental offices in the U.S. We have received testimonials from both doctors and patients.

What happens if you have sensitive teeth?

Our clinical studies have shown that less than 1% of people had any type of sensitivity with our products. Our Peroxide-Free Whitening Pens are ideal for anyone who has experienced sensitivity before - they contain plant-derived detergents that lift stains as well as Vitamin C and Organic Coconut Oil, which can help soothe the gums and minimise sensitivity.

What is your personal routine?

I use the Dr. Brite Whitening Toothpaste to brush, but I also switch between using Rejuvenate and Dr. Brite toothpastes. The reason is that I drink coffee, tea, and red wine almost every day so I have stubborn stains that I need to remove daily. After brushing with toothpaste, I rinse my mouth with the Cleansing Mouthwash. I use the Rejuvenate mouthwash one week and the Dr. Brite mouthwash the other week. I also carry the Brite & Fresh Spray in my bag and use it all day after any meals and drinks.

Can you recommend a daily teeth routine for children?

I have two children, an 8 year old and a 13 year old. Having both parents as dentists (my husband is a dentist too) my kids know how important brushing is as part of their daily routine. They brush twice a day with the Dr. Brite Kids Toothpaste and they both spray the Kids Mouthwash after brushing. They love how the mouthwash is packaged in a spray bottle. They spray it exactly where they need it on their teeth and gums. I designed the Kids Mouthwash in a spray so that it could be targeted to the areas that plaque normally develops, which is at the gum line and on the top of the teeth.

What is the benefit of using white charcoal over black?

We use a coconut-derived White Charcoal (it's called white charcoal but it's actually grey in colour). The reason why we chose to use this type of charcoal is that the black charcoal that is in most oral charcoal products can sometimes discolour gums.

What is the difference between the professional whitening pens and the original ones?

The Rejuvenate Nite and Day Pens have a unique combination of two different formulations. The Day Pen has a fast-acting, surface whitening agent and the Nite Pen has a slower-acting, but deeper whitening agent. The combination of the two can give you results that you can usually only get through your dentist. Our Dr. Brite Teeth Whitening Pens are still very effective, but have a milder formula. They are meant to be used all the time and can act as a maintenance program for the Professional Whitening Pens, or they can be used on their own if the person using them is younger and doesn't have tough, deeper stains. Teeth whitening is like colouring your hair. For best results, it needs to be maintained and repeated.

How does the toothbrush in the pack work?

The toothbrush has a unique blue LED light that has been proven to help eliminate bad bacteria that can cause tooth decay and bad breath from the mouth. It has two different settings: Sensitive, which does 22,000 strokes per minute and Regular, which does 28,000 strokes per minute. It sounds like a lot, but almost everyone is able to handle the Regular setting on this toothbrush. Compared to a manual toothbrush only achieve 300 strokes per minute, a sonic toothbrush is incredibly effective. You should always use the brush with the light on to get the maximum effect. You can also use the Sensitive mode to massage your gums, which can help circulate the blood in the gums and minimise any inflammation. The toothbrush also has a two minute timer and automatically shuts off after two minutes - according to the Australian Dental Association, two minutes is the optimum length of time to brush your teeth.

Source: ¹Body + Soul.