I have to agree with the British (for once) on this one that teeth whitening is unnecessary. It does create a very artificial look. If one's teeth are overly stained, then I think it is appropriate to have some stain removal, but I do not like blindingly white teeth.

I also do not like seeing teeth that much, but what bothers me more is when people show the gums above their teeth. I never want to see anyone's gums.

It definitely looks unnatural for ageing people to have glaringly white teeth. That's the part that distracts me. If the goal is for me to envy you aging w/WHITE teeth it's a miss 'cuz I know you aren't!!!

Alas.....most of my molars are capped. They no longer match my natural tooth color, which has yellowed as I aged. V34 purple gel has revolutionized teeth whitening for people at home. Right now, I have a FULL set of ugly....metal...dental braces on my teeth. When they come off...yes, I will be whitening my teeth. Video of V34 purple gel....take a look It whitens in 30 seconds.

Funny, im sitting here watching Kelly and Mark, and Mark’s teeth are practically glow in the dark.

I think it’s fine to bleach your teeth but not until they are so white they are nearly blue. My brother did that and his dentist told him to back off.

I bleach mine once in awhile but not so they are ridiculous.

The British really need to pay more attention to the appearance of their teeth in this modern world.

Due to an accident where my front teeth got badly chipped, and repairs that didn't turn out well, I have full dental implants... what is known as All On Four. Arches are attached to 4 screws, top and bottom. I told my dentist, I did not want little, round, white teeth. My natural teeth were square-ish.

That is what I got. They aren't glow in the dark white, but I think they go well with my age.

I feel the same way about people who have bright, almost neon green contacts. One of my doctors was Hispanic and he had turquoise blue contacts. It is hard for me to pay any attention but for looking at his eyes.

I agree that blindingly white teeth look odd. I wish I could whiten my teeth a little bit, though. The dentist told me that my teeth would look worse after whitening because the dinginess is internal to the tooth, probably from childhood antibiotic use, rather than outer enamel staining. Oh, well, I just keep my mouth closed when smiling for pictures.

I use Crest White Strips once or twice a year. They have different versions, and I think the one I always got mentioned ”12 levels whiter.” The last one had ”18 levels whiter” which was no different at all from the 12 levels. In reality, they both result in a very subtle difference.

My teeth are naturally pretty white. My dentist finds it a weird color when he's never lightened them for me, says they are aging to 'gray white' rather than typical 'yellow white'. I would freely admit to him I'd been ordering the old formula Pearl Drops tooth polisher from Canada - discontinued in the states. I haven't sent for any recently but will use the white strips once in a while for three days and that brightens them up again. I have no dental work in the front.

I wouldn't say glaringly white but do get compliments on them so maybe am hitting the happy in between?.

The Brits aren't the only ones who find Americans have oddly unnaturally white teeth..

Family in Croatia had worked in a dental lab and here with her husband now who is getting his masters, taking some dental assisting and hygienist classes. She finds the obsession with stark white teeth pretty odd and not usual for most visiting their tourist based coastal city....only those from the US.

We remove stains from everything else andhave skin spots removed, so why not on teeth? if teeth are dingy from coffee and wine, why not clean it off? But, to each her own.

Morz8, i once knew a woman with unusually white teeth which i thought had to be fake until i saw her kids and they had the same white teeth.

When I see a senior citizen with perfectly straight and blazing white teeth I imagine them without their dentures.

I do notice the ultra whiteness of many people's teeth nowadays, and it does seem artificial. I don't like the dinginess of my own teeth, but I have concerns about how whitening affects enamel. I remember reading about someone who kept whitening because her teeth started looking gray, and it turned out that was because she had whitened too much and her tooth enamel was thin enough to see through.

My teeth are already sensitive, I don't want to make it worse.

And since I drink coffee every morning, any whitening would soon be cancelled out anyway 😄

I think unnatural, starkly white teeth are extremely unattractive. A little bleaching can be helpful, more than a little causes a different problem.

Moderation in all things.

I have had to have too much work done on my teeth to try whitening. I think I'd have a weird checkerboard look.

The Brits didn't have the dental -- and sometimes nutritioual -- advantages we had in America until quite recently. There, and on the Continent, tourists and servicemen could always be identified by their straight, white teeth.

I've always hated my teeth. I have flurosis. I also have two crowns now that when my dentist was matching to my teeth, I told her my teeth must look horrible if that's what she's picked out.

I was watching a youtuber, an American, who was a survivalist/prepper, who was talking about gardening. He was saying he eats all natural healthy food, but I couldn't get over the state of his gums. He had major peridontal disease. I finally just quit watching the video. I wonder if he ever brushed and flossed his teeth. They literally looked like they could fall out any second.

I watch a lot of UK youtubers too who have bad teeth/gums. I'm getting used to it now. The people have a good message to put out so I try not to focus on their teeth. I could never be a public speaker, not only do I not have the personality but I think the color of my teeth would gross people out.

I would rather have overly bright white teeth than the ones I currently have, if I was born with them. I wouldn't want to have to bleach them or have veneers, which I had thought about doing when I was younger.

I think Americans need to get over their judginess of people from overseas countries who don’t have perfect, straight, white teeth. Not everyone feels that teeth are something worth spending thousands of dollars on. Many would say that as long as teeth are healthy, their colour or straightness is immaterial.

" I think Americans need to get over their judginess of people from overseas countries who don’t have perfect, straight, white teeth. Not everyone feels that teeth are something worth spending thousands of dollars on. "

I agree with you concerning overly bleached/unnaturally white teeth, as I said above. Missing and crooked teeth are a different matter, one that you perhaps have your own views about but I'll share my experiences.

I spent a career in international business. People in professional and management positions need to be concerned with making a good visual impression, whether to their internal colleagues or to external people of all kinds. Clean and pressed clothing of whatever style is expected, attention to personal grooming (combed hair, shaving for men other than facial hair), presentable shoes, and the rest, all are expected. The absence of which can make a poor impression. I saw the same general dress and grooming practices among men and women irrespective of nationality. I also saw among the same people I interacted with a consistency of pleasant smiles and straight teeth.

Someone whose life doesn't involve meeting people and needing to make a good impression, different story. Tell me, other than hermits, who might those people be?

Missing teeth, I grant you, should be dealt with, but overly straight teeth I could not care less about. Clean and neat everything are desirable, but perfect everything strikes me as somewhat fake and therefore not quite trustworthy.

I don't like the over whiteness of many today. I always had white teeth until I got older. They were cleaned at the dentist yesterday but are far from the white color I once had. Of all my features I hate my teeth the most. I have small features including my mouth and big teeth. I had a great smile when I was young but my teeth moved around and are crooked now. My daughter who looks like me noticed and got Invisalign so she didn't end up like me. Her teeth are so straight they even look fake. I wish that would have been around in my youth.

All this reminds me of the Friends episode where Ross whitened his teeth. Here's the clip:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8cKK9eQGMY

^Friends…YES!

FWIW, I've always been asked if I ever had braces, my teeth have always been so nice and straight. I was the first born and must have benefited from all my mom's calcium. My younger sisters have more crooked teeth than I, but nobody ever wore braces in our family.

Dental health is important for overall well-being, but I do agree that perfectly straight teeth are not necessarily a sign of perfectly good health.

Teeth that overlap can be difficult to keep clean and that leads to decay, which is definitely bad for anyone's health.

Like it or not, people are judged on their appearance and having bad teeth in the USA can go hand in hand with poverty, and can keep people from advancing to a better job, and subsequently a better life.

Last paragraph above from carol - well said. Like it or not, colleenoz, that's the human world. As I described, it's not just a factor in the US.

It’s mostly a factor in the US, though. I’ve never been judged because of my less than perfect teeth, as far as I am aware, and to be honest I couldn’t even tell you what even my closest friends’ teeth look like. Not all cultures fixate on teeth.

Overly straight teeth? That's not a thing.

And no, even well off people from the developing world take care of their teeth.

" It’s mostly a factor in the US, though "

Not in my experience, as above.

I recently watched a Youtube about the Maasai in Tanzania. Everyone had gorgeous, straight, white teeth. The Maasai diet consists of six basic foods: milk, meat, fat, blood, honey, and tree bark. No sugar, coffee or tobacco. It's not the healthiest diet and their life expectancy is only about half of ours. But they sure have great teeth!

Personally, I think most teeth whitening is unnecessary. If they are badly stained, then yes, remove the stains. But overly white is not attractive, always makes me think they have dentures, just looks fake.

Rusty

@Kathsgrdn...I know THIS is an old post...but...you said " I've always hated my teeth. I have flurosis. "

My husband "had" flurosis until....I purchase Pearl Drops toothpaste off Ebay. $10. He brushed his teeth with it maybe 3 times....and his teeth are still not bright white...but no longer mottled. It was just that quick and easy. WHO knew? He gets his teeth cleaned twice a year...won't they be surprised.

Nicole, I didn't even know they made Pearl Drops anymore. Thanks. I may give it a try.

Link to Pearl Drops

I just ordered V34. It's supposed to whiten teeth. I'll report back if it works.

I want to lighten my teeth. I had it done about 20 years ago, but time again. My hygienist said that as tooth enamel thins, the underlying tooth material (>dentin) color becomes more aparent. I have moderately dark teeth (Brit genes).

I might still have the two whitening trays (very thin flexible material that were made from impressions so that they fit (ir did my teeth. With those, I can use the material in a tube.

I've tried tooth pastes (crest) and strips (they dob’t stay on). Does anyone have a recommendation for whitening gel? I don’t want blazing white, but more lightening that the toothpaste by Colgate or Crest offered. Colgate and Listerine make good mouth rinses that are great at removing stains. (the compound in them is very similar to roducts used for removing coffee pot and clothing stains. But I want to lighten my cleaned teeth — the enamel? I guess.

Can someone elaborate on the ”Pearl Drops?”

Thanks.

PS It appears the Pearl Drops are for ”removing stains” but not ”bleaching” tooth color.

@petalique...Years ago Pearl Drops was abrasive. Akin to Prophy paste like your hygienist uses. The consensus was...it was too harsh to use daily. They took it off the market. Pearl Drops changed it's formula to "whitening". It claims to get rid of stains. Either formula is only available online. In another discussion, on "The Decorating Forum", someone said they still used it & how fantastic it was. I tried it. Pretty much no results. You brush, then leave it on your teeth for 30 seconds. My husband had fluoride stained teeth....really gross.....but after just using it 3 times...GONE! I mean....his hygienist cleans his teeth twice a year with a dental exam....and in ONE WEEK no more fluoride stained teeth!

I'm like you. I don't want bright white teeth, just less dingy. In THIS video I'd be happy if my teeth were as white as her teeth start out. I don't want more. I paid $2 for this product...and it will arrive in 3 weeks. I don't know if it works...but no harm done. :0) Video

I've never had white teeth, I don't know if it's poor enamel or what. They're not yellow, just not white white.

But they're healthy. I've only had 2 teeth pulled, one molar, and one on the side. I had cavities years ago which were filled, but nothing since. The dentist even commented that they're in good shape, especially at my age.

I had a root canal on one of my front teeth 20 years ago, so even if I did whiten my teeth, that one would always be dingy.

DH had to get dentures when he was a young man. I remember the best labs were considered those that would make sure the dentures were a more natural color. Some would even make them not perfectly straight. Pure white dentures were considered to be a lower quality job. My teeth are more yellow than I would like. But I just want to make them a shade lighter. Whenever I have a crown put on we choose a shade to match that goal when I get around to it.

I don't understand all the things people do their bodies these days. Makeup and hair color to enhance your natural look, I get. Removing ugly moles or skin growths, I get. But the hairlessness the chiclet gum teeth, the puttied and spackled flawless face i don't understand.

When I watch modern movies the actors look almost like claymation characters. They have gone well beyond "camera makeup". I find the actors in the older films to be far more attractive.

And all the photoshopping people do to themselves is plain ridiculous. Adjusting the tone or remove a pimple is one thing but the whole make me look like a duck-faced model thing is insane. Now I see older women doing it. I feel sorry for them. To still have self esteem issues to the point they will fake their looks in their senior years is sad.

“Overly straight teeth” can be a thing, can be a notable contributor to the chiclet look along with, obviously, color. A good veneer job today will leave teeth looking natural, both in shape and color.

As for whitening, it’s a timely topic as I just allowed my daughter to get a bleaching product from her orthodontist. Ortho says it’s safe and uses it herself, but while I haven’t researched the particular brand I do tend to think that in general these things aren’t great for your teeth.

Unfortunately my daughter went through a lengthy phase where her oral hygiene was somewhat lacking, and while I fought her a lot on it there’s only so much you want to call attention to a girl’s physical flaws without risking giving her a complex. Fortunately she’s past that stage and actually spends a lot of time on her teeth, but they did continue to look yellow which stood out on her has she has prominent teeth and a fair complexion. So she’s used it a couple times now and her teeth look worlds better without being overly white in the least. I’m encouraging her to stop using the product now, to save it for a touch up once or twice a year as her ortho says she does.

I use the Colgate whitening pen, it made a clear but subtle difference. I’m still many shades removed from refrigerator, but happy with how they look and will also hit them once every several months for touch up.

Do any of these DIY products *color* your teeth white? Mine are naturally quite dark, so there's no point in getting down to basics.

A good friend has beautiful *pearls*, but awful gum problems!

I've been using NOLIPEM Purple Teeth Whitening, Tooth Stain Removal, V34 Color Corrector Serum (bought on Amazon) and it has helped my teeth turn almost white. I drink just coffee and tea and was always shy about showing my teeth. The Nolipem has worked great for me. I don't want blazing white teeth, just wanted to rid the yellow stains.

I brush my teeth as usual then rince. Then brush my teeth with 2 pumps of the purple foam for 2 minutes and rinse. I know it says to just swish, but brushing with it made it work better.

I watched a movie recently where poor settlers in he West struggled. The actors looked so odd with their paper white glowing teeth.

Even more disturbing that OVERLY white teeth are veneers that are WAY too big and they are usually way too white too. Not attractive.