Note: This post was written before we moved to featuring Canadian brands exclusively. Smile Brilliant is a US brand.
Towards the end of last year, as I contemplated personal changes that I would like to make for 2015, I kept coming back to the thought that I would love to make more time to care for myself and my appearance. At first I struggled with feeling that it was a shallow resolution; but the truth is, it’s so easy to get caught up in being “busy” that we don’t always give ourselves some time to focus attention on doing something just because it makes us feel good.
It was right around that time, as I was building up my resolve to quit biting my nails, drink less coffee and take more bubble baths, that Smile Brilliant contacted me and offered the opportunity to try their complete teeth whitening system.
I was nervous and excited! For years I have contemplated having my teeth professionally whitened at the dentist, but I just couldn’t justify the expense or the time commitment. Instead I’ve found myself dabbling with whitening toothpastes, strips and rinses; and the results have always been underwhelming.
Smile Brilliant offers a complete at-home system that comes with everything you need to create your own trays and whiten your teeth with dentist quality results–at a fraction of the cost. The last time that I inquired at my dentist office, I was quoted a price over $600 CAD! Smile Brilliant’s complete teeth whitening system with tray-making kit, whitening gel and desensitizing gel is only $140 USD; and aside from leaving the house to mail in your impressions, the whole process can be done in the comfort of your own home.
My Experience
When I received my teeth whitening system in the mail, I eyed the putty that was sent to me to create my custom-fit whitening trays, and decided with certainty that I would somehow mess them up enough that I would have to request more putty; even though they’d sent extra.
When I read the instructions before starting, the time span between the steps sounded very short. Once the base putty and catalyst have been combined, you need to move through the creation process within a couple of minutes – before the putty hardens. In practice it did not feel nearly as rushed as I had expected, and I was able to make perfect impressions of both my top and bottom teeth on the first try.
After my trays had hardened completely I packed them into the pre-adressed envelop that was sent to me, and headed to the post office to ship my package.
The Smile Brilliant lab is located in the US, so the turn around time to get our trays back is a little bit longer for those of us in Canada. I received an email two weeks later that the Smile Brilliant Lab had received my impressions and that I could expect my custom-fitted trays to be in the mail within 3-7 business days. I received another email the same day saying that my trays were on their way back to me! About a week and a half later they were at my door. So the total turnaround time for my tray-making process was three and a half weeks.
I was very cautious when I first used the gels. I had not had issue with tooth sensitivity recently, but it is something that I have had to deal with in the past. For the first two applications, I used the whitening gel for only the minimum time suggested (20 minutes) and spaced the applications a couple of days apart. On the third application I left the trays on for an hour, and the whitening effect afterwards was much more noticeable. I had still not experienced any tooth sensitivity at this point; so I began lengthening my application times to two, and then finally the maximum time of three hours. Once I started whitening for three hours at a time I did start to experience a slight sensitivity on my bottom molars, as well as mild gum irritation in one space between two of my teeth. As soon as I noticed that this was happening I started to apply a bit more of the desensitizing gel on the tray in those areas after the whitening process, and the sensitivity problem was quickly resolved. The gum irritation was only a minor nuisance for me. It was uncomfortable during parts of two whitening applications, with the irritation lasting for only a couple of hours each time. After a couple of days the skin healed and I experienced no gum pain during or after the one application that I did after that.
My results
I love that this product covered every portion of my teeth for all-over whitening effect that is even in color from the front of my mouth to the very back. I can’t stop smiling!
How It Works
When we whiten our teeth we remove staining from the enamel, the clear outer-most layer of a tooth. Because enamel is porous, substances can get through it to stain our dentin, the soft bone-like tissue just below it.
When we use any method of teeth whitening, it can only remove stains from the enamel layer. Once everything (including stubborn tobacco/nicotine stains) has been removed from the top layer of our teeth, we are left with the color of our dentin. This color varies in appearance from person to person. It can range anywhere from white to off white, and in rare cases it can also be yellow. When consumers feel that they are not seeing results with teeth whitening products, it is typically because they have a darker coloured dentin.
If you use either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to whiten with, it will remove all stains from your enamel over time. You can read this article to learn more about the difference between these two whitening agents and how they work.
Learn more
The links in this review lead to informative articles and product information available on the Smile Brilliant website that are directly related to the wording highlighted. If you’d like to see a complete list of approximately one hundred dental care and whitening related articles, you can visit the Smile Brilliant blog.
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Get a Discount
For a limited time, all of our readers are eligible for a discount of 5% off all Smile Brilliant products. Use the code ehcanada5 at checkout to redeem this offer! Just order online and the system will be delivered to your doorstep.
Smile Brilliant Giveaway
Smile Brilliant is generously offering one of our readers the opportunity to try out their complete at-home teeth whitening system for free. Enter using the giveaway form below for your chance to win a custom-fitted tray creation kit, whitening gel and desensitizing gel – a prize valued at $139.95 USD!
Open to Canada and the USA. Void where prohibited.
I would love to win because I quit smoking last April, but my teeth are still stained and to have nice white teeth would be a great reward for my success of quitting!!
I’m an ex smoker but still drink coffee so would like to get them back to being nice and white again, I love my smile just not the colour of my teeth
I would love to win this for my hubby who finally after 40 years quit smoking last Easter Sunday,this would remove that staining
I would love to win so that my teeth could be whiter
I would love to win this product because my teeth are fairly straight, they could use some whitening and my smile is my most promising assett.
To have a pretty smile and healthy look
I would like to win this because I haven’t whitened my teeth in awhile.
Since I was a Smoker and Coffee Drinker, Times been catching up on me, and my teeth are a Embarrassing Yellow, I really can’t believe how they changed and now teaching my children the importance and of course brushing regularly so this hopefully doesn’t happen to them. I am hoping this system help me better my appearance as being a young 36 year old mom to 10, I had allowed myself go down, as I took care of the needs and wants for everyone around me. Time I start thinking about Me now <3 Incredible Giveaway =) Thank you
My teeth could really use a bright shine!
to whiten my teeth, coffee is hard on a bright smile!
I would like to win this prize because my teeth could use a good whitening! It seems to be super effective!
I would love to win this because I am unable to afford to get my teeth whitened professionally and find that that usual “at home” whitening kits don’t really do to much for me.
I would love to win to help my daughter get her teeth whiter to help her self confidence.
I would love to have nice white teeth
I’d like to win this because I drink coffee a lot and could probably use some brightening
I would love to win this for my husband
Would love to try!
my teeth could use a whitening product to whiten them
I’d love to try this, I’ve tried the white strips, and use them maybe once a year, but I’ve heard this product is much better.
I would love to win because I could use a liittle teeth whitening
I would love to have prettier and whiter teeth
I’d love to win because I’ve been drinking a bit too much coffee and need to whiten my teeth up!
I love coffee and wine…so this would be a great smile brightener!
i would love to give this to my fiance. he is a smoker so this would be a nice gift
I’m quitting smoking and would love to get the yellow staining gone
WHAT A GIVEAWAY
I’d like to win this to have a beautiful white smile. My teeth have always been less than white but unless I have a professional bleaching….I can’t afford that and this giveaway might bring me a bright smile!
I would love to win because my teeth definitely needs whitening since I drink coffee and tea everyday.
Sounds like a very easy to use product. Would love to try it!
This would be great to win because everybody wants white teeth.
My teeth are stained and could use a little brightening!
I could definitely use some whitening for my teeth! Thanks for the chance!
Great stuff!
I would love to win thie because my teeth could use a good whitening. 🙂
Id love to win because I just quit smoking and my teeth are not white.
I would love it because I’m a coffee drinker! 😉
I would love to be able to whiten my teeth at home…I am a coffee drinker.
I recently had my first baby boy and have had a hard time getting everything (aka my body) back to normal. I’d love to win Smile Brillants complete at-home teeth whitening system to give my confidence a little boost. I’ve never used a whitening system so I think I’d be a good candidate for results. I want to feel as good on the outside as I do on the inside. Many thanks!
Gotta get rid of the smoking/coffee teeth!
I am a smoker unfortunately, so this would help make my teeth more white.
Whiter teeth brings bigger confidence!
I’d like to win this for my boyfriend. He’s been talking about wanting to try teeth whitening products lately so we’ve been looking into it. I think he’d love this.
Too much coffee!
i have been really feeling self conscious latley about my teeth
I’m getting married this fall and want pretty white teeth!
I’d love to win to help me get rid of coffee stains
I would love to win because I quit smoking last august but my teeth are still stained
I’ve been pulling all nighters and drinking a lot of coffee, so I would love this to help me whiten up my teeth
I’d love to win because I’ve always felt like my teeth aren’t as white as I would like them to be.
I would actually love to win for my mom. She really wants a teeth whitening system as her medications have yellowed her teeth some. Thanks!!
I would love to whiten my teeth before my upcoming wedding. 🙂
My husband has always wanted to do this!
Over the years my teeth have just been getting a little less white. It would be nice to get them to sparkle a bit more.
My teeth could definitely use some whitening and I’ve heard nothing but good things about this product!
I would love to try this!
Id love to see my smile bright again
I’ve been wanting to get my teeth whitened for awhile! This would be great!
I’ve recently left an abusive situation. Anything to make me feel.better would be appreciated at this point.
id love to win this prize cause i smoke and drink coffee and feel my teeth arent as white as they should be
I would love to win so I could give this as a gift to my friend.
Id like to win for my oldest son who needs a whitening because of coffee and smoking.
For my terribly yellowing teeth and my husbands!
I would love to try this teeth whitening products because I’ve never use one before. I drink two cups of coffee per day so I do have some staining. I would love to see what kind of results I would get.
always great to have better looking teeth. thankyou, ken
I am getting married next year and would really love to have whiter teeth for the wedding and related events. I used to smoke and drink 6-10 cup of coffee a day, so my teeth are much darker than I am comfortable with! It would also help me be more confident as I am very self conscious about my teeth
i’ve drank alot of coffee so i have some staining
I would love to try this! What a great way to begin the new year – with a brighter smile!
This would be so useful with all of the coffee I drink
id love to win this for my husband. he would love it
Coffee, wine, & tea make my teeth so dingy. I’m not going to stop drinking them, so I’d love to have a fantastic cleaning system to battle the staining & have a bright white smile!
I’m a huge coffee and tea drinker and would love to whiten my teeth!
I always like my teeth to be brighter, but just whitening toothpaste doesn’t seem to do it. This would be great to try!
I have never had my teeth whitened and I recently quit drinking soda so I would love to try this out.
Would love to win this… being a smoker.
REALLY need this!
I love to keep my teeth white for smiling more!
I’d like to win so I can have a whiter, brighter smile.
I would love to win this so I can get rid of caffeine and nicotine stains off my teeth!
I am very self-conscious about my yellow tinted teeth…I really could use this.
Coffee drinker and would love to use!
would love to win im super self conscious about my smile.
I’d love to try this kit. I have used other methods for teeth whitening including having it done at the dentist. This seems to have several elements that would be convenient and effective.
I’d like to win this because after years of being a smoker, my teeth are yellowed and they could use a good whitening.
I have a wedding coming up in a month- I’d love to whiten my teeth for photos. The crest whitening strips never seem to fit on my teeth very well (they’re a little crooked)
I’ve always wondered about teeth whitening systems…..Smile Brilliant sounds like one that works well 🙂