Since returning to Chicago from my home-for-the-holidays annual trip, I’ve been thinking about how people - my family included - take out their anxiety and stress in the most interesting of ways.  My father holds his stress in his neck, my mother turns to adult beverages and my sister gets headaches.  It was as my plane circled O’Hare for hours before we were able to land on the only open runway due to the arctic blast that hit the city, I realized that my teeth were clenched so hard that my jaw was beginning to ache!  Now, I’d like to think that my oral hygiene is above average - I brush at least twice a day, use mouthwash, floss (semi) regularly, see the dentist twice a year for cleanings and until 2009 have never had a cavity.  In fact, until 2009 I hadn’t visited the dentist for anything other than these regular cleanings.   Well in the past 12 months, times have changed for my “grill”.  I’ve had a chipped front tooth (courtesy of a beer bottle), cracked back tooth (who knows what from), broken retainer (the only remnant of my middle school years in braces) and I’ve even noticed that my pearly whites were not as pearly as I would like them to be. I drink coffee every day, red wine every so often and acidic foods on a regular basis.

That’s right, I said it - 2009 was a rough year for my teeth.

When PLRG found out that The Salon at Ulta was now offering a new cosmetic teeth whitening service called SpaWhite, I figured the least I could do for my teeth was to schedule an appointment.   “Cosmetic” as we all know can sometimes be code for “temporary” or even “fake”, so on my teeth’s behalf I proceeded with caution.  What I expected - a dentist-like, lengthy, boring procedure - couldn’t be far enough from what I found.  The treatment was done in the same type of treatment room as massages or facials would be done, and the comfy lounge chair was no different either.  The pretty blonde named Jennifer who performed the treatment was as sweet as could be, and immediately told me all about the difference between SpaWhite and a typical dentist-type whitening.

Here’s the deelio - SpaWhite (part of the larger WhiteScience brand) doesn’t actually bleach your teeth. Instead, the process removes the stains from teeth using a combination of a patented “foam suspension peroxide” system and something called DayLight 5K light.    I’ll get to the parts I know you care about.  Before we started Jennifer matched the color of my teeth and promised at least 2 (and up to 4) shades lighter when we were finished.   She put some gel into a rubbery mouth tray that reminded me of the things football players wear during games and told me to bite down.  Next she positioned a blue light on an adjustable cord so that it was right up to my mouth.   The rest was all about relaxation - for me and my teeth.   She spent the next 20 minutes massaging my hands, arms, face and scalp, and I almost fell asleep more than once.  When the time was up, I rinsed and looked in the mirror - and I was pleasantly surprised with the results.   My teeth were for sure lighter than when I arrived - not an overly obvious change, but a change for the better nonetheless.

What impressed me most was how SpaWhite is marketing towards the salon/spa audience - mainly women - who want to have whiter teeth but don’t necessarily want to have to schedule another dentist visit or spend hundreds of dollars.   This treatment retails for $199 but The Salon at Ulta is currently running a “Fall in Love with your Smile” special of $129.   They also have a “Two for Tuesday” special which offers 2 whitenings for the combined price of $199 (aka bring your friend).   Plus they have the cutest accessories to keep your smile whiter.  My favorite is what they call WhiteICE.  This little tube of whitening “paste” seriously looks just like a lipstick case, and even has a little mirror on one end.  WhiteICE is basically a maintenance product for after you’ve had the SpaWhite treatment that you can use as often as daily.   You lightly rub the stick on your teeth and it erases stains.  You don’t have to rinse, but you shouldn’t eat or drink for 30 minutes after applying, which isn’t that tough because it tastes just like minty toothpaste, which (at least for me) makes other flavors seem unappealing for a little while.

Whether you take out your stress at the gym, on your significant other, or on a pint of ice cream, I would still recommend SpaWhite if you’re looking to whiten your smile.   As for me and any other teeth-abusers out there, I have a feeling 2010 will be a better year for teeth everywhere.

(Noelle Provencial)