I Must Confess: I’ve never been happy with the colour of my teeth.
I’m not sure if it’s due to genetics, the antibiotics I took when I was young, or the fact that I avoided brushing them when I was a kid … drinking coffee and tea nowadays probably doesn’t help either.
So when I saw a “you-beaut (translation: expensive!) whitening toothpaste” on special recently – different to my usual brand – I decided to give it a whirl.
It has to be said, the jury is out as to whether any whitening toothpastes work. However I’m grateful for even the slightest improvement in my not-so-pearly-whites. I’m a smiley person after all, so my teeth are often on display!
And then … I got a stinging sensation in the corner of my mouth. Uh oh! Could it be my first cold sore?
As the days passed, the sensation continued and seemed to spread … and then I noticed a rash around my mouth.
What was that about?!
It took me a few days before I twigged what the culprit was – there it was, staring me in the face each time I brushed my teeth …
Things get a bit messy when I’m brushing my teeth; I tend to get toothpaste foam everywhere (please tell me I’m not the only one!). I’m probably sub-consciously trying to make up for those years of neglect, so get a bit over-enthusiastic about my oral hygiene these days.
But obviously, the whitening ingredient/s in the toothpaste don’t agree with my skin. Whitening toothpaste is dangerous to delicate skin – who knew?!
I haven’t quit whitening toothpaste altogether, instead I’m just a lot more careful when I brush, to not get foam on my skin.
Have you discovered the dangers of whitening toothpaste – and do you think it really works?!
Linking up with My Home Truths.