Color Correct Your Smile With The Purple Power of POPWHITE

It’s strange how, in my early twenties, I never thought about the repercussions that some of my dietary habits and lifestyle choices would have on my smile. Somehow, I never did the mental math and figured out that drinking 6 and 7 cups of coffee daily would yellow my teeth or that smoking cigarettes (a nasty habit that I luckily quit years later) could also stain my once pearly whites. And then, when I was 21 and hanging out with a dear friend and his 5-year-old niece, she turned to me and said, “How come your teeth are a little yellow?” My eyes widened in shock, and I immediately closed my mouth and reflexively pressed my lips together in embarrassment. Kids can be brutally honest and, without intending to offend or hurt, they can dispense unsavory truths. After our outing, I went back home and stared at my teeth in the bathroom mirror. It was true: my teeth were far from pearly; they weren’t even a parchment paper color or an eggshell shade.

After my alarming realization, I got to work on brightening my smile. I didn’t want to feel self-conscious about showing my teeth in pics, so I invested in every teeth whitening kit and toothpaste imaginable. Some worked and some didn’t, but I learned a few things along the way. First and foremost, if your teeth are sensitive (and mine are), steer clear of anything containing peroxide. Why? Well, hydrogen peroxide is a bleaching agent, so there’s no denying that it works wonders to whiten teeth. After all, hydrogen peroxide doesn’t just remove surface stains (or extrinsic discoloration, if you will): it tackles intrinsic stains by penetrating the tooth structure and oxidizing the chromogens (intensely pigmented compounds found in many foods and beverages) inside the underlying dentin layer. That said, hydrogen peroxide can also be painful, causing increased tooth and gum sensitivity ranging from mild irritation to outright I-see-stars pain levels (particularly if some of your teeth have had cavities that needed to be filled). Also, some research indicates that hydrogen peroxide, when used in high doses over long periods of time, could lead to enamel damage (though again, the research is inconclusive). While I can’t confidently state that hydrogen peroxide does or doesn’t lead to tooth erosion, I can definitely attest to the searing, mind-numbing, intolerable pain it can cause for those of us with sensitive teeth. So I, for one, am not looking to experience that ever again.

Thankfully, other brands have designed alternate ways of whitening teeth — but perhaps none has had as unique an approach as POPWHITE. The unique teeth whitening system uses the same color correction principles we associate with makeup. For instance, makeup artists often use lavender and purple pigments to neutralize any yellow tones, minimize the appearance of under-eye circles and dark spots, and even skin tone. It’s also why those of us who dye our hair blonde often have our colorists apply violet glazes that neutralize any brassiness. This thorough color theory knowledge, then, is precisely what led Utah-based cosmetologist Gail Carver to wonder if the same principles could be applied to teeth. Could a purple toothpaste somehow neutralize yellow stains on teeth? The short answer: abso-friggin’-lutely!

After pairing up with various experts in the dental industry, POPWHITE was launched. The POPWHITE Power Duo ($36 at POPWHITESmile.com), then, is a two-step system designed to clean, whiten, brighten, and polish teeth while freshening the breath. The first step in the system involves the POPWHITE Whitening Primer Toothpaste ($18 at POPWHITESmile.com), a purple-colored toothpaste (and yes, we’re talking purple like Tinky Winky from the Teletubbies) that features the brand’s signature Power of Purple (“POP”) technology to neutralize yellow stains on teeth, as well as natural ingredients like: coconut oil, which has antibacterial properties and has been shown to help reduce plaque and tartar and which is also said to gradually whiten teeth; Xylitol, a birch-derived substance that reduced plaque and fortifies enamel; and peppermint oil, which freshens the breath.

Here’s what the toothpaste looks like:

You’ll want to brush your teeth thoroughly — just like you would when using any standard toothpaste until your teeth look like this:

Yes, I totally look like the sorceress character in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest in the picture above but, hey, it’s all part of the process!

Now here’s the trick: instead of rinsing your mouth with water, as you would normally do after brushing, you’ll want to reach for the POPWHITE Whitening Toner + Oral Rinse ($18 at POPWHITEsmile.com) and rinse your mouth using this purple-colored mouthwash. The mouthwash refreshes your breath thanks to the peppermint oil in the formula, and it too contains coconut oil and xylotiol to reduce tartar and plaque, polish teeth, and leave them looking brighter and glossy.

For ideal results, you’ll want to use the Toothpaste and Oral Rinse twice daily. On average, users have reported that their teeth were four shades whiter within 14 days of regular use. In my case, I’d say they’re about 2-3 shades whiter. That doesn’t mean I now have a smile that’s as dazzling as Britney Spears’ but it’s a marked improvement!

Here’s my smile after a month of using POPWHITE:

I may finally show some teeth in my photos — on purpose! And I didn’t even have to suffer the agony of hydrogen peroxide-based strips to get here!