Skeptical is my name when it comes to new beauty and healthcare products. Now don’t get me wrong. I’m all in favor of doing whatever one can to look and feel better. But  product promises are all too often overblown. So I met with initial skepticism a claim of a new teeth whitening kit you can use at home.

In the past I’ve done the dentist route with the tooth mold and whitening gel you use for a week for an hour a day. It does the job but isn’t terribly pleasant (makes for sensitive gums and the taste of the gel is off putting). A good friend swears by Crest strips. I’ve heard about light technology with peroxide but haven’t tried that. Have you?

Onto the scene comes Smile Illuminator Instant Whitening Kit from Luster Premium White. Its claim is to “polish, boost, revamp teeth to reenergize smiles with zero tooth sensitivity, with instant results after one use.” Getting back to the skepticism. I interviewed Damon Brown, the CEO and co-founder of Dentovations Inc., the parent company of Luster Premium White, about his clinical trials and safety issue. It turns out his firm owns 174 dental offices across the country.He tested the product in his offices. His bottom line was to have an oral beauty  product that would be effective in removing stains but without harsh chemicals to strip away enamel or to hurt the gums. The result was the new whitening kit. He said it’s designed to be used as a touch up to whiten teeth for a special event or function or, with use for seven days a week, twice a day, it will also remove the inside stains. (He said it can be used ongoing, though conservative me, I wouldn’t).

I tried it and, a surprise to me, it worked. My teeth definitely looked whiter and it got out some of the staining. There was also no gum sensitivity or unpleasant taste. Here’s their description of the two step system:

Step 1: (Polish) An Electrifying Blue Toothpaste instantly whitens teeth after one use by utilizing Bluverite®, a proprietary technology that leaves behind blue micro-particles causing an optical whitening effect on teeth.
·         Step 2: (Boost) Brisk Rinse, a zesty mint flavored mouthwash containing a combination of Bluverite® and  peroxide provides fresh, clean breath along with both instant and long-lasting whitening.

My description of the process: You brush your teeth as usual with the special toothpaste and then, at the end, rinse it with the Brisk Rinse for 30 seconds. After that you wait 30 minutes before eating or drinking.

Part of the kit is a travel size tube of whitening serum that’s a finishing stain dissolver and can be used separately for whitening touch ups.

The teeth whitening kit is  priced at $14.99 and is available at Walgreens and online. I’m hooked.

For more information,  visit www.LusterPremiumWhite.com.