In the world of teeth whiteners, it is hard to find something that is both fairly inexpensive and effective. After trying both the Rembrandt and Brite Smile versions of a whitening pen, I’ve seen pros and cons for both. Here’s a look at the distinguishing features and their performance.
Rembrandt
Pros
The Rembrandt whitening pen sells for $10-15 dollars depending on where you look, with a median price of $12.99. This is a great price for a whitening product; most whitening strips or trays are twice that among.
As you would expect from a Rembrandt whitening product it works fairly well. I used it for a two week period and found that my teeth were at least a little whiter than when I began. The pen is very easy to use, with only one application needed at night. The tip of the pen is a sponge with holes in it for the Rembrandt whitening product to dispense out. You simply click the clear gel product up with two twists and rub it over the front of as many teeth as show in your smile; this is an advantage over whitening strips which are only designed to cover the front five on top and bottom. I would put this Rembrandt whitening product on my teeth after brushing for the night. There was a slight taste of the product, as can be expected, but it wasn’t horribly chemical-just a mild flavor. At first I was skeptical that something so seemingly easy could actually work, but within a week I noticed that it did whiten my teeth about two shades.
Cons
Although the whitening power works fairly quickly, it isn’t very lasting. Within a month or two I noticed the whitening wearing off. I was better off using whitening strips of the same Rembrandt brand for a more lasting effect (4-6 months).
It was also difficult to see if you covered the entire surface of each tooth and I found myself trying to see the product ‘foam’ on my teeth so I could make certain it was on there. There was no indication that you should bear your teeth after application for the product to dry or that you should make certain your teeth were ‘dry’ when using it. All of these directions are given for the Brite Smile to Go product, however. The lack of clear directions for the Rembrandt product may make it less effective and the results shorter than the Brite Smile to Go whitening pen.
Brite Smile to Go
Pros
Brite Smile to Go’s whitening pen is from a company that prides itself in brightening teeth quickly. While their in spa treatments are clearly more expensive ($400-600), you can buy a whitening pen through your dentist or at discount at some online auctions. The retail price is $90, but you can likely find it on ebay for much less. The price is obviously far more expensive than the Rembrandt version. The Brite Smile To Go’s expensive may be seen as a con, but the results are much better than the Rembrandt counterpart.
The Brite Smile To Go whitening pen differs in structure a little to the Rembrandt whitening pen. It is similar in size, but the tip of the Brite Smile To Go is like a paint brush rather than a sponge. There are a series of bristles that, when the bottom button is pressed, will fill with the whitening product. You brush the Brite Smile gel on your teeth in the same way you would use the Rembrandt whitening pen. I noticed that after a few weeks of use the Brite Smile To Go whitened my teeth a great deal-3-4 shades whiter. This is a greater difference from the Rembrandt pen. The results lasted for 6 months or so. You could use the Brite Smile To Go pen to continue to whiten your teeth during that 6 month period for ‘touch ups’ to keep the white going; this is not so with the Rembrandt whitener because it only contains enough product to use for 2 weeks of whitening.
Cons
Brite Smile To Go is intended for use in the morning and at night, equaling two applications per day when attempting to whiten for the first time. The dentist that recommended this product indicated to me that after my teeth were whiter I could start using it for only the morning to keep it up. The careful directions for this product (i.e. making sure your teeth are dry before use, grinning 30 seconds for it to dry, and then no liquids or food for 30 minutes) made it more complex to use than the Rembrandt whitening pen. Thus, the Brite Smile To Go was more tedious to use.
Overall, I found the Brite Smile To Go whitening pen to outdo the Rembrandt whitening pen in effectiveness and longevity. Despite Brite Smile’s higher price, you receive more product for your money and more noticeable results after a two week period.
