A couple of weeks ago, GLO Science reached out to me about trying its in-office teeth-whitening system, and I had to say yes. I was about to get married and the timing was impeccable—of course I wanted any excuse to ditch the whitening strips and dive head first into something professional-strength. I needed results, and fast. And that’s exactly what I got. Here’s an inside look at my experience.
When I arrived at Dr. Bruce Ouellette’s office in West Palm Beach, FL, I was taken back to a treatment room and my teeth were examined to make sure I didn’t have any gum recession (if you do, you may not be able to receive the treatment). He also warned me about the potential for the white spots on my teeth (left behind after having braces in middle school) to become brighter. He said it wouldn’t be too noticeable and that the overall result would be worth it.
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I was given a quick rundown on what to expect, and my only question—and reservation—was about any chance for pain. I was worried it would make my gums really sensitive—I’ve had sensitivities to whitening products in the past and was sure I’d be in some kind of pain either during or after the treatment. I was assured by Dr. Ouellette that out of all the whitening treatments he’s performed over the years, this one is the gentlest.
He said that the only discomfort—if any—I would feel would come from the metal retractor that holds your mouth open really wide while they perform the treatment, which lasts about 35 minutes (longer if you include the time for before-and-after pictures to be taken). My mouth is smaller in general, so it did feel a tiny bit uncomfortable, but nothing to write home about. The hygienist slathered my lips in balm, too, to keep them from becoming dry.
A barrier gel was rubbed onto my gums to protect them, and then the whitening gel was applied with a plastic syringe of sorts (seen in the image below). Next, the GLO mouthpiece was placed over my teeth and the blue light glowed—the treatment comprised four eight-minute sessions and the whitening gel was reapplied in between each one.
The patented system (GLO stands for Guided Light Optics) combines heat and light to deliver maximum whitening power without letting oxygen escape from the mouth so the ingredients are locked in and able to really penetrate the teeth. This leads to better results that also last longer than many other products on the market.
The big surprise: I didn’t feel one ounce of pain or sensitivity throughout the treatment! My teeth looked and felt great (they still do weeks later). I’m not sure they were five shades whiter (though GLO claims many people reach this result), but the difference was visible and made me excited for wedding photos.
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Dr. Ouellette sent me home with a GLO at-home whitening kit to help me maintain my results and achieve even more brightening, and it was really easy to use on my own. Again, no sensitivity. I also drank my tea and green smoothies through a straw for a week after the treatment to prevent staining.
Overall, I’d recommend this treatment to anyone who has an important event like a wedding or reunion, or just wants noticeable whitening in a short amount of time with no pain. It’s super fast and it really works.
