Drew Barrymore Swears This $13 Toothpaste Gives Her Teeth "a Quick Kick of White"

August 27, 2020

131

If you follow Drew Barrymore on social media, you may have recently come across a video of the Santa Clarita Diet star brushing her teeth for all of Instagram—and somehow managing to not make it awkward at all. (Just add that to all the reasons we adore her.) The super down-to-earth mom of two can be seen in her bathroom gargling, scrubbing her tongue, spitting into the sink, talking to her fans with a mouthful of toothpaste, and even making jokes about her imperfect teeth. Hey, Drew, you dropped this. 👑

As part of her infamous #BeautyJunkieWeek (a week where she discusses her beauty routine and reveals her must-have products, which tend to have drugstore price tags), the 45-year-old actress and Flower Beauty founder took to Instagram to let followers in on her secret to a bright smile. Barrymore shares that she absolutely loves Crest 3D White Brilliance 2-Step Toothpaste ($13; amazon.com). "“I am telling you, you will see a noticeable difference after this two step," she swears to the camera.

The easy-to-use, two-step system includes a deep cleansing toothpaste and a whitening finisher—which Barrymore walks her nearly two million viewers through. First, she thoroughly brushes with the cleansing paste for a minute, and warns fans to fight the urge to spit afterward. Once finished, she squeezes the whitening treatment—a hydrogen peroxide gel—onto her brush, and proceeds to polish and whiten her teeth for another minute. She then rinses her mouth and spits into the sink.

So, how exactly does her go-to method work to brighten and remove stains without a trip to the dentist (not to mention, spending a fortune on professional whitening)? "The active ingredient in this product for whitening is sodium fluoride, which also works by making the teeth stronger and more resistant to decay caused by acid and bacteria," say Sheila Samaddar, DDS, a member of the American Dental Association and president of the DC Academy of General Dentistry. "While listed as an inactive agent in this toothpaste, hydrogen peroxide is also known to bleach teeth."

You're probably already familiar with hydrogen peroxide, since it's been used in oral care products—like toothpaste and mouthwash—and teeth bleaching products for decades. “Hydrogen peroxide brightens and whitens the teeth via a chemical process, by breaking down the stains from polymers into monomers via an oxidation process,” UK dentist Dr. Lisa Creaven, co-founder of Spotlight Oral Care, previously told Health. “In teeth whitening products, it works to dissolve stains so teeth are gradually and safely whitened without damaging tooth health," she added.

While the ingredients in this two-step system are documented for having positive results, don't expect to have a sparkling smile immediately—whitening products usually can take a few days and up to two weeks for results to be evident, notes Dr. Samaddar. "If you really need a quick result, many dentists provide stronger solutions and more controlled versions of whitening that you can do in their offices for immediate gratification."

crest-3dwhite-brilliance-toothpaste , $13; amazon.com

And if you have tooth sensitivity but still have pearly white goals, fear not—this might be the perfect product for you. In her video, Barrymore shares that she can't use most bleaching products since they hurt, but her go-to method for whitening her teeth is the best thing she's found to "give a quick kick of white" without any pain. "My teeth can take it and my teeth are super sensitive," she says.

Crest ensures that this duo is perfectly safe to use after each meal or at least twice daily, however if you have tender gums or teeth, it's always a good idea to discuss this or other whitening products with your dentist prior to starting, advises Dr. Samaddar. It's possible that your sensitivity could be caused sensitive gums, gum recession, or even something more serious like a cracked tooth or failing filling, so it's best to have your oral structures evaluated prior to trying new products—or at the minimum, discontinue use immediately if you have concerning symptoms, she adds.

Although Barrymore swears by this whitener for sensitive teeth, that doesn't guarantee you won't feel some ~tingly~ sensations while brushing with it. "All teeth whitening products have the potential to cause sensitivity if used incorrectly or for too long a period of time," notes Dr. Samaddar. "The keys are knowing what limitations your mouth may have with gums or exposed areas on teeth, and being aware of how your teeth are feeling while in treatment." (Pro tip: If you have sensitivities, Dr. Samaddar suggests considering in-home whitening solutions with potassium nitrate, which helps calm the nerves in the teeth.)

On top of being Barrymore's whitening holy grail, Crest 3D White Brilliance 2-Step Toothpaste has earned over 2,300 five-star ratings from Amazon customers. Shoppers claim that the paste makes their mouths feel incredibly clean, has created a "dramatic shade difference" in their smiles, and works "better than any other whitening toothpaste" they've tried. One reviewer, who grew up in a family of dentists, said they experienced zero soreness from using the product and was so happy with the results that they even subscribed to receiving the two-step system on a recurring basis.

"Because I didn’t genetically get big, white, fabulous horse teeth, we work with what we got," Barrymore says at the end of her Instagram video. And we aren't sure what we love more—the A-lister's candor or the fact that you can snap up her favorite teeth whitening product for just $13!

Sign up for our Health Shopping newsletter to get your daily dose of retail therapy with great deals handpicked by our editors — straight to your inbox.

LEAVE A REPLY Cancel reply