I Was Skeptical About Teeth Whitening Until I Tried ARC

"Everyone say cheeeeese" – The words I dread hearing.

The last group photo that was taken, I smiled and was shocked at how stained my teeth had become over the years, especially compared to my friends' teeth. Now, my yellow teeth are on Instagram for the world to see. I haven't open-mouth smiled in a photo since.

Since then, I'd become so self-conscious, I stopped smiling as much not only in photos, but in real life too.

One day, I was out for coffee with one of my friends, and I couldn't help but notice how white her teeth looked. "How do you drink so much coffee, but keep your teeth so white?" I asked.

She told me she used the ARC Blue Light Teeth Whitening Kit.

I'm anti-whitening kits. I had crooked teeth as a child, and my parents spent so much money straightening and fixing my teeth, I didn't want to cause any damage to them! I mean, bleaching your teeth just didn't sound like something that would be good for them. Plus, I heard whitening strips could be really painful.

My friend reassured me that they weren't bad for your teeth and were safe as long as you followed the instructions.

I didn't believe her, but I really wanted it to be true, so I decided to check out the ARC website. It turns out they're enamel-safe and use the same ingredients dentists use, and people were sharing really cool before-and-after pics online.

When I saw that they cost $45, I thought it was reasonable, but I was still hesitant to buy a box – what if it was too painful?

I didn't want to waste my money, but when I saw that they offer a 60-day money-back guarantee, I thought I'd give it a shot. So, I ordered a box.

The kit arrived after a few days, and the first thing I noticed was that the box was super pretty with a holographic design. It included their Blue Light Device and 14 teeth whitening treatment strips. Every day over 14 days, you place the strips on your teeth for 30 minutes, adding the blue light for the last 5 minutes to help boost the whitening.

Not going to lie, I was a little scared the first time I tried them. But looking in the mirror at my teeth was all the motivation I needed.

What's the worst that can happen? They're safe, and I could just take them out if they started to hurt. So, I braced myself and placed the two strips in my mouth. First impressions: they are more comfortable than I was expecting – they're flexible and fit my teeth perfectly.

Surprisingly, I could still get on with my routine without them budging! I took off my makeup, had a conversation with my mom, and even sipped on water with them on! When it was time to put the Blue Light in for the last 5 minutes, I was worried that this would be the part that was gonna hurt. But I didn't feel anything, and when the blue light beeped at the end, I was surprised that it was finished! After the first treatment, I knew it was something that I could keep doing, but would it work as well for me as it did for my friend?

After only a few days, I could already see the stains on my teeth going away. And low and behold, two weeks later, when the treatment was done, my teeth were pearly white!

But I was worried the results wouldn't last. Luckily, ARC has its Smile Amplifier Kit, which I've ordered for when I need a touch-up.

Even though I was hesitant to start the treatment, I'm glad I took the plunge in the end. I'd recommend the ARC Teeth Whitening Kit to anyone who wants whiter teeth but doesn't know how to get started.

At first, I was scared to try it, but the experience and the results were better than I could have dreamed of. I can finally smile with confidence and pride!

Now, whenever a camera is pointed at me, I'm the one cheeeeesing the most.

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