Do you use teeth whiteners?

Stonehenge · #1 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 10:39 PM

Sounds off the wall, doesn't it? I've been noticing more people in our industry and other construction-related industries with whiter-than-normal teeth, and I'm wondering who whitens, and if you think it gives you a sales boost when meeting with clients.

cutntrim · #2 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 11:29 PM

I haven't noticed any super-white-toothed landscapers around here, but then I don't really look too closely at competitor's mouths. Usually I'm looking at their vehicles and equipment.

I'm sure if two sales guys went head-to-head and one looked like George Clooney and the other like Steve Buschemi, it'd be tough for Stevie to keep up.

My wife (who has nice teeth to begin with) has used the Crest products before and the difference is noticeable. She only used 1/4 of the package because she was afraid of ending up with the blindingly-white, unnatural teeth you see on television news anchors.

I'm blessed with good, straight teeth and only have one cavity from when I was just a kid. My teeth are pretty white naturally, and I haven't been to the dentist for over 20 years. If that wasn't the case, I'd probably try the whitening stuff myself.

Nebraska · #3 (**permalink**) 04-30-2006, 11:34 PM

I wouldn't hire someone with real yellow teeth (I'm talking nasty yellow)....real crooked teeth....missing teeth etc.

On the same token I wouldn't hire someone just because they have un-naturally white teeth.
(all the above referring to being on the other side of the sales process yet can include employees as well)

I met a maintenance manager with a commercial property that all I could think of for the rest of the day was mailing him a toothbrush..... it was really bad.

RootRot · #4 (**permalink**) 05-01-2006, 01:06 AM

Those "whitening" hybrids of toothpaste make my teeth super sensitive to cold and sugary stuff. But I am a hardcore coffee drinker (8+ cups by lunch) and I bring a toothbrush to work and brush after lunch break to keep the coffee stains away. Not to mention my teeth would rot from all the sugar I use in my coffee.

Stonehenge · #5 (**permalink**) 05-01-2006, 08:32 AM

What's been making me think about this is our website - I was putting up a picture of myself and thought "ewww - those aren't the nicest teeth in the world." My teeth are pretty straight, and I don't think they're that bad, but I do drink coffee and I did smoke for awhile, so they aren't as white as they could be. I ended up photoshopping my chops to make them a bit more appealing to our potential customers.

I walk into our dentist's office and it feels like I stepped into Hollywood - nice, white smiles everywhere. Something about that looks right or feels right.

So I've been thinking about improving my chicklets.

Fine Edge · #6 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 12:21 AM

I won't work for dentists because I'm a big coffee drinker too and I feel like they just want to mug me while I'm working and whiten my teeth.

Nebraska · #7 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 01:01 AM

Stonehenge --- Try the white strips... I recently used the Target brand which was the exact same as one of the higher end brands with excellent results.

TrickyDick · #8 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 12:58 PM

My first job was washing dishes at a fancy resteraunt and the chef gave me some good advice. "Never trust a skinny chef." I think it could also work as "Never trust a spotless landscaper." If I show up to meet a client at 6 PM looking like I worked all day I think most people see that as a positive. Gives you a little "street cred". Unless your teeth are falling out your work should be able to speak louder than your smile.

Nebraska · #9 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 06:47 PM

It was a rembrandt brand knock off....

Stonehenge · #10 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 09:48 PM

Tricky - I don't know about you, but I get pretty ripe by the end of the day. Even I don't want me in my house in the evening. So my clients get to meet a freshly showered, nice smelling dude - just that they get to met me later in the evening. I think seeing hands that look like they went through a meat grinder probably gives me all the street cred I need.

TrickyDick · #11 (**permalink**) 05-02-2006, 11:36 PM

Yeah fair enough. I guess a garden house and a clean shirt are as far as I'm willing to go on a weekday. Once I'm showered I'm only working at my house.

I have thought about getting my teeth straightened though, just not for sales reasons.

mdvaden · #12 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 02:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Stonehenge
What's been making me think about this is our website - I was putting up a picture of myself and thought "ewww - those aren't the nicest teeth in the world." My teeth are pretty straight, and I don't think they're that bad, but I do drink coffee and I did smoke for awhile, so they aren't as white as they could be. I ended up photoshopping my chops to make them a bit more appealing to our potential customers.

I walk into our dentist's office and it feels like I stepped into Hollywood - nice, white smiles everywhere. Something about that looks right or feels right.

So I've been thinking about improving my chicklets.

All I know, is that coffee darkens my smile a bit.

I found that brushing briefly with Listerine's mouthwash doesn't whiten, but it cleans the crud off better than toothpaste. That's just a 15 second quick brush with Listerine.

The whitening that suffices for me is with Arm & Hammer's peroxide toothpaste. It's amazing the difference it makes. I use it about every other day.

I make extra effort to brush with a whitener before doing estimates on Saturday and when going to meetings or special events.

Raj Venugopal · #13 (**permalink**) 06-08-2006, 04:08 PM

I think homeowners think that someone who takes pride in their appearance will take pride in their work, aesthetically speaking.

Some people are good looking, others...not so much....but taking proper care of what we've been given is key.

I like looking at contractor's own homes, and keeping my own immaculate.

Can't sell what you don't own yourself.