Teeth whitening was the final step in a very long journey. After two and a half years of braces, extractions, retainers, and bridges, whitening felt almost simple by comparison. I used a professional at-home system called PolaNight, recommended by my cosmetic dentist, and it was the first teeth thing in years that didn't involve injections or a power tool near my mouth.

Here's my honest experience of whether it was worth the cost, and what I do to keep my teeth white now they're done.

What is PolaNight and how does it work?

PolaNight is a professional at-home whitening system you use under guidance from a cosmetic dentist. You don't just buy it off the shelf - the dentist takes moulds of your teeth first, custom trays are made to fit exactly, and then you're shown how to apply the whitening gel correctly. The custom fit matters because it keeps the gel where it needs to be and minimises contact with the gums.

The gel goes into the trays, you wear them overnight while you sleep, and the whitening happens gradually over one to two weeks.

What the appointments involved

First appointment: moulds taken. You bite into a tray of putty, wait for it to set, and the dentist pops it off. Quick and straightforward.

Second appointment: I picked up the custom trays and the syringes of PolaNight gel, and was shown exactly what to do. The advice was to use only a small blob on each tooth - it spreads once the tray is in - and not to bother with the back teeth as they won't be visible when you smile. That also means the gel goes further and costs less.

Third appointment: a check after one week to see the colour difference. Mine wasn't very noticeable at that point, so my dentist gave me a complimentary set of syringes to continue for a second week. After two weeks I was happy with the result.

What it actually felt like

You put the trays in just before bed and sleep in them. I was warned about sensitivity and on day two my teeth and gums were pretty sensitive for a few hours. After that it never came back, even after two more weeks of use. So the sensitivity was a one-off rather than an ongoing issue.

The trays themselves are comfortable enough to sleep in once you're used to them. You do produce more saliva with anything in your mouth overnight, but it didn't disturb my sleep. I just rinsed everything in the morning, gave the trays a clean, and got on with the day.

The hardest part is avoiding anything that might stain while you're whitening - coffee, tea, dark foods - for one to two weeks. Annoying but manageable for that short a period.

Was PolaNight worth the cost?

For me, yes - but context matters. I'd been on a very long teeth journey and whitening was the last piece. My cosmetic dentist threw in the whitening as a goodwill gesture due to some communication issues, so I didn't pay full price. But even at full cost I think I'd have done it.

The custom trays are the main upfront expense - around the same as a replacement retainer, so roughly £100. After that, replacement syringes of PolaNight gel are only around £10 each from the cosmetic dentist, so maintaining the results over time isn't expensive.

What I will say is that I wasted a lot of money on home whitening products before my braces - strips, pens, whitening toothpastes - and none of them made a noticeable difference. If you're spending money month after month on products that aren't working, switching to professional whitening is probably better value overall even with the upfront cost.

My teeth have stayed pretty white since without any further whitening treatments. Bridges don't discolour the same way natural teeth do, so that helps in my case. But generally I've found that a few simple habits make a real difference to keeping teeth white day to day.

How to keep your teeth white after whitening

As a vegan I eat pretty much every food on the staining list - curry, tomato sauce, soy sauce, beetroot, balsamic, berries. My teeth have still stayed white, so these habits genuinely work.

Drink water with every meal. This is probably the single most useful thing I do. Water rinses the pigmentation off your teeth as you eat rather than letting it sit there. I always have a glass of water alongside whatever I'm eating, especially with meals that are heavy on staining ingredients.

Milk down your coffee. I never drink black coffee - always with a good splash of plant milk. Black coffee is one of the worst offenders for staining and the tannins cling to enamel. Diluting it with milk reduces the contact significantly.

Drink through a straw for anything dark. I use a reusable straw for smoothies, especially anything with blueberries in. The liquid bypasses the front teeth almost entirely. Sounds fussy but it becomes habit quickly.

Rinse after curry and turmeric dishes. Turmeric is one of the most staining ingredients there is - it'll turn your retainer yellow overnight if you're not careful, which I learnt the hard way during my braces. A rinse with water straight after eating curry makes a real difference.

Rinse after soy sauce, balsamic and tomato-based sauces too. These are all heavily pigmented and come up in everyday cooking constantly if you eat plant-based food. Again, water rinse straight after - you don't need to rush to brush, just rinse.

Beetroot - eat it, rinse quickly. I love beetroot but it stains everything it touches. Rinse as soon as you're done eating and you're fine.

Avoid tea or switch to green. Black tea stains teeth more than most drinks. If you do drink it, adding milk and not over-brewing helps. Cola and dark fizzy drinks are also bad for both staining and enamel erosion from the acidity.

Don't ignore the basics. Brushing twice a day, flossing, and regular hygienist visits make the biggest difference long term. I switched to twice-yearly hygienist appointments after my braces came off and the difference in how clean and bright my teeth look after each visit is noticeable. Scale and polish removes surface build-up that no whitening toothpaste can touch.

Is professional teeth whitening worth it?

If whiter teeth would genuinely make you happier and more confident, and you've already tried home products without much success, then yes - professional whitening is worth considering. It actually works, it's supervised, and the custom trays mean it's safer for your gums than one-size strips.

If your teeth are already a shade you're happy with, there's no need. But if you've been chasing a brighter result with shop-bought products for months and not getting there, this is the thing that will actually do it.

For more on my full teeth journey from braces to bridges, I've written about whether adult braces were worth it and the full costs which covers everything from the first consultation in 2015 to the finished result. And if you're currently in braces or retainers, my adult braces progress month by month with photos shows the full timeline.