Let me start with a confession: I'm one of those soy cappuccino addicts. You know the type, first-name basis with every barista within a 5km radius, strong opinions about milk brands, and teeth that have gradually transformed into a sepia-toned timeline of my caffeine dependency. Not exactly the look I was going for in my wedding photos.

When Reality Hits (Along with the Wedding Bills)
Here's another confession: running a discount-focused website for seniors doesn't make you immune to financial struggles. Between various deposits that made my bank account weep and a flower budget that somehow rivals a small car payment, I found myself doing what any resourceful (desperate?) entrepreneur would do – looking at every wedding expense as a potential content opportunity. Yes, I'm that person.

So when I started researching teeth whitening solutions for my coffee-chronicling teeth*, my brain went: ‘Wait a minute... if I'm going to invest in this, maybe I can turn it into content for the Seniors Discount Club?’ And that, dear readers, is how this totally-not-biased, completely genuine review came to be. (Hey, at least I'm honest about my ulterior motives!)

Why Smilie Caught My Eye*
After years of featuring products on our platform, I've developed a pretty good radar for separating the genuine innovations from the gimmicks. Smilie intrigued me because it was developed by actual dental professionals*—Dr. Daniel Tankard (a dentist with 15+ years of experience), Natalie Smith, and Peter Wiltshire. Plus, over 100,000 customers can't be wrong (or if they are, at least I'm in good company).

It looks a little intimidating, but I promise it’s easy to use. Image Credit: Smilie

The Experience (Or: How I Temporarily Gave Up Coffee)
The kit arrived looking like something Apple would design if they decided to venture into dental care.
Inside was:
- A sleek LED device that wouldn't look out of place in a sci-fi movie
- Whitening pens that are basically like white-out (aka correction fluid) for your coffee sins
- A shade guide to track your progress (and remind you of your former coffee-stained life)

The process was surprisingly straightforward:
1. Twist the pen (less complicated than explaining why we can't invite my fiancée's entire yoga class to the wedding)
2. Apply the gel (like painting, but with less artistic pressure)
3. Pop in the LED device and relax for 16 minutes (the only 16 minutes of peace I've had during wedding planning)

The Results (Or: Why My Barista Did a Double Take)
I'm usually sceptical about quick-fix beauty solutions (aren't we all?), but after completing the recommended six-day treatment, even my regular barista noticed the difference. ‘New teeth?’ she asked, before making my usual soy cap (I’m only human so the caffeine break was temporary).

The transformation was obvious enough that I briefly considered a career as a teeth-whitening before-and-after model. (Wedding expenses make you consider all sorts of career changes.) But, as it turns out, I’m a little too shy to share my own before and after photos.

Here’s someone who was brave enough to share their results. Image Credit: Smilie

The Honest Truth
While this whole adventure started as a slightly self-serving attempt to create content while fixing my coffee-stained smile*, I actually ended up genuinely impressed. The results are natural-looking – not ‘I can see my reflection in your teeth’ white, but ‘Did you do something different?’ white. Perfect for wedding photos and beyond.

And yes, this review is part of my elaborate scheme to justify wedding expenses as business research, but I genuinely wouldn't share it with our Seniors Discount Club community if I didn't believe in the product*.

Why It Makes Sense
Whether you're a coffee enthusiast like me, a tea aficionado, or someone who's just noticed their smile isn't as bright as it used to be, Smilie offers a practical solution*.

It's easy to use, doesn't require a degree in chemistry to operate, and works with existing dental work (though it won't whiten caps or veneers – it's good, but it's not magical).

The Bottom Line
Would I recommend Smilie?* Yes.
Has my coffee habit already started to wage war against the results? Also yes.

But at least now I know I have a reliable solution for when those wedding photos need a touch-up. And hey, maybe I'll even be able to write off the maintenance treatments as a business expense. (Note to self: check with an accountant about this.)

They have quite a few deals running at the moment* so it’s a great time to check it out if it’s something you’ve been umming and ahhing about.

My recommendation is the Smilie Boost Teeth Whitening Kit*. It’s marked down to $129 right now; from $219 (letting you keep that extra $90 in your pocket).

Members, if you decide to give Smilie a go, too, I’d love to hear about your experience. And kudos if you manage to actually give up tea and coffee.

You can read more about them here*.


Disclaimer: Like anything, results may vary. Check with your dentist if you have specific concerns. And yes, you should probably cut down on the coffee – but who am I to judge?

*Please note, members, that this is a sponsored article. All content with an asterisk next to it means we may get a commission when you click on a link—at no cost to you! We do this to assist with the costs of running the SDC. Thank you!

 

[Suzanne rose]

I'm surprised sometimes just how many people aren't aware of many of the things you can get concessions, discounts, etc if you are on a pension.

WA get 50% off, but to a maximum of $700 and I guess there aren't too many places today where the rates are less than $1400. Unless you live in.a small country town like me.

Mine are $550 a quarter and we get $100 off. So $2200 a year and $400 off

 

[Suzanne rose]

Yes, when I lived in Mandurah the government dental sent me a list of about eight private dentists that would treat pensioners at the same discounted price.
I now go to the government dentist, which is at the nearest larger country town, about half an hour away.
The original waiting list took about three months and after that you get called.back annually automatically.
They don't usually do root canaling. Crowns or dental implants.

The ones in NSW cover absolutely everything

 

[Suzanne rose]

Last year my hubby needed a plastic surgeon to get rid of a skin cancer off the back of his ear. Not melanoma, just one that needs to be removed. We have private health, but our GP thought he should get into the public system due the excessive cost. Anyway, after 2 months, the public hospital (day surgery) got him into a private plastic surgeon.

Did you end up needing to pay ? Two months was quick for the public system.

 

[Penny4]

Did you end up needing to pay ? Two months was quick for the public system.

No payment. My hubby thought they would swipe his health insurance, but they didn't. That private plastic surgeon was on the public system list like the private dentist list. They are awesome humans for doing that for the public.

 

[Suzanne rose]

No payment. My hubby thought they would swipe his health insurance, but they didn't. That private plastic surgeon was on the public system list like the private dentist list. They are awesome humans for doing that for the public.

Very lucky , my last surgery cost Medicare and my health fund over $30,000 ( which I since have paid back) and I was out off pocket around $2000

 

[Penny4]

Very lucky , my last surgery cost Medicare and my health fund over $30,000 ( which I since have paid back) and I was out off pocket around $2000

Don't get me wrong, but I'm sure it was because his skin cancer was growing. He needed a skin graft as well.
I know what you mean though. We've paid huge gaps over the years, so this procedure for him was a blessing.

 

[Remxsell]

Getting a confident smile before the big day is so important! I also made sure my whole look was on point, and a great suit made a huge difference. If anyone’s still picking the perfect wedding outfit, I found some amazing tuxedos at https://www.gentlemansguru.com/product-category/wedding-tuxedos/ – there’s such a great variety, and the quality is solid. A sharp tux and a bright smile really bring it all together!

 

[Littleboy8]

How much do they charge though?

From $300 upwards but you can’t have it done if you suffer from any gum diseases because it’ll cause severe irritation.