A new smile thanks to smile bars!

We knew about Colette's water bar, where you sip waters from around the world as if you were tasting exceptional wines. We also knew about oxygen bars, where you inhale scented CO2 to relax. We even knew about cat bars, the latest invention borrowed from the Japanese for city dwellers in need of affection and lacking the square footage to house a feline.

Much trendier than a boutique or a restaurant, the bar has become the hottest concept of the moment. We're seeing all sorts of them spring up, often specializing in a single product. You just need to find the idea that will appeal.

And here is an idea that should gain followers: smile bars.

What are smile bars?

In our perpetual quest for well-being, we could imagine a real place for training in the joy of living, the promise of a smile cure to relieve the stress caused by our frenetic rhythms, like yoga classes or laughter clubs.

None of that.

Riding the wave of American stars who flaunt their perfect smiles on glossy paper, smile bars have crossed the Atlantic and are springing up like mushrooms in France to offer everyone ultra-bright teeth.

The concept?

Without an appointment and just like going for a manicure between noon and two, the operation takes just a quarter of an hour, in a friendly atmosphere and designer decor.

The principle?

After a quick teeth cleaning, a tray filled with a gel containing hydrogen peroxide, an oxidizing substance, is applied to the teeth. The oxygen released brightens the tooth surface. To activate the product and maximize the effect, the client's jaw is exposed to the rays of an ultraviolet lamp during the application.

Smile bars promise their customers several shades of color. Ideal for smokers or heavy coffee drinkers. The process should be repeated every two or three months.

On the surface, the offer is perfect for satisfying our race for aesthetics and immediacy; The idea has the potential to become popular.

This was without taking into account the National Order of Dental Surgeons, which is gritted and warning of the risks, insisting that this is a medical procedure.

What are these risks?

While harmless on healthy teeth, whitening poses risks in the event of oral health problems—cavities, loosening, acidic saliva, or other issues—and can lead to irreversible damage to enamel, weakening of the teeth, irritation, and even browning of the teeth. A thorough medical examination is essential before considering any whitening treatment, which the poorly qualified staff at smile bars cannot provide.

Additionally, smile bars, considered cosmetic establishments, are prohibited from exceeding a 0.1% hydrogen peroxide concentration in their products. According to dentists, it's impossible to achieve convincing results with such a dose. Judging by customer satisfaction, one wonders if the regulations are being properly respected.

Finally, the radiation from the lamp under which the client's jaw is exposed during the procedure poses risks to the skin of the face and the eyes.

Whitening at the dentist's office certainly represents a budget that is far from comparable to the prices at a smile bar, but if the bright smile turns into a yellow (s) smile, perhaps it is worth the cost?