Teeth whitening is a simple step that brightens your smile and raises self-confidence. It can take years off your appearance, and you'll want to share your beautiful new smile with the world.
Many patients ask how long teeth whitening lasts. Professional teeth whitening may last as long as one to three years, depending on how well you maintain oral hygiene.
About Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a safe process that uses carbamide or hydrogen peroxide to break up stains within the tooth enamel. When your dentist applies the peroxide gel, it temporarily opens the pores in the enamel. The whitening agent enters the pores and encounters stains, oxidizing and eliminating them.
Teeth Whitening Options
There are three common options for whitening your teeth. Dentists recommend undergoing professional whitening treatment because it is safer and more effective.
In-Office Whitening
This process can lighten your teeth by as many as eight shades in one visit, creating dramatic, long-lasting results.
Your dentist begins by protecting your lips, cheeks, and gums from the whitening agent. They precisely apply the gel and leave the gel to activate for about 15 minutes. Sometimes, the dentist uses a specialized light or laser to activate the gel for maximum results. Your dentist may make multiple applications and rinse your teeth each time.
After the final rinse, your dentist will apply a fluoride gel to help with sensitivity.
Take-Home Professional Whitening
Take-home whitening provides gradual but impressive results. The dentist takes impressions and creates a custom tray for you to wear as prescribed. You will fill the tray with a slightly less potent whitening gel that is safe for use at home.
You will wear the tray as the dentist recommends, either during the day or at night. Over a few weeks to a month, you will see gorgeous results.
Over-the-Counter Whitening Products
Dentists generally do not recommend over-the-counter whitening. Some products are not concentrated enough to be effective, while others are too strong and can cause gum damage and excess sensitivity.
Over-the-counter products from a pharmacy are generally safe and appear less expensive than professional whitening. However, the cost will add up when you have purchased enough over-the-counter products to achieve a good result. You may find that professional whitening is of better value.
Preserving Your Brighter Smile
After whitening treatment, avoid all staining foods and beverages for at least 48 hours. Highly pigmented food and drinks like coffee, tea, red wine, berries, turmeric, and dark chocolate may interfere with your whitening results.
Tobacco use is a significant cause of tooth stains. If possible, consider quitting to preserve your whitening treatment and overall health.
In the future, you can take easy steps to protect your newly whitened teeth from staining:
- Attend all recommended dental cleanings
- Limit consumption of staining food and beverage products
- Swish with water after consuming them
- Drink staining beverages like coffee and red wine through a straw
- Brush your teeth after drinking pigmented beverages: wait 25 to 30 minutes before doing so since acidic beverages temporarily soften tooth enamel.
- Use a good-quality whitening toothpaste to maintain results longer
Good Candidates for Teeth Whitening
Most adult patients with healthy teeth are good candidates for this procedure. However, a few groups may need to delay or avoid whitening treatment:
- Patients under 16
- Pregnant women
- Patients with extensive dental work like crowns, bridges, and implants: these appliances will not whiten with peroxide products
- Untreated tooth decay or gum disease
- Highly sensitive teeth
Frequently Asked Questions About Teeth Whitening
Why are my teeth yellow when I brush them every day?
Multiple factors cause tooth stains. You may not be brushing correctly, or you may be using a too-firm toothbrush that damages enamel.
As we age, our enamel naturally wears away. The dentin under the enamel is naturally yellow, so aging leads to yellow teeth. Lifestyle habits like smoking and consuming staining foods and beverages can also cause yellow teeth.
Is teeth whitening safe for my enamel?
Teeth whitening is safe under professional supervision. Dentists take extra steps like adding fluoride treatments to ensure the enamel stays strong.
Call Paramount Dental Arts
If you want to know how teeth whitening can improve your smile, please call our Clifton, NJ, office at 973-777-1772 today. We can explain our teeth whitening options and schedule a consultation to help you choose the best method.