At-home whitening products such as strips and gels, or dental office procedures, such as chairside bleaching, are some of the ways people brighten teeth and reduce surface stains.
No matter what type of tooth whitening process you use, it won’t last forever. At-home products may give minimal-to-great results that last for a few months. Professional dental procedures may extend that time up to 2-3 years.
Read on to learn more about does teeth whitening damage your teeth/how long does teeth bleaching take.
How Long Does The Platinum Light Teeth Whitener Last
The most common treatment in cosmetic dentistry is without a doubt teeth whitening. Achieving a brighter, healthy-looking smile is an attractive prospect for many people. From whitening toothpaste to high-tech in-chair whitening systems, there are more options than ever for people to get whiter teeth.
So let’s start with the big question;
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
Somewhat frustratingly, the answer is “it depends.”
The effects of teeth whitening can last up to 2-3 years or as little as 6 months. It varies from person to person.
Things that will stain your teeth quickly and make your whitening short-lived include:
– Smoking.
– Dark liquids like red wine, coffee, and tea.
– Staining foods like beetroot and berries.
Brushing your teeth twice a day and avoiding these staining foods, (avoiding, not cutting out entirely!) will help keep your teeth whitening noticeable for as long as possible. However, keep in mind that staining is inevitable.
How Long Does It Take to Whiten Teeth?
This depends on the method you use.
In-chair whitening, or in-office whitening, is whitening that’s performed in a dental clinic. It’s performed by a dentist using stronger concentrations of a whitening formula than you can get elsewhere. You can achieve significant whitening results in a single 1-2 hour appointment.
At-home whitening kits are mouth trays made by your dentist to precisely fit your mouth. The whitening agent is placed into the trays and are worn daily for small periods of time. They use lower concentrations of whitening agent and can take around 2-3 weeks to achieve the results you’re after.
Whitening toothpaste very rarely whitens the teeth, unless it contains hydrogen peroxide – which most don’t!
How Much Whiter Can You Make Your Teeth?
It’s best to think of teeth whitening like tanning. Basically, everyone who goes into the sun or a tanning salon will come out with a tan. Exactly how tanned they are is different from individual to individual. Everyone gets noticeable results, but not precisely at the same level. It is important to realise that no whitening product will whiten any fillings or restorations.
In-Chair vs. At-Home Whitening
So which is better, in-chair or at-home whitening?
There are advantages and disadvantages to both.
In-chair whitening
Pros:
– Faster results.
Cons:
– More expensive.
– The higher concentration of formula can be unpleasant — or completely unbearable — for patients with sensitive teeth.
– Studies have shown the whiter effect does not last as long as gradual whitening.
At Home Whitening
Pros:
– More affordable.
– Less sensitivity.
– Can be done at home for your own convenience, rather than booking appointments in busy work schedules.
– Results of whiter teeth last longer than in chair whitening.
– You can control how white you want to go and stop the whitening process if you achieve a whiteness you are satisfied with before the 2-3 week whitening period is up.
– Trays can be reused over the years to keep topping up the whiter appearance.
Cons:
– Takes longer to achieve results than in house whitening.
– Avoid over-the-counter mouth trays as they do no wrap evenly around your teeth and can risk burning and irritation to your gums, as well as needing to use more whitening product to fill the tray.
– Requires the patient to remember to put the whitening kit in daily.
Does Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth
What are the risks of teeth whitening? No matter what treatment you use, there’s a chance your gums will be sensitive to the chemicals used in teeth whitening, particularly if you already have sensitive teeth. There’s also a chance of burns to gums and some of the whitening kits used at home can harm tooth enamel.
Teeth whitening involves bleaching your teeth to make them lighter. It can’t make your teeth brilliant white, but it can lighten the existing colour by several shades.
Who can do teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry and should only be carried out by a dentist or another regulated dental professional, such as a dental hygienist or dental therapist, on the prescription of a dentist.
Some beauty salons offer teeth whitening, but this is illegal if there’s no dental professional present, and it may put your oral health at risk.
You can also buy DIY home teeth whitening kits but these may also carry risks.
What happens during teeth whitening?
If you have your teeth whitened you’ll first need to make 2 to 3 visits to the dental surgery.
The dentist will take an impression of your teeth to make a mouthguard and tell you how to use it with a bleaching gel. Then, using your mouthguard at home, you regularly apply the gel for a specified period of time over a few weeks. Some whitening gels can be left on for up to 8 hours at a time, which can shorten the treatment period.
Laser whitening, also known as power whitening, is another type of teeth whitening system that a dentist can provide. A bleaching product is painted onto your teeth and then a light or laser is shone on them to activate the whitening. Laser whitening takes about an hour.
Can any dentist whiten teeth?
Any dentist can whiten teeth as long as they’re registered with the General Dental Council. Registered dental therapists and dental hygienists can also carry out teeth whitening on the prescription of a dentist.
What about home kits and beauty salons for teeth whitening?
Only go to a registered dental professional for teeth whitening because whitening by people who aren’t qualified, for example in beauty salons, is illegal.
Home kits also carry risks. Talk to your dentist first, before using a home kit.
What are the risks of home kits and salon teeth whitening?
Some home kits don’t contain enough whitening product to be effective. Also, if a dental professional isn’t doing the whitening, the mouthguard provided may not fit properly so some of the bleaching gel may leak out onto your gums and into your mouth, causing blistering and sensitivity.
Teeth whitening carried out in beauty salons by untrained staff or staff without dental qualifications puts your oral health at risk and is also illegal.
Will I pay for teeth whitening privately?
Teeth whitening by a dentist or other dental professional can generally only be done privately because it’s considered to be a cosmetic treatment. Costs vary and laser whitening is more expensive than professional bleaching.
Find out which dental treatments are available on the NHS
How do I find out about getting my teeth whitened?
Your dentist will advise you whether whitening is right for you. It may be that teeth whitening isn’t suitable, for example if you have gum disease or crowns.
Find a dentist near you
What should I ask the dentist before going ahead?
Don’t be afraid to ask simple questions about the types of whitening treatment available, what results you can expect and how long they are likely to last.
You may also want to ask them whether there are any risks involved – for example, increasing the sensitivity of your teeth.
Try to talk to other people who’ve had the same treatment or visit another dentist for a second opinion until you feel confident. Always ask for a written treatment plan and price estimate before going ahead.
Is teeth whitening permanent?
Teeth whitening isn’t permanent. It can last from a few months to up to 3 years – it varies from person to person.
The whitening effect won’t last as long if you smoke or drink red wine, tea or coffee, which can all stain your teeth.
How Long Does Teeth Bleaching Take
The average tooth whitening procedure takes about 90 minutes. Depending on the amount of lightening your smile needs, it may take several sessions before you reach your desired shade. Teeth whitening procedures should also be repeated on a regular basis to maintain results.
We all want to have pearly-white teeth to show off, but, unfortunately, there are also many causes of teeth staining that affect our smiles. That’s where teeth whitening comes in to help. Some of us have yellow teeth or stains on our teeth from our lifestyle or diet. With all the stains and discoloration, you might not be happy with the way your teeth look.
What is Teeth Whitening?
Teeth whitening is a well-known cosmetic dental procedure that lightens the teeth and removes discoloration and stains. It often takes more than one application to whiten your teeth, depending on what treatment method you use.
Causes of Discolored or Stained Teeth
There are many causes of discolored or stained teeth. Here are the most common ones that cause our teeth to lose whiteness:
- Poor oral hygiene
- Natural aging process
- Accumulation of tartar and plaque deposits
- Using tobacco
- Coffee, tea, or colas
- Eating pigmented foods like blueberries
- Teeth trauma
Types of Teeth Whitening Procedure
1. Vital whitening
Vital whitening is a common type of tooth whitening that uses a gel applied directly to the tooth surface. You can do this procedure at home or come and visit us to help you whiten your teeth. At our office, we use a powerful whitening gel and a specialized laser that activates the gel. This causes the bleaching process to occur faster.
In the dentist’s office, the procedure will take approximately half an hour to ninety minutes. To completely whiten your teeth, you will have to have one to three appointments. Depending on the severity of your stains and how white you desire your teeth to be, you can have more procedures done. We will apply a substance to cover and protect your gums, and then place the whitening gel on your teeth. Depending on the whitening gel, laser light or heat from the light can be used to activate the gels.
Or, if you choose to do it at your convenience at home, we we will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth to customize a trays for your specific bite. We then give you a peroxide solution to add to the trays so you can whiten your teeth at home at your leisure. This may take several applications to receive the desired whitening.
2. Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste is an inexpensive alternative that has the approval of the American Dental Association. Although, it is important to keep in mind that this kind of toothpaste doesn’t work for everyone, and it depends on how severe the staining is. We recommend that you book an appointment with us so that we can help you find what treatment suits you best.
Risks of Whitening Teeth
While most people do not experience any negative side effects from teeth whitening, some people experience sensitive teeth or gum irritation in the days following teeth whitening procedures. Additionally, pregnant women should not have their teeth whitened, as the materials used for whitening might affect the fetus.