One of the first things that people see, and one of the quickest to vanish, is a bright, white smile. Now that you have just undergone a teeth whitening process or are planning to do so, you are likely to ask yourself: how long does teeth whitening last? Honest answer will lie in the approach you take, the lifelong habits of your life, and the way you are serious in following up with the aftercare. This is all you will need to know to maintain your smile as long as possible.
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
The duration of teeth whitening greatly depends on the type of treatment one decides to use.
The most dramatic and long-lasting effects are usually provided by professional in-chair whitening. Professional teeth whitening can take between one and three years when done by a trained cosmetic dentist depending on your eating habits and oral hygiene practices. The increased concentration of the bleaching agents applied in-clinic translates to a deeper stain removal and long-lasting results than the over-the-counter ones.
Get a dentist take-home whitening kit – these are specially-shaped trays with professional-strength gel which should last six months to a year. These are halfway in between convenience and effectiveness and thus have become a favourite option to maintain in-between in-clinic sessions.
The OTC products, including whitening strips, toothpastes, and rinses, have the shortest lasting effects, which normally subside in one to three months. They are less costly and readily available but have less active ingredients and seldom penetrate deep stain.
What Causes Whitening Results to Fade?
The first step to ensuring that your results are safeguarded is to know what undermines them. There are a number of reasons which hasten the discolouration of the teeth following whitening:
- Diet: Some of the greatest culprits include coffee, tea, red wine and very coloured foods like berries and tomato sauce. These pigments readily enter the porous structure of enamel especially in the 48-hour period following a whitening treatment.
- Tobacco consumption: Smoking or chewing tobacco leads to rapid yellowing frequently reversing professional outcomes in a few weeks.
- Poor oral health: Irregular brushing and flossing of teeth will result in the accumulation of plaque, making the teeth dull and discoloured with time.
- Natural ageing: Because enamel becomes thinner as people age, the yellow dentine underneath can become more exposed, which can never be forever countered by any whitening product.
- Some drugs: Antihistamines, antihypertensives, and some antibiotics (especially tetracycline) may result in intrinsic staining which is more challenging to treat.
Best Teeth Whitening Methods: What Actually Works?
Speed, safety, and sustainability are the aspects that should be considered when considering the most effective means of teeth whitening.
The gold standard is in-office professional whitening. A cosmetic dentist can also remove stains by several shades within a single treatment using light-activated or high-concentration peroxide gels. It is safe, quick and designed to meet your individual dental requirements – sensitivity issues too.
Dentist-made custom take-home trays are ideal to maintain. They are specifically designed to fit your teeth so that it covers them evenly, and has a small amount of gel coming into contact with your gums. When used regularly, they can greatly increase your in-chair results lifespan.
Whitening strips are effective to some extent but have some drawbacks: they are unevenly applied, cause gum irritation, and do not work well on deep stains. They should be administered as a secondary medication, not as a first-line entity.
Whitening tooth pastes are more of a scrub than a bleaching agent – useful in removing superficial stains but not in changing the tooth colour in any radical way.
Teeth Whitening Aftercare: Tips to Maintain Your Results
Following strong teeth whitening aftercare habits is the single most effective way to extend the life of your treatment. Here’s what dental professionals recommend:
- Stick to the white diet in 48 hours. Your enamels are more porous and prone to stain soon after the whitening process. Eat only white and light foods, chicken, fish, rice, bananas, yoghurt, and dark drinks and sauces should be avoided during this vital period.
- Use a straw. Whenever you drink coffee, tea, juices, or wine, you will use a straw, which will ensure that your teeth are not exposed to direct contact, minimising staining as time passes.
- Rinse after eating and drinking. Rapid rinsing with water following the intake of food or beverages that cause stains assists in clearing pigments before they adhere to enamel.
- Clean teeth twice a day with whitening toothpaste. Consistency in oral cleaning routine prevents build-up of surface stains. Do not use a hard-bristled brush to prevent damaging enamel.
- Have routine teeth cleaning. Regular scale-and-polish visits after every six months to clean up tartar and surface stains that are not accessible by brushing leave your smile looking fresher between whitening sessions.
- Consider a top-up treatment. To maintain the appearance of results without having to go through an entire in-chair session every time, many dentists prescribe a touch-up using take-home trays every six to twelve months.
- Limit tobacco and staining beverages. In case it is impossible to quit coffee, make sure to cut down on the number of cups, or switch to the light types of roasts.
Bottom line
Knowing how to preserve your results is only half the equation — the other half is starting with a treatment that delivers real, lasting change. Whitening of the teeth in Bayswater, in case you are in the locality and require professional teeth whitening service, the team of Bayswater Dentist is at your service.
Being your preferred cosmetic dentist in Bayswater, we provide personalized whitening plans, both in-chair and take-home kits, based on your objectives and dental health. We also make time to examine your teeth to advise on the type of treatment and guarantee you the results that are safe and beautiful.
Don’t settle for fading results from drugstore kits. Schedule an appointment with Bayswater Dentist and see what a professionally whitened smile can do to your confidence.