How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

Dentistry includes the practice of teeth whitening, which should only be done by a dentist or some other licensed dental practitioner, such as a dental professional or dental therapist, under a dentist’s direction.

DIY kits for at-home teeth whitening are available, but they might also be risky. One of the most common questions about teeth whitening is “How long does teeth whitening last?”. In this article, we will explain how long professional teeth whitening lasts.

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

Professional teeth whitening can last anywhere between six months to 3 years. The duration of your teeth-whitening procedure might vary depending on a number of factors. To begin with, the kind of stains you have will determine whether or not dental whitening may be used to brighten your smile. The type of teeth whitening you chose is also a factor.

Intrinsic and extrinsic stains are the two forms that can appear on teeth. Stains that form inside the tooth itself are known as intrinsic stains. Rarely may dental bleaching be used to treat these markings, which are often brought on by decay or damage.

Different from intrinsic stains, extrinsic stains are those that show up on the surface of your teeth and are readily eliminated with proper dental care techniques and a professional teeth whitening procedure.

How effectively you care for your teeth between whitening procedures is a crucial element that impacts the durability of your brighter smile. It’s important to keep in mind that some foods and beverages such as coffee or red wine stain teeth more than others, and as a result, they should be avoided or limited to moderation if feasible.

How Often Should You Do Teeth Whitening?

The process of teeth whitening typically requires more than one visit. In an ideal world, we could whiten our teeth just once, and they would remain flawlessly white and healthy for the rest of our lives.

But that’s not the case, regrettably. Just like the rest of the body, they require maintenance! So how frequently should you have your teeth whitened to avoid side effects?

In general, it’s a good idea to visit your dentist for teeth-whitening treatments around once every three months, or once every quarter. Even if you haven’t yet experienced a noticeably significant dulling of your smile, frequent visits to the dentist will not only extend the life of your investment in a whiter smile but is also a wise step to take in terms of preventative dental care.

The dentist may examine your teeth and determine whether any issues might be concealed by the whitening results. When you get your teeth whitened, it may occasionally be more difficult to detect cavities or tooth damage. As such, more frequent visits to the dentist allow them to detect any potential issues and they can also retouch the whitening procedure to give you an even more radiant smile!

=> If you’re wondering If Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth? Check this out.

This is the greatest approach to guarantee that your smile will be both attractive and healthy.

How to Keep Your Teeth Whiter Longer?

Even though three months can seem like a little amount of time, our teeth actually go through a lot throughout that time.

If you want to safeguard your teeth until then, here are a couple of best practices you can employ to maintain your treatment appearing as if you just left the dentist’s office until you’re able to return for a new one.

Avoid Stain-Producing Foods and Drinks

Numerous meals and beverages, even those that aren’t necessarily unhealthy for you, might stain your teeth. While you don’t have to fully avoid these products, it’s recommended to restrict your consumption and stay hydrated while doing so.

These foods include:

• Coffee
• Red wine
• Red berries
• Marinara sauce
• Tea (such as black tea, herbal tea, green tea, etc.)

Most foods are alright to consume in moderation. Don’t eat too much of them, and just rinse thoroughly afterward. Coffee is a primary factor of teeth discoloration, so you may want to reduce your coffee intake or consider using a straw.

=> Related topic: Which Food Do You Need to Avoid with Tooth Crowns?

Avoid Smoking

Although it might seem apparent, this is crucial! It is detrimental to your dental health to smoke. It harms not only the general condition of your mouth and teeth but also their overall attractiveness.

Smoking often will cause teeth to yellow and will completely reverse the effects of the whitening procedure. If you smoke and want to keep your teeth white, now is an excellent time to stop.

Use a Straw

Another excellent technique to prevent injury from dangerous beverages is to carry reusable straws with you when you go out.

While you probably won’t be sipping wine via a straw, doing so for sugary beverages can help preserve your teeth and keep liquids with artificial colors away from your teeth.

You don’t have to stop drinking your favorite sugary beverages, but preventing damage is crucial if you wish to keep your teeth as white as possible for as long as you can.

Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal

There will still be occasions when you want to drink or eat these items that stain your teeth, even if you are diligent about your diet. They are all common, some of them healthy.

Maintaining a brushing routine is a fantastic method to avoid discoloration or harm from drinking or eating, while also helping to keep you feeling refreshed to continue with your day.

Even when you’re not at home, it might be beneficial to have a toothpaste and toothbrush on hand. If you can’t, rinsing with some mouthwash or even water if that’s all that’s available is better than nothing.

Fix It at Home

If you make a mistake while trying to maintain the brightness of your teeth, you may conduct short touch-ups yourself with over-the-counter solutions in between dental visits. They won’t compare to the dentist’s work in terms of quality, but they could get you by.

A whitening pen would be your best choice if you simply need a temporary solution. You may localize the whitening you’re performing if using this method.

The touch-ups only serve as a temporary repair. They should aid in avoiding any apparent yellowing in between appointments.

Between dental appointments, maintaining your teeth will keep your smile bright and safeguard your oral health.

Final Thoughts

The best way to keep your smile bright is to follow the instructions given by your dentist. Here at NYC Dental Smile, our personnel is where excellence starts. Our medical professionals have a reputation for excellence and years of real-world expertise.

Our team takes great satisfaction in teaching and educating every team member, making sure they adhere to our unique technique that broadens the scope of conventional practice. By ensuring that our patients’ treatment is proactive rather than reactive—and that their entire well-being is at the core of all we do—we extend this effort to them.

Source

Lamberti, B. (2023, February 2). How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last? | Abington Center. Abington Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry. https://abingtoncenter.com/how-long-does-teeth-whitening-last/

T. (2021, May 15). How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Last? | Concord, NH. Laurie a. Rosato, DMD. https://www.laurierosatodmd.com/how-long-does-professional-teeth-whitening-last/

M. (2022, May 2). Can Teeth Whitening Damage Your Teeth? – Lane & Associates. Lane & Associates. https://lanedds.com/can-teeth-whitening-damage-your-teeth/

Teeth whitening can cause permanent damage: UBC prof – UBC News. (2016, January 6). UBC News. https://news.ubc.ca/2016/01/06/teeth-whitening-can-cause-permanent-damage-ubc-prof/