How Long Do the Teeth Whitening Effects Last?

April 1, 2023

You may love a full and bright smile because you might not have brilliantly white teeth popularized by Hollywood or many TV personalities. You can consider at-home whitening products purchased over-the-counter or dispensed by dentists or in-office teeth whitening from a dental office nearby to achieve the brighter smile you desire.

Regardless of which option you choose to brighten your teeth, it helps if you understand the results don’t last forever. At-home whitening remedies generally deliver minimal results lasting for a few months. However, in-office whitening remedies have better results keeping your teeth appearing aesthetically pleasing for 24 to 36 months.

Please continue reading to learn the effects of teeth whitening processes and products you should consider to brighten your teeth. Information on what to expect from therapies is also provided for your reference.

How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?

The duration you can expect the effects of teeth whitening depends on the whitener you are using and your lifestyle habits. Teeth whitening treatments are designed to help reduce stains but not repel them. If you maintain excellent dental hygiene to ensure your teeth are clean, at-home or in-office whitening treatments will deliver better results.

It helps to remember that you have different types of tooth discoloration and staining because the versions of stains determine how long you might take to eliminate them and how soon they may return.

If you have intrinsic stains on the internal surfaces of your teeth resulting from aging, trauma, infections, and medications, the colors are challenging to eliminate but are removable by receiving appropriate treatment.

If the stains on your teeth result from foods and beverages besides lifestyle habits like smoking, it indicates you have extrinsic stains comfortably removable by over-the-counter whiteners. Store-bought whitening treatments best work on external stains.

However, regardless of the treatment you choose to brighten your teeth, results will last for as long as you take appropriate care of them without indulging in harmful habits that stain them.

Popular Whitening Remedies and How Long They Last

Whitening Toothpaste : Using whitening toothpaste twice daily helps to whiten teeth but requires two to six weeks before results are visible. Reports suggest the effects last for three to four months. In addition, you can use a whitening toothpaste daily or several times a week because they contain ingredients that polish or brighten teeth with hydrogen peroxide, mild abrasives, and carbamide peroxide. Most toothpaste brands contain abrasives that are effective against surface stains but cannot eliminate intrinsic stains. Persistent use of whitening toothpaste can also cause enamel erosion making it essential to alternate between different versions with a brand helpful to protect and strengthen tooth enamel.
Whitening Strips : how many treatments you need with whitening strips vary because some strips provide better results lasting for approximately six months. Among different kinds of whitening strips, the most effective are the versions with LED lights to deliver intense stain removal. When used appropriately, superior-quality whitening strips help remove intrinsic and extrinsic stains by bleaching them to make them appear whiter.
Chairside Bleaching : If you are diligent with your dental hygiene, you can consider chairside bleaching or teeth whitening near you offered by a dentist providing long-term results lasting for one to three years. The whitening is performed in the dentist’s office and generally requires one visit.

If you decide in favor of teeth whitening in Tigard, OR, the dentist uses a potent bleaching agent like highly concentrated hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. They will also use heat and light to accelerate the bleaching ingredient. Therefore if you desire instant results from a safe and effective therapy getting your teeth whitened by the dentist is optimal because you achieve your goal of having a brighter smile that remains with you longer than other teeth whitening remedies.

Preventive Measures to Avoid Discoloring Your Teeth

Your teeth discolor over time, appearing yellow or grey because of the foods and beverages you consume, age and genetic factors, smoking or vaping, trauma or infections, and medications. Therefore if you want to prevent discoloring your teeth, you must adopt preventive care measures to keep your teeth appearing bright and white without infections like cavities and gum disease.

The optimal preventive measures dentists suggest include brushing your teeth twice daily, brushing after 30 minutes after meals if you have acidic foods and beverages, chewing sugar-free gum or rinsing with water after eating, and including a dentist-dispensed whitener to your regular dental hygiene regimen to maintain the effects of in-office teeth whitening treatments.

If you think your teeth have discolored and appear yellow or grey, arrange a meeting with Inspire Dental for teeth whitening in Tigard. The appointment will give you brighter teeth within the hour with long-lasting results than alternative treatments.

How Long Do the Teeth Whitening Effects Last?