Teeth whitening has become very popular as people love the confidence boost that having a bright, white smile gives them. One of the questions our patients often ask us is: how long does teeth whitening last?
Teeth whitening treatments reduce stains on your teeth – but they do not protect against future staining. And with popular foods and beverages like coffee, tea, red wine and cola all being major causes of teeth staining, the whitening effect will not last indefinitely. Generally, the better-quality products and treatments can be expected to last for longer than lower quality ones.
- In-clinic teeth whitening: investing in professional in-clinic teeth whitening gives results that should last for at least one year and up to three years. This system not only whitens teeth effectively, but also strengthens them – unlike many over-the-counter products that weaken teeth and make them more prone to staining.
- At-home whitening trays: used under the supervision of your dentist, these provide effective results that should last for a minimum of one year and often longer.
- Whitening pens: the effect of these pens is minimal, and the results do not last for more than a few weeks.
- Whitening strips: although popular, these run the very real risk of being harmful to your teeth as they contain peroxide. The results usually last for a few months.
- Whitening mouthwash: this is usually only effective when used to prolong the effects of other whitening treatments. Used on its own, it can take up to three months to see any results and these are typically very subtle and not long-lasting.
- Whitening toothpaste: this is generally only effective on light external stains. It can take as long as six weeks for results to become noticeable, and the effects last for around three to four months. Caution is recommended because many whitening toothpastes contain abrasives that are not designed for long-term use because they can thin tooth enamel.
Please contact us if you are interested in finding out more about our professional teeth whitening treatments.
