How Long does it take to Whiten Teeth?
A bright smile can boost your self-confidence, improve your appearance and make you look younger. We all desire whiter teeth. If you’re considering whitening your teeth, you may have some questions. More so, those that involve how long it will take to see results.
Teeth whitening is a popular cosmetic dental treatment. Teeth whitening is an effective method to reduce stains without damaging the tooth’s enamel.
Reasons for Whitening Teeth
Many factors lead to tooth discoloration. For example, environmental factors (fluoridated water), advanced age, genetics, certain foods and beverages, poor oral hygiene, tobacco use, certain medications, advanced age, genetics, and trauma are predisposing factors.
Teeth whitening in Mississauga, ON, works by using two bleaching agents-hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. When applied to teeth, these bleaching agents break down stains, lightening the stains thus making your smile brighter.
In most cases, teeth whitening in the office takes an hour or two. However, in some cases, follow-up treatment is essential. It is also vital for patients to understand the process of whitening teeth and why professional whitening is more effective than at-home whitening.
The Process
Teeth whitening involves using chemicals that penetrate the tooth enamel and professionally bleach the teeth from the inside to the outside. Professional bleaching is the most commonly used whitening method. The cosmetic dentist near you will explain the process to you.
We need to use active ingredients to perform a proper teeth whitening procedure. Therefore, we use a special tray similar to a mouthguard to apply the whitening gel to the teeth.
Impressions of the teeth ensure that the tray is customized to fit the patient’s teeth perfectly. The tray matches the details of specific teeth, and this ensures that the whitening substance whitens evenly in all areas of the teeth without affecting the gums.
The whitening gel consists of hydrogen peroxide in the whitening tray, and your Mississauga dentist fits the tray on your teeth. The active ingredients decompose and oxygen to the tooth enamel making the teeth brighter.
How long does it take to Whiten Teeth?
The duration of whitening depends on the amount of strain on the teeth. Professional teeth whitening treatment usually takes three to four weeks.
First, a mouthguard is customized using an impression of your mouth to ensure that the tooth whitening solution effectively applies to teeth. After treatment begins, usually in the comfort of your home, you need to use the recommended whitening products regularly for two to four weeks. The amount of application depends on the number of stains.
Often, the whitening sessions last about 30 minutes to an hour each time. An alternative to taking at-home whitening trays customized by your dentist is to visit a dental clinic for in-office teeth whitening.
In-office treatment requires one or two visits. Most patients notice the results immediately after completing the office procedure. The effects of professional teeth whitening are noticeable after the first 24 hours.
How long does Home Teeth Whitening take
For at-home and over-the-counter whitening kits, you have to use the products for longer than a month every night for changes to occur. In addition, mouth trays used over-the-counter are ineffective since they’re not customized to cover all teeth. They may also cause gum irritation.
An at-home whitening kit takes longer to see the effect due to the low concentration of whitening agents, and it may take two to three weeks to achieve the results you want.
Teeth whitening at home is generally not as effective as office whitening procedures because of the low concentration of bleach used in household kits. However, well-trained dental professionals perform office whitening, making it the best option.
Get it Done
When you follow a healthy diet, quit smoking and avoid food and drinks that stain teeth, and practice oral hygiene, the benefits of teeth whitening will last long. Recommended custom whitening trays to use at home can also achieve the results.
Teeth whitening is more straightforward and effective when working with a dentist. Contact our Forest Park Dental Arts to schedule an appointment or learn more about whitening teeth.