How Long Does it Take for Teeth Whitening to Work?

We all want to have pearly-white teeth to show off, but, unfortunately, there are also many causes of teeth staining that affect our smiles. That’s where teeth whitening comes in to help. Some of us have yellow teeth or stains on our teeth from our lifestyle or diet. With all the stains and discoloration, you might not be happy with the way your teeth look.

What is Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is a well-known cosmetic dental procedure that lightens the teeth and removes discoloration and stains. It often takes more than one application to whiten your teeth, depending on what treatment method you use.

Causes of Discolored or Stained Teeth

There are many causes of discolored or stained teeth. Here are the most common ones that cause our teeth to lose whiteness:

  • Poor oral hygiene
  • Natural aging process
  • Accumulation of tartar and plaque deposits
  • Using tobacco
  • Coffee, tea, or colas
  • Eating pigmented foods like blueberries
  • Teeth trauma

Types of Teeth Whitening Procedure

1. Vital whitening
Vital whitening is a common type of tooth whitening that uses a gel applied directly to the tooth surface. You can do this procedure at home or come and visit us to help you whiten your teeth. At our office, we use a powerful whitening gel and a specialized laser that activates the gel. This causes the bleaching process to occur faster.

In the dentist’s office, the procedure will take approximately half an hour to ninety minutes. To completely whiten your teeth, you will have to have one to three appointments. Depending on the severity of your stains and how white you desire your teeth to be, you can have more procedures done. We will apply a substance to cover and protect your gums, and then place the whitening gel on your teeth. Depending on the whitening gel, laser light or heat from the light can be used to activate the gels.

Or, if you choose to do it at your convenience at home, we we will take impressions of your upper and lower teeth to customize a trays for your specific bite. We then give you a peroxide solution to add to the trays so you can whiten your teeth at home at your leisure. This may take several applications to receive the desired whitening.

2. Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste is an inexpensive alternative that has the approval of the American Dental Association. Although, it is important to keep in mind that this kind of toothpaste doesn’t work for everyone, and it depends on how severe the staining is. We recommend that you book an appointment with us so that we can help you find what treatment suits you best.

Risks of Whitening Teeth

While most people do not experience any negative side effects from teeth whitening, some people experience sensitive teeth or gum irritation in the days following teeth whitening procedures. Additionally, pregnant women should not have their teeth whitened, as the materials used for whitening might affect the fetus.

Come and visit us at our office in Hilliard and we would be happy to consult with you about your smile goals and see which treatment option is best for you.  If you want your teeth taken care of, call us and book an appointment with our experienced team today!