Teeth whitening is a very popular esthetic treatment. Whether you have a big event coming up, like a wedding, where you want your smile to be at its most photogenic, or you just want to whiten your teeth after staining from food and drinks like coffee and red wine, teeth whitening can be a great way to improve your smile and lift your confidence. But how long does it take before you will see results? This depends on the method that you used.
Professional Teeth Whitening
Having your teeth professionally whitened by a dentist is the fastest and most effective way to whiten your teeth. Results can vary between patients, but on average, patients can expect to see results almost immediately. You can leave your appointment with teeth two or three shades whiter than when you arrived.
Whitening Strips
Whitening strips are very popular and are often used in preparation for an event like a wedding or a reunion. Strips are attached to the teeth for one or two hours a day for about two weeks. Many users find that these gel strips are effective, although they will require a commitment if you’re going to get good results. Store-bought strips are a weaker strength than what you can get from your dental office. So, with these strips, you can usually expect to see results in two to three weeks.
Whitening Trays and Gels
Whitening trays and gels are made by a range of manufacturers and come in a variety of different concentrations. How quickly you will see any results will depend on the concentration of the gels that you choose. If you use a product with 10% carbamide peroxide bleaching gel and treat your teeth once a day for an hour, then your teeth will whiten more slowly than if you choose an agent with a higher concentration and use it for two hours a day. Most modern whitening agents are designed to be worn for 15-30 minutes for best results.
In order to whiten your teeth faster, these trays should be used for longer sessions, although never longer than the packaging recommends. For example, if you buy a kit that suggests using it for two to four hours, use the full four hours to get the fastest results. By doing this, you should see results within the first two weeks of treatment.
Whitening Toothpaste
If you’re nervous about using things like whitening strips or trays yourself at home, then a whitening toothpaste is a much more gentle alternative. Whitening toothpaste contains mild enzymes that will scrape away any stains on your teeth when used alongside a toothbrush. Use an electric toothbrush to shift even more stains. If you use a whitening toothpaste twice a day, then you can see some results after two to six weeks, although results are usually less noticeable than other methods.
Whitening Rinses
A whitening rinse is simple to use, like a mouthwash, and contains whitening agents. However, as the rinse is only used for a few minutes each day, teeth are whitened more gradually. You may see a difference after a couple of months of continued use.