If you’ve got stubborn stains or discoloration in your smile that won’t go away with brushing or over-the-counter whitening products, you’re probably eager to remove them. If you’ve been considering professional whitening options from your dentist, you may be wondering how long it will take to get noticeable results. Here’s why if you’re looking to save time and money and get a gorgeous, glowing grin, professional whitening is the way to go!
How Does Professional Whitening Treatment Work?
Professional whitening from your dentist can be done in one of two ways: either via in-office treatment, or with a convenient take-home kit that includes reusable custom fit trays and bleach.
Each option begins with a consultation with your dentist to ensure that your teeth and gums are healthy enough to undergo treatment. It is very important that your mouth is in good health before beginning, because the chemicals used to brighten your smile can cause sensitivity and permanent damage if you have untreated cavities or decay. Once you’ve been given a clean bill of health, your dentist can customize the right balance of gels to get you the results you want. For in-office care, you will simply sit under a special light with the gel on your teeth, and for take-home kits you will put the gel in your trays and wear them for a specified amount of time each day.
How Long Does Professional Whitening Take?
Unlike over-the-counter whitening methods that could take many months to provide noticeable changes, professional whitening can yield results immediately. For in-office whitening, you can expect to see a difference in about an hour. Even patients with deep discoloration can experience up to eight shades of change in just one session. In fact, most only need one session total, saving time and money over storebought kits.
For take-home kits, you can expect similar results to in-office in about two weeks total. Best of all, because your trays are reuseable, you can return to your dentist for refills when you need a touch up. Be aware, however, that it isn’t a good idea to whiten too often, so your dentist will be happy to help you space out retreatment to protect your teeth.
How Long Will My Results Last?
The great news is that once you whiten your teeth, the old stains won’t come back. However, it is completely possible to develop new stains. Thus, you should be careful in the first few days after treatment to eat a “white” diet, full of foods that will not stain your teeth. A good rule of thumb is if it stains a white shirt, it will likely stain your teeth. Therefore, stick to foods like mashed potatoes, white fish or chicken, bananas, hummus, applesauce, and milk. Going forward, limit your consumption of highly pigmented foods and beverages like red wine and coffee, and when you do choose them, brush and floss well to avoid new stains.
Remember, while the only way to determine how many teeth whitening sessions you’ll need is to speak to your dentist, the good news is that with professional treatment, you’ll likely only need a fraction of what you would with OTC kits. To learn more about how soon you can expect your results, schedule a consultation for whitening with your dentist today.
About Our Practice
At Beacon Dentistry of Weatherford, our talented trio of dentists are proud to offer a variety of amazing cosmetic dentistry options to get your smile looking and feeling it’s best. If you’re ready to remove up to eight shades of stains and discoloration from your teeth, professional whitening can save you time and money over those OTC kits. To get started creating a whiter, brighter smile, schedule a consultation for whitening today by visiting our website or calling 817-594-7302.