How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Last?

Professional teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental treatment that can help remove years of stains, leaving your smile perfect. The treatment can brighten your smile in one dental appointment. 

Professional whitening procedures work fast and effectively to enhance your appearance. If you decide to get the treatment, find out how long professional teeth whitening lasts. 

Professional Teeth Whitening 

Professional teeth whitening works effectively to create a bright white smile, but unfortunately, the treatment does not last forever. Washing your clothes will leave them looking nice and clean, but they will get dirty as you wear them. 

The same is true for your teeth. If you use them, your teeth will lose their initial whiteness. The average whitening results can last between six months and three years. 

How Teeth Whitening Works

When you have your teeth professionally whitened, the whitening solution is applied to the surface of the teeth. The tooth enamel and dentin layers absorb the agent. When the solution gets into the layers, it sets off a chemical reaction at the molecular level. 

The molecules responsible for the stains dissolve and the whitener continues to dissolve the stains, even after rinsing off the solution. The whitener works up to 24 hours after application and needs to be safely absorbed into the body and become ineffective.

The Whitening Treatment Used

One of the determining factors in how long teeth whitening lasts is the bleaching solution used. There are different whitening products on the market. 

Most whitening agents contain carbamide peroxide or hydrogen peroxide, and they are present in the products in varying concentrations. You can talk to the dentist about the best whitening option for your needs.

Considering Your Lifestyle Habits

Your lifestyle will determine how long the results of teeth whitening last. There is a reason some people enjoy whitening results longer than others, even after using the same treatment. Your oral hygiene habits and diet will determine how long the whitening lasts. 

Results fade sooner for people who consume foods and drinks that are highly pigmented. Coffee, tea, red wine, pasta sauce, beets, colored condiments, and other foods stain teeth. Failing to brush your teeth regularly will reduce the life of the whitening treatment. 

Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Stains

The type of stains or tooth discoloration you have will determine how well teeth whitening treatment works. There are two categories of stains: intrinsic or internal stains and extrinsic or external stains. Internal stains result from trauma, infection, aging, and medication. The stains are deep and are harder to eliminate.

External stains result from food, drink, and smoking and are easier to remove. The stains you have will determine how effective the treatment will be and how long the results will last. Professional teeth whitening produces long-lasting results compared to at-home treatments. 

For more on how long professional teeth whitening lasts, visit kksmiles at our office in Marietta, Georgia. You can call 770-830-3700 today to schedule an appointment.