How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
Professional tooth-whitening treatments can drastically change your smile’s shade. They use bleaching agents such as peroxides that can break down the molecules on the surface of the teeth that cause stubborn stains and yellow hues.
However, teeth whitening is not permanent. Patients will usually go around 1-2 years before they need another session.
Keep reading to understand why teeth whitening doesn’t last forever, and what you can do to prolong your results!
What Affects Tooth Color?
Teeth-whitening doesn’t “bleach” teeth the way you think. It essentially removes the stains that you cannot clean off by yourself at home to reveal a much whiter enamel.
Unfortunately, many factors can contribute to staining, such as:
- Improper oral hygiene
- Nutrition
- Lifestyle habits such as smoking
- Certain medical conditions or medications
- Aging
- Genetics, etc.
So even if you get your teeth professionally whitened, sooner or later they may need another session to restore their look. The whitening process does not protect the teeth from future staining.
How Can You Protect Your New Bright Smile?
With a few precautions, you can protect your whitened teeth for a long time before you need another appointment with Dr. Candice Vinson.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Brush and Floss Your Teeth Every Day
With good at-home oral care, you can greatly reduce the risk of staining and keep your teeth looking great for a long time. Moreover, it also reduces plaque accumulation, which can make the teeth appear yellow, and increase your risk for cavities and gum disease.
- Drink Highly-Staining Beverages Through a Straw
If you’re an avid coffee, tea, or artificially colored beverage drinker, you have a higher chance of staining your teeth.
The best thing you could do here is limit how often you indulge in these drinks. And when you do enjoy a cup of joe, use a straw to prevent exposing your teeth directly to the substance, and cleanse your mouth with water after.
- Avoid Highly-Staining Foods
Foods like tomato sauces, oranges, other citruses, and those with artificial colorings may stain your teeth over time.
To protect your smile, try to reduce these foods from your diet, or cleanse your mouth with tap water or gentle mouthwash after you eat them.
- Stop Smoking
Smoking wreaks havoc on your physical and dental health, but over time it also makes the teeth yellow. So there isn’t really a way to prevent this from happening, other than kicking this habit.
- Get Routine Dental Cleanings
Routine cleanings every 6 months greatly reduce the chances of staining and help ensure all your oral needs are met.
Teeth Whitening at Advanced Dentistry of Mount Pleasant
Our Mount Pleasant cosmetic dentists can help you access both at-home and in-office professional teeth whitening that will give you the pearly smile you want. Book a consultation at Advanced Dentistry of Mount Pleasant today!
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