How Long Does It Take To Whiten Teeth?

How Long Does It Take To Whiten Teeth?

TeamTeeth Whitening

Cosmetic dentists offer in-office teeth whitening that provides whiter, brighter teeth in approximately one hour. Most cosmetic dentists also offer take-home teeth whitening kits that will provide results within a couple of weeks. However, if you’re looking for the fastest way to whiten your teeth, it is best to schedule an appointment with a top-rated cosmetic dentist

What Happens During a Teeth Whitening Appointment at the Dentist?

To get immediate results from teeth whitening, schedule an appointment with your dentist. The process is quick and painless, and you’ll leave your appointment with teeth that are noticeably whiter and brighter than when you arrived. Here is what to expect when you schedule in-office teeth whitening.

  1. Your lips & gums will first be protected with a special device to ensure that the bleaching agent doesn’t contact the soft tissues.
  2. A peroxide-based whitening gel will be applied to the surface of your teeth.  
  3. A whitening light will be directed into your mouth to activate and expedite the whitening process.  
  4. The gel application followed by light-activated will be repeated two more times, for a total of three treatments
  5. The dentist or dental hygienist will apply a gel that will help decrease sensitivity after you’ve completed the three treatment cycles. 

3 Tips for Maintaining the Results of Teeth Whitening

Once you’ve invested in a brighter, whiter smile, you’ll want to maintain the results. Although stains will accumulate over time, there are steps you can take to keep your smile brighter and whiter between whitening treatments.

  • Limit Foods & Beverages That Stain the Teeth
    Bright and dark-colored foods and beverages are notorious for staining teeth. To that end, you may consider switching from pasta with red sauce to pasta with oil-based, or white sauce. You may consider switching from red wine to white wine. Coffee and tea drinkers can use straws to maintain teeth whitening results. Dark berries may be replaced by other fruits such as oranges, pineapple, etc. 

  • Use Whitening Products at Home
    To maintain the results from your teeth whitening treatment, use over-the-counter whitening toothpaste, whitening mouth rinses, or whitening pens between professional treatments. 

  • Practice Excellent Oral Hygiene
    Twice daily brushing, daily flossing, and regular dental exams and cleanings will also help maximize your results from teeth whitening.

Book an Appointment for Cosmetic Dental Work in Glen Cove, NY

Founder of Gold Coast Smiles in Glen Cove, Dr. Andrew Sami is an award-winning, highly experienced cosmetic dentist who provides comprehensive preventative, restorative, and cosmetic dental treatments. To book a consultation for teeth whitening, or other cosmetic treatments, call 516-676-0250, or schedule your appointment online. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Do You Offer Financing for Cosmetic Dental Work?

Gold Coast Smiles does offer short-term, in-house financing for a variety of dental procedures. We also accept CareCredit financing, which offers low-interest financing for dental care.  

Do Teeth Whitening Products from the Store Work?

Most teeth whitening products from the store will provide some degree of whitening. However, the concentration of active whitening agents in these products is far less than in dental-grade products so they do not provide the results you’ll realize from teeth whitening at the dental office.