Everyone's goal is to have pearly white teeth, but unfortunately, various factors can cause teeth discoloration. For instance, stained or yellow teeth can result from your lifestyle or diet. The good thing is that you should not live with discolored teeth since there are various teeth whitening options. When people hear about teeth whitening, their first question is, how long does it take to whiten teeth?
The duration it takes to whiten your teeth depends on your teeth condition, the cause of discoloration, and the whitening treatment you want. Here are 3 teeth whitening treatment options and the duration they take to whiten teeth.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
In-office teeth whitening is a safe treatment that involves applying a whitening gel on the tooth surface. A dentist also uses a laser to activate the gel and fasten the bleaching process. The entire procedure can take approximately 60-90 minutes, depending on how white you want your teeth to be and the severity of the stains. In fact, this may be a single visit to achieve white teeth. After the procedure, you will exit the dentist's office with 2-3 shades lighter than before.
Whitening Strips
Whitening strips can also help to whiten teeth. However, they are not as effective as the in-house treatment. It contains hydrogen peroxide, which penetrates the outer layer of the tooth, bleaching all the stains. Whether the stains result from genetics, smoking, coffee, or aging, whitening strips can be a good option. However, whitening your teeth may take longer than in-office treatment. You will need to use the whitening strips twice daily for two weeks to get good results. Nevertheless, this procedure is not perfect for people with teeth sensitivity as it can worsen the issue.
Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste is a good way to remove surface stains. If the discoloration results from smoking or drinking coffee, whitening toothpaste can be a good idea. Results from this procedure can take approximately 2-6 weeks, depending on the extent of the stain. However, some whitening toothpaste can irritate the gums or cause teeth sensitivity. In this case, it is vital to consult a dentist before using over-the-counter whitening products. Schedule an appointment with our dentists to learn more about the best way to whiten your teeth.
Everyone's goal is to have pearly white teeth, but unfortunately, various factors can cause teeth discoloration. For instance, stained or yellow teeth can result from your lifestyle or diet. The good thing is that you should not live with discolored teeth since there are various teeth whitening options. When people hear about teeth whitening, their first question is, how long does it take to whiten teeth?