How Long Does It Take to Whiten My Teeth?

If you’ve been feeling like your teeth aren’t as sparkly white as they should or could be, you’re not alone. Studies suggest that around 80% of Americans aged between 18 and 49 would like to have whiter, brighter teeth. The main reason for this is that we automatically associate white smiles with people who are healthy, successful, and happy, and it’s tempting to want to be associated with these traits too. Fortunately, it’s easier than ever to improve the color of your smile thanks to teeth whitening – the most popular and in-demand cosmetic service in the world. 

But just how quickly can you start to enjoy a whiter and more attractive smile? Let’s find out. 

In-Office Teeth Whitening

As the name suggests, in-office whitening is performed in a dental office and is carried out by trained and experienced professionals. Unlike over-the-counter whitening treatments, in-office whitening is carried out using the highest grades of bleaching agent to lighten your teeth – a strength not available over the counter. This helps to produce results much more quickly. In fact, if you choose in-office teeth whitening, you can expect to see an improvement in the color of your teeth after just a single, one-hour appointment. 

Other benefits of in-office teeth whitening include:

• Protection of the soft tissues of your mouth - Your dentist will use special guards to protect your tongue, lips, and inner cheeks from whitening agent that could otherwise cause sensitivity and irritation

• Consistent application - Your dentist has better access than yourself to the faces of your teeth and can use professional equipment to both hold your mouth open and apply the whitening product. This more consistent application leads to much more even and natural-looking results 

• Transform the color of your smile, fast - Exactly how many sessions of teeth whitening you will need will depend on the initial color of your teeth and the shade of whiteness that you want to try and achieve, as well as how effectively your teeth respond to treatment. However, you can start to see an improvement in the color of your smile after just your first teeth whitening session. 

At-Home Teeth Whitening

If you are looking for greater convenience and a more affordable option for whitening your teeth, you could consider at-home teeth whitening. Although there are many products that claim to be able to improve the color of your teeth, take-home kits from your cosmetic dentist are the most effective at-home teeth whitening option. 

Take-home trays are bespoke devices that fit over your teeth. To start, impressions are taken of your teeth using either traditional putty or the latest scanning technology. These are used to create your bespoke trays which will be provided to you along with a whitening solution. To use the trays, you simply fill the whitening trays with the right amount of solution and settle them in place over your teeth, leaving them for the recommended amount of time given to you by your dentist. At the end of the session, simply remove the trays and clean them ready for next time. 

Take-home trays are usually cheaper and more convenient, although the bleaching agent used is less concentrated meaning that it can take a little longer to get the results that you are looking for. 

For more information about teeth whitening, or to schedule an appointment to discuss this popular cosmetic dentistry treatment, please contact Today’s Family Dental in Tampa, Florida at (813) 212-8700 today.