The most commonly sought-after dental cosmetic treatment is definitely teeth whitening. A majority of people wish to have a bright, desirable, and healthy smile as it seems attractive and clean. There are a dozen treatments available to achieve so. They range from whitening toothpaste, home remedies, to high-tech in-clinic whitening systems. People can access whichever option suits them better.
Considering in-chair teeth whitening procedures, people wonder how long is it going to last? Is it worth it in that sense?
How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
It is a tricky question, because it varies from person to person, and depends on a lot of things!
The period during which your teeth can stay white after the whitening procedure depends a lot on how you take care of them after the treatment. As long as you don’t have something that stains teeth, and brush them regularly, your teeth will stay bright as before.
The effects of teeth whitening in Islamabad can stay from an estimated 6 months to even up to 2 to 3 years.
These are some of the things that will stain your teeth faster and ruin your whitening and make it short-lived:
- Smoking
- Liquids that are pigmented, like tea, coffee, juices which have bright/dark colors.
- Foods that have staining capabilities, like beetroot, berries, pickles, soy sauce, curry etc.
How Can I Make My Teeth-Whitening Last Long?
There are a lot of other factors that can affect the whitening, but the biggest is poor oral hygiene. You can take the following measures to prevent such issues.
- If the staining is being caused due to a certain kind of food that you are consuming, it is advisable to cut down on it (not leave completely! Just a little less). You could consider an alternative to it.
- Rinse your mouth, simply with water, after you eat or drink something.
- Use a straw to drink beverages that can stain your teeth
- Eating crunchy and chewy foods can help too. These include fresh fruits and vegetables. Chewing these produces more saliva, and the material of these foods helps wipe unwanted stuff off your teeth.
- The good old “brush your teeth twice a day!”
- Take a routine visit to your dentist, or as they advise you to. They can prescribe you some products, like gels, that can reduce the chances of staining. It is up to you to be consistent with the application and take care of your teeth.
It is important to know that no matter what you do, staining is going to occur at some point later on. What’s in your hands, is maintaining the whitening as long as you can. With good care, it can last a few years!
Which Kind Of Treatment Should I Go For?
There are pros and cons to at-home treatment and in-chair treatment. You can choose either considering what suits you, your needs, your budget, and maintenance.
In-Chair Whitening:
Advantages:
- Quick results
- Done by a professional
- Everything physical or chemical used in the treatment has been formulated according to your teeth.
- The equipment is made solely for this purpose, hence yields the best results
- You can frequently visit your dentist for them to assess any problems with your teeth, and advise you on what is best for you
Disadvantages:
- It is costly
- For some people, the high potency formula applied can be unbearable – especially for patients that suffer from tooth sensitivity
- The whitening effect does not tend to last longer if not taken care of
At-Home Whitening:
Advantages:
- Comparatively affordable
- Can be done at home whenever you have time and the energy
May sound good, but the cons are to be brought into consideration as they are seriously concerning.
Disadvantages:
- Takes longer to give desired results
- As it is not performed by a professional, you can end up burning your gums, ruining your teeth, degrading your tooth enamel, etc.
- Teeth could end up becoming more sensitive
- As none of the equipment or ingredients used are formulated originally for treating teeth, it can have more adverse effects than good ones.
