How often can I whiten my teeth at home? (2024)

FAQs

How often can I whiten my teeth at home? ›

How often teeth whitening treatments are recommended by dentists. Professional teeth whitening performed in the dentist's office is recommended once every year to every 18 months, depending on how long the results last. At-home kits can be used as often as once every four to six months.

Over whitening your teeth can cause them to become translucent, making the yellowish colour of your dentin more visible. It can also make your teeth look blue or grey. To avoid this occurrence, talk to your dentist about how often you should whiten your teeth and what concentration of bleaching agent is right for you.

For over-the-counter kits, the results should last for a few months. Don't repeat the process more frequently than three or four times a year or once every three or four months. Always follow the product recommendations for how often you can repeat the process, and do not use the whitening system more often than that.

According to our dentist in 48446, one can over-whiten their teeth, and some effects come with it. It is known as bleachorexia. Over-the-counter whitening systems are usually set up to be used for a maximum of ten to fourteen days in a row at a given time.

Conduct your whitening session once per day until desired level of whitening is attained. NOTE – You may skip days between whitening sessions to minimize sensitivities. This will not affect the cumulative whitening process.

The level of whitening obtained depends on the bleaching agent's concentration in the gel and how often you use the strips. Results can last for several months, but over time, factors like diet and oral hygiene may cause teeth to regain some of their original color gradually.

It's safe to brush your teeth after applying whitening strips. Just be sure to do it gently to avoid irritating your gums. Another option is to brush your teeth before using whitening strips. This is ideal for removing plaque, which can get stuck beneath the strips.

If your teeth have any signs of decay or worn enamel, then you may also experience sensitivity if you undertake treatment. Additionally, you should note that if you have crowns or veneers, then these will not be whitened by the teeth whitening process.

Darkening or relapse of the tooth shade is expected after whitening. Relapse of shade occurs almost immediately as the freshly whitened dehydrated tooth rehydrates. Repetitive prolonged exposure of the chemical is the only way to achieve optimal results.

It's typically not recommended to use whitening trays for multiple days in a row, but they can be re-used over time to whiten your smile. 2-3 times a week is a good rule of thumb.

How often is it safe to whiten teeth at home? ›

How often teeth whitening treatments are recommended by dentists. Professional teeth whitening performed in the dentist's office is recommended once every year to every 18 months, depending on how long the results last. At-home kits can be used as often as once every four to six months.

Dentists can treat you with 6% hydrogen peroxide (the bleaching agent that whitens teeth) – this is nearly 6,000 times stronger than any over-the-counter tooth whitening product. Because of this, tooth whitening by a dentist will give you the very best results.

Follow good oral hygiene practices. Brush your teeth at least twice daily, floss at least once daily to remove plaque, and rinse with an antiseptic mouthwash at least once a day to kill bacteria that cause plaque. Use a whitening toothpaste (once or twice a week only) to remove surface stains and prevent yellowing.

Your Teeth Are Starting to Look Translucent

That said, they shouldn't be allowing light to pass through in a way that your teeth almost have an appearance that you can slightly see through. Translucent teeth are usually caused by over-whitening, over-bleaching, or other excessive forms of treatment.

Because teeth whitening uses a hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gel to permeate to the lower layer of your teeth called the dentin, some people experience tooth sensitivity. Typically, this occurs when your whitening trays have been left in too long or you have whitened your teeth too many days in a row.

Yellow teeth can regain whiteness through various methods, including good oral hygiene, professional dental cleanings, and teeth-whitening treatments. Stains from coffee, tea, or tobacco can be removed with adequate oral care, while professional procedures like bleaching or laser treatments offer quicker results.

Once your teeth are intrinsically stained, it becomes very difficult to remove the discoloration with over-the-counter or professional teeth whitening treatments. Cosmetic treatments such as veneers or dental bonding are common options for fixing intrinsic stains.