Teeth Whitening Strips Aren't Working (2024)

FAQs

 Teeth Whitening Strips Aren't Working? ›

The Contact With the Teeth Is Not Good

Your Teeth Aren't Clean

Whitening products work when the active agent enters the outer enamel and works to break apart tint molecules accountable for discoloration. If your teeth have plaque buildup, this can avert the bleaching agent from reaching the target tinges.

If teeth whitening does not work for you, it might be because of the product you are using, the type of tooth stains or spots, or strength of the bleaching gel. Product type – Whitening toothpaste does not remove deeply embedded stains.

Teeth can become temporarily dehydrated after using whitening strips. Your teeth may appear more yellow as a result of this dehydration because the enamel may become dry and lack moisture. Dehydrated enamel sometimes has a transparent appearance that makes the naturally yellowish dentin underneath visible.

A lot of the time, the edges of your teeth respond more quickly to bleaching than the inner areas since the bleach can penetrate the enamel more rapidly. The center of your tooth has more enamel than the outside, so it takes longer to show results.

Plaque buildup can block these whitening chemicals from reaching the stained teeth. Schedule a dental cleaning appointment first before using teeth whitening strips. This can prepare your teeth well for the whitening process.

Ensure that you follow recommended usage instructions on the packaging to get the optimal effect. If your teeth are significantly discolored, you may need to use 2 boxes of Crest 3D White Whitestrips initially to get the desired result.

Since teeth whitening treatments primarily target the outer layer of the teeth, they may have limited effectiveness in removing these deeper stains. In such cases, alternative cosmetic dentistry options like dental bonding or veneers may be recommended to improve the appearance of the teeth.

Your Teeth Aren't Clean

You may not see it, but your teeth may have a dirty biofilm or layer of plaque buildup that is preventing the whitening agents from targeting your tooth stains. Consider teeth whitening after your next routine dental cleaning.

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.

Can teeth be too yellow to whiten? ›

The good news is that even naturally yellow teeth can be whitened, and kept white, if you understand the causes behind tooth discoloration.

It's tempting to think that leaving them on longer will yield a more dazzling smile, but this isn't necessarily the case. Overextending the application time can lead to increased tooth sensitivity without delivering significant additional benefits.

Some improvement may be seen after only 3 days. Final results are visible after 10 to 20 days, depending on the specific Crest whitening-strip product used.

Some home kits don't contain enough whitening product to be effective. Also, if a dental professional isn't doing the whitening, the mouthguard provided may not fit properly so some of the bleaching gel may leak out onto your gums and into your mouth, causing blistering and sensitivity.

Intrinsic Stains

They can be caused by factors like trauma, excessive fluoride exposure during tooth development, or certain medications. Since teeth whitening treatments primarily target the outer layer of the teeth, they may have limited effectiveness in removing these deeper stains.

Typically, you use whitening strips twice per day for 2 weeks . You usually leave them on for about 30 minutes at a time. Tooth lightening can be seen in as little as several days and can lighten your teeth by a shade or two.

So, why do teeth not stay white after whitening? Well, there are a few reasons: What You Eat and Drink: Things like coffee, tea, and stuff with dark colors can stain your teeth. Smoking and Chewing Tobacco: Yeah, these can make your teeth go yellow too.