Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?

Non-maintained teeth whitening usually lasts anywhere from a few months to three years. Just how long your teeth whitening will last depends on multiple factors, including: the condition of your teeth prior to the procedure, the level of results desired, and the follow up care.

There are, however, solutions that claim to last a lifetime. These involve periodic maintenance (reapplication of bleaching gel to the teeth). However, periodic application of bleaching to the teeth should be discussed with a dentist, as it can wear down your enamel, can be painful to those with sensitive teeth, and can irritate your gums.

In addition, not all stains can be removed through whitening. Yellowish teeth respond quite well to whitening. Unfortunately, If your stains are caused by smoking (usually gray stains), they do not respond well to bleach whitening. Brownish teeth similarly do not respond well to whitening.

To get teeth whitening that lasts a life time, periodic maintenance (reapplication of bleach gel) must be done, which can have negative effects on your enamel and gums.