How Long Does Zoom Whitening Last?
Discoloured teeth won’t necessarily cause health problems. However, they can be detrimental to a person’s self-esteem. This is where a professional teeth whitening treatment can be a great option. Getting your teeth professionally whitened will offer superior results to what you can get from a whitening toothpaste or mouthwash, especially for intrinsic stains.
Suppose you’d prefer to try an at-home treatment for minor stains or discolouration. In that case, you have several options, such as whitening strips or gels, bleach treatments, or toothpaste. But more powerful solutions may be necessary if you have more severe stains that go deeper into the enamel. Zoom whitening is a popular in-office treatment; let’s look at it.
What Is Zoom Whitening?
Zoom whitening is a non-invasive dental procedure that can penetrate and get rid of stains within the enamel layers of your tooth.
After the dentist protects your lips and gums, they place a hydrogen peroxide whitening gel on the teeth. A special light is then used to activate the gel. As the hydrogen peroxide breaks down, it allows the oxygen to penetrate into the deeper parts of your tooth to get rid of intrinsic stains.
One minor side effect of this whitening procedure is extra tooth sensitivity. Typically, this subsides after around 24 hours. To help with the sensitivity, a special sensitivity-reducing fluoride gel is placed on the teeth immediately following the treatment.
Why Do Teeth Become Discoloured?
To understand how long you can expect your zoom whitening treatment to last, we should first look at why staining and discolouration happen in the first place.
Some common reasons for discolouration include:
- Age: As we age, the protective enamel layer of our teeth begins to thin. As it wears out, the dentin it covers becomes more visible. This dentin starts to turn yellow with age, leading to yellow-looking teeth.
- Food and drink: A significant factor in tooth staining is what we put in our mouth. Drinks such as coffee, wine, or tea are common culprits for discolouration. But colourful foods like beets, blueberries, or raspberries may also contribute.
- Health problems: Certain health conditions, such as liver disease, celiac disease, or calcium deficiency, can all lead to discoloured teeth.
- Smoking: Whether you’re smoking or chewing tobacco, you’ve probably realized that the habit affects the colour of your teeth. In addition, this habit can lead to other oral problems like gum disease or mouth cancer.
- Poor dental hygiene: Inadequate brushing and flossing significantly contribute to stains or discoloured teeth. In fact, with proper oral hygiene, you can minimize the effects that things like your food and drinks have on tooth colour.
How Long Does Zoom Whitening Last?
There is no one-size-fits-all answer for how long Zoom whitening will last. On average, the results last for 1 to 2 years. However, this varies from person to person based on their lifestyle and how well they take of their teeth after the whitening treatment.
Tips for Keeping Your Teeth White
You can do several things to minimize the effects of stains and discoloration. If you’ve received a Zoom whitening treatment, the following things will help prolong the results. And if you haven’t gotten any treatment, they will help lower the chances of needing it.
Here are some tips for keeping your pearly whites white:
- Good oral hygiene: One of the easiest and most effective ways to keep your teeth white is to brush with suitable toothpaste and floss. In addition to maintaining whiteness, this will also help maintain overall oral health.
- Avoid staining food and drink: As we mentioned above, quite a few foods and drinks contribute to staining. Avoiding these as much as possible is good for keeping your teeth white. Brushing right after consumption will help too.
- Toothpaste and mouthwash: In addition to your regular hygiene routine, using a whitening toothpaste and mouthwash a couple of times a week is great protection against discoloration.
- Rinse: If you can’t brush your teeth after consuming staining foods or drinks, rinsing with water also offers a certain degree of help.
Finding Out More About Zoom Whitening
Most dentists agree that you should get a dental checkup and cleaning at least twice a year. Your dentist may recommend a more frequent schedule based on your particular situation. Regular checkups are recommended because things can change quickly in the mouth, and it’s important to catch issues early.
If you’re interested in Zoom whitening, it’s a good idea to see your dentist for a checkup and cleaning beforehand—even if it’s not quite time for a cleaning. First, they can check and ensure there are no underlying reasons for the tooth discoloration that need to be addressed. Second, having your teeth professionally cleaned will help maximize the results from the Zoom treatment.
Booking a cleaning is easy. Give us a shout, and the helpful staff at Arch King West Dental are happy to book you in to see one of the dentists.
