After teeth whitening
What the first days after whitening look like, and what makes the result last.
How recovery goes
The first 48 hours
The enamel is more porous straight after whitening and stains more easily. Avoid coffee, tea, red wine, coloured sauces and smoking. Choose light-coloured food: a “white diet” protects the result.
The first days
Sensitivity to cold, sometimes as short twinges, is common and settles on its own within a few days. A toothpaste for sensitive teeth reduces it. If you whiten at home with trays, you can take a day off when the sensitivity is strong.
Any crowns or fillings that show don't whiten; sometimes they are worth replacing once the colour of the teeth has settled, after two or three weeks.
Long term
The result lasts longer with regular cleans and less coffee, tea and tobacco. The colour darkens gradually over time; a short top-up brings it back, but no more often than we recommend.
This is usual
- Sensitivity to cold for a few days.
- Short twinges in the teeth in the first days.
- Slightly irritated gums where the gel touched.
- White spots that even out within a few days.
This is not usual
- Sensitivity that hasn't eased after a week.
- A gum that has turned white or still hurts after two days.
- Constant pain in a single tooth.
Call us if
- Strong pain in a tooth that doesn't ease.
- A sore on the gum that swells.
- Gel got in your eye: rinse with plenty of water and call us.
Reviewed by Dr. Voinea ·
CMDR Romania · Galați University of Medicine and Pharmacy · General Dentistry