Teeth Whitening Aftercare: Your Questions Answered
cosmeticdentistry
What to eat, how long results last, and how to handle sensitivity after professional teeth whitening.
Once your teeth are brighter, keeping them that way comes down to a few simple habits. Here are the questions we hear most often after a whitening visit.
How long do whitening results last?
Most people enjoy noticeably brighter teeth for 12 to 24 months. Coffee, tea, red wine, and smoking shorten that window; occasional touch-ups with your custom trays extend it.
What can I eat in the first 48 hours?
Stick to a "white diet" — chicken, rice, pasta, yogurt, eggs, cauliflower. Enamel pores are temporarily more absorbent, so anything that would stain a white shirt can stain your teeth too.
Why are my teeth sensitive after whitening?
Whitening gel temporarily opens the tiny tubules in your enamel. Sensitivity usually settles within 24–48 hours. A sensitivity toothpaste and the desensitizing gel we send home help.
Do I really need to use my take-home trays?
Short touch-ups every few months keep your shade steady. It's much easier than repeating a full whitening cycle later.
Can I whiten if I have crowns or veneers?
Whitening gel doesn't change the colour of restorations. If you're planning new crowns or veneers, whiten first so your new work is matched to the brighter shade.
For more on managing sensitivity, see our tooth sensitivity guide, or the full teeth whitening guide.