How long till teeth whitening gel starts making a difference?!

[Daisies975]

I am using 6% hydrogen peroxide gel. The dental hygienist said I should use it for an hour a day and that it will take about 2-3 weeks to whiten my teeth.

So far I've used it for an hour a day for two days. Some of my teeth are more yellow than others, so I decided to start by using it on those teeth. So far it has made absolutely no difference.

The hygienist told me to use an amount the size of a grain of rice per tooth. I've used that amount, or possibly slightly more on the second day.

At this rate it seems as though it will take many weeks, maybe months, to see any difference! It's a bit of a faff to use the whitening gel, so I don't want to be using it for months!

I hope it's just a case of the whitening being slow to get started but then speeding up! I'd be really grateful to hear other people's experiences and any tips!

Wait what? so you were told wait two weeks, but you expect results after 2 days?

I was told 2-3 weeks until they’re completely white. So yes, it would make sense to see some slight difference after 2 days.

6% seems quite low. I get 10% for overnight and a 16% one for a two hour top up now and then. I can see a difference immediately after both.

The crest whitening strips work very well and quickly.

Beware as some times they leave you teeth sensitive.
I left mine in all night, had the most horrendous teeth aching

Patience! You do realise that they're not going to miraculously become brilliant white, even at the end of two weeks? So, after only two days, the amount of difference seen would be minuscule, particularly as you aren't even using it on all of your teeth.

@OhhHaii Thank you - that’s helpful. I’ll ask the dentist whether they have 16% gel.

@unfortunateevents I’m not wanting or expecting my teeth to become brilliant white. The teeth I’m using the gel on are currently dark yellow, so after two days I would have expected them to be slightly less dark yellow. It’s interesting that OhhHaii says they can see a difference immediately.

@Nottodayplease36 Thanks for your post. Where do you get the Crest strips, please? Do you find they make your teeth translucent at all? A housemate of mine in the past used teeth whitening strips - I don’t remember which brand - and her teeth were white but also translucent, which didn’t look great.

I buy them from here https://www.ukteethwhitening.com/product/crest-professional-effects-3d-luxe-whitening-strips/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIo9CPxav1_QIVEe3tCh3kzwW8EAQYASABEgLdZPD_BwE

Never had any issues with them and they really work well. They can make your teeth slightly sensitive while they are on but nothing major.

I have been using teeth whitening gel from my dentist. It's meant to be 3 hours for 12 sessions. I have stopped after 6 because the sensitivity of my teeth was horrific. The last dose I couldn't think straight for the following 24 hours it was so painful!!! My teeth are whiter though....

@Gremlins101 That sounds awful! My teeth are somewhat sensitive after just the two sessions.

@Nottodayplease36 Thank you so much - those sound great.

@Gremlins101 What strength gel did you use, and did the sensitivity clear up after a while? Thanks!

It took me maybe a week to see a difference (I had mine in for 2 hours per night though). I still didn’t think they were THAT white by the end but the dentist compared it two weeks later and I had got them up to the bleach shades. Think it’s just difficult to see any drastic change when it’s your teeth that you see every day!

Are any of you using Sensodyne for the sensitivity? My dentist recommended that 2 ish weeks beforehand. Sorry it doesn’t answer the question (I haven’t had mine done yet but booked in but thought it bb might be helpful.

I think you just need a bit more patience with the products you’ve got. Things take time, your bleaching tooth enamel and it’s pretty tough stuff.

@BeretRaspberry I’m using Oral B Gum and Calm toothpaste, which the hygienist recommended.