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Post-operative

After Your Tooth Whitening Treatment

How to get the best results from tooth whitening, manage sensitivity, and keep your smile bright for longer.

4 min read

Urgent help: who to contact

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye.

Contact your dental team if you have severe tooth pain that lasts more than 24 hours, if your gums are very sore and not settling, or if you swallow a large amount of whitening gel by accident. If you cannot reach them, call NHS 111.

What to Expect After Whitening

Most people cope well with tooth whitening when a registered dental professional carries it out or prescribes it. Some short-term effects are normal. Results vary from person to person. They depend on the natural shade and make-up of your teeth.

  • Sensitivity: this is the most common side effect. About 2 in 3 people have some sensitivity during or after whitening. It is usually mild to moderate. It settles within 24–48 hours of finishing treatment.
  • Sore gums: if whitening gel touches your gums, they may feel sore or look a little white straight after treatment. This settles quickly, usually within a few hours.
  • Patchy colour: your teeth may look a little uneven for the first day or two while the colour settles. This usually evens out within 48 hours.
  • Results: judge the final shade 2 weeks after you finish treatment. The colour keeps changing after the last application.

Managing Sensitivity

Sensitivity during or after whitening does not last. Here are ways to reduce it:

  • Use a toothpaste for sensitive teeth twice a day during your course of treatment, such as one with potassium nitrate. Put a little in the trays with the whitening gel. Or rub it straight onto your teeth after you take the trays out.
  • If sensitivity is bad, take a 1–2 day break from whitening, then start again. You do not have to whiten every night without a break.
  • Avoid very cold or very hot food and drinks during your course of treatment.
  • Taking ibuprofen or paracetamol before a whitening session can reduce sensitivity during and after it.
  • Adults: follow the dose on the packet. Children: use children's paracetamol or ibuprofen and give the dose on the packet for their age. Check with a pharmacist, dentist or doctor before you take ibuprofen if you have asthma, have had a stomach ulcer, have heart, kidney or liver problems, take blood-thinning medicines, or are pregnant.
  • If sensitivity is a problem, you can use less gel or wear the trays for less time. Contact your dental team for advice.

The "White Diet": Foods and Drinks to Avoid

Straight after whitening, your teeth soak up colour more easily for a short time (they are more porous). For the first 48–72 hours after each whitening session, follow the "white diet".

Avoid:

  • Tea and coffee
  • Red wine and dark soft drinks (cola, fruit juices, energy drinks)
  • Curry, soy sauce and other strongly coloured sauces
  • Berries (blueberries, blackberries, raspberries)
  • Beetroot and tomato sauces
  • Dark chocolate
  • Cigarettes and other tobacco

Good choices during this time: water, milk, chicken, fish, white rice, pasta with cream sauces, white bread, banana, peeled apple, cauliflower and cheese.

Making Your Results Last

Whitening does not last forever. Over time, your teeth will slowly go back towards their natural shade. These steps will help your results last longer:

  • Brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste. Clean between your teeth every day.
  • Cut down on foods and drinks that stain, such as tea, coffee, red wine and cola. Or rinse your mouth with water after having them.
  • Use a straw for cold drinks that stain.
  • Do not smoke. Tobacco is the strongest cause of tooth staining.
  • If you were given home whitening trays, keep them. Top-up treatments work well and do not cost much. This means a few nights of whitening every 6–12 months to keep your shade. Your dental team can give you more gel.
  • Go to regular hygiene appointments. A professional clean removes surface stains.

When to Contact Your Dental Team

Tooth whitening has a long safety record when used as directed. But contact your dental team if:

  • Sensitivity is severe or lasts more than 48 hours after you finish treatment
  • Your gums are very sore or swollen, or have not recovered within 48 hours
  • You notice any unusual changes to the surface of your teeth
  • You swallowed a lot of whitening gel by accident. In most cases the gel is weak and safe, but get advice if you are worried.

Call 999 or go to A&E now if you find it hard to breathe, swallow or speak, or if swelling spreads to your neck, under your tongue or around your eye. For other urgent problems, contact your dental practice. If it is closed, call NHS 111.

This leaflet is for general information only and does not replace professional dental advice. Your dental team will discuss your individual circumstances and any risks specific to you. Treatment outcomes vary between patients depending on individual circumstances.

Sources

Links checked 18 October 2026.

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