Frequently Asked Questions For Teeth Whitening

Our Teeth Whitening treatments last for the slotted treatment time for the whitening package of your choice with some additional time needed. Please expect a appointment window which would make your appointment last more than the expected 30, 45, 60,90 , or 120 mins of treatment time. That is because we first go over a consent form with you and explain what we’re going to do during the treatment. Also, in between each session we have to allow time for you to rinse & we’ll need time to reapply the material. So please try not to book other appointments the same day as your whitening appointment, it's not good for us to be rushed, we like to take our time with our clients. 

First, we protect your lips with vitamin E oil & then a gum barrier is placed to protect your gum tissues, and then we set the material with our powerful LED light. The active ingredient in the teeth whitening gel is carbamide peroxide. The peroxide enters the tooth inside of the pores in your enamel and when we place our LED light the process safely removes stains by Whitening the enamel and dentin.

Results vary depending on each individual. Our professional whitening treatments are designed to help restore your teeth to their natural color, often the shade they were before years of staining began. On average, clients see results ranging from 4 to 10 shades lighter, depending on the treatment selected.

Most of our clients choose the Halo Platinum, Diamond, or Celebrity Treatment options for the most noticeable results.

Keep in mind, you can always add more sessions as you go! We’re here to help you reach your brightest smile, one visit at a time.

Almost everyone can benefit from teeth whitening, but results will vary based on individual factors. Our treatments are designed to brighten your smile and reduce years of staining, but some cases may require extra care or may not respond as well.

Whitening may be less effective for individuals taking certain medications, such as the antibiotic Tetracycline, which can cause deep discoloration. Additionally, not everyone is considered an ideal candidate for whitening.

We strongly recommend consulting with your dentist before booking an appointment if any of the following apply to you:

You have a significant buildup of tartar

You have deep intrinsic staining (such as from cigarette use)

You have Fluorosis (white or brown spots from excess fluoride)

You have severe staining left behind from long-term braces wear

You’re experiencing tooth pain, sensitivity, or have visible cavities on your front teeth

You have advanced gum disease or severe gum recession

Your oral health always comes first. A quick dental check-up beforehand helps ensure that teeth whitening is both safe and effective for your smile.

These small white spots are typically areas of hypo-calcification, which are pre-existing weakened spots in the enamel where minerals have been lost. During the whitening process, the peroxide creates a chemical reaction that can generate slight heat inside the tooth. This heat causes the inner layers (pulp and dentin) to expand, pushing water out of the tooth. This temporary dehydration can make the teeth appear whiter for up to 72 hours following treatment.

As the teeth rehydrate by absorbing moisture from your saliva, they may regain some of their original shade. What you initially see as a dramatic whitening result may partly be due to this temporary dehydration, not just bleaching. It’s important to understand that the balance between true bleaching and dehydration varies from person to person and cannot be predicted in advance.

Important Note:

If you already had visible white spots on your teeth before whitening, this may be a condition called Fluorosis, caused by overexposure to fluoride during early tooth development. These spots will not go away with whitening and may become brighter and more noticeable during or after treatment.

We strongly recommend visiting your dentist before scheduling a whitening session if you notice white spots on your teeth. You may be a candidate for a treatment called enamel microabrasion, which can help minimize the appearance of Fluorosis spots. After that procedure, you’re welcome to book your whitening appointment with us for better results.

This product is FDA compliant, manufactured in the US, and safe to use on all types of surfaces of teeth! Our product will not cause any harm or damage and is enamel-safe!

The most common side effects of teeth whitening are temporary tooth sensitivity and mild gum irritation. However, at Halo Ali Teeth Whitening, we take extra precautions to minimize both:

Gum Protection: During your treatment, we apply a gum barrier around the gum line to help prevent irritation and protect the soft tissue from potential chemical burns.

Sensitivity Prevention: We offer a pre-whitening sensitivity treatment with select Halo packages. Please read through each treatment description to see which ones include this add-on. If you're choosing the Halo Bronze or Halo Silver treatments and wish to include the sensitivity treatment, you may request it during your appointment for an additional $30 fee.

Mild sensitivity is completely normal for 24–48 hours after whitening. This occurs because the pores in your enamel remain open during that time and are more vulnerable to staining or external stimuli.

To further support comfort, we apply a special desensitizing gel before starting your treatment. If you have already experienced tooth sensitivity, rest assured that permanent sensitivity from whitening is extremely rare, especially when proper care is taken. Any discomfort you may feel is temporary and should subside within 1–2 days , once your pores close back up.

At-Home Kit Users:

When using our at-home whitening kits, make sure the gel does not touch your gums. Use a Q-tip with Vitamin E oil to gently coat your gum line and wipe away any excess gel before inserting the LED light tray.

Tips to Reduce Sensitivity Post-Treatment:

Use a sensitivity-friendly toothpaste (like Sensodyne)

Brush gently with a soft-bristled toothbrush

Avoid whitening more frequently than recommended by us

Limit highly pigmented foods and drinks for 48 hours post-treatment

The longevity of your whitening results depends entirely on the individual and how well you maintain your smile afterward. Lifestyle habits, like drinking coffee, tea, red wine, or smoking, can cause stains to return more quickly.

On average, our clients’ results last between 3 to 6 months. However, clients who choose longer-lasting treatments such as the Halo Platinum, Halo Diamond, or Halo Celebrity packages may enjoy results that last up to 6 months plus before needing another session.

We provide detailed aftercare instructions to help you maintain your pearly whites for as long as possible. Following these tips and avoiding high-staining foods or drinks within the first 48 hours is key.

Please note: The longer your treatment, the better your initial results. Every smile is different, so final results vary from person to person, and we won’t know exactly how white your teeth will get until after the treatment is complete..

The short answer is no, professional teeth whitening should not hurt. Most clients find the treatment very comfortable. However, if you’re experiencing pain, discomfort, or sensitivity before your appointment, it may be due to an underlying oral health issue that needs to be addressed by your dentist first.

If you have severe gum recession, bleeding or inflamed gums, heavy tartar buildup, bone loss, or other active dental concerns, we strongly recommend scheduling a dental check-up before booking your whitening session with us.

What are “zingers”?

Some clients experience quick, sharp sensations known as "zingers" during or shortly after the whitening process. These feel like small electric shocks or jolts of sensitivity in the teeth. Zingers are caused by the peroxide gel reaching the inner layer of the tooth (the dentin), where nerve endings are more sensitive.

Zingers are not dangerous and usually go away on their own within a few hours to a day. They are more common in individuals with pre-existing tooth sensitivity or microscopic enamel cracks.

To minimize any discomfort, we offer a desensitizing gel before treatment and recommend using sensitivity toothpaste (like Sensodyne) after your appointment. 

• Pregnant or lactating women (it hasn’t been proven safe or unsafe to unborn baby. However, we recommend that expectant mothers that are whitening at their own risk to at least wait until after first trimester is over, but we highly recommend that expectant mothers wait until after child birth to have the whitening procedure done.
• People with poor and thin enamel or decalcification caused by excessive use of fluoride with deep intrinsic staining.
• People with periodontal disease including gingivitis or gums in poor condition.
• People who wear braces or who had their braces removed less than 1-3 months ago
• People who recently had oral surgery (must be cleared from dentist before receiving our treatments).
• People with decaying teeth or exposed roots
• People with open cavities on front teeth
• People with a history of allergic reactions to peroxide products
• People with white fillings on the front teeth that are not ready to have their fillings replaced with a brighter shade of filling material after receiving our whitening treatments in order to match the resin with the new shade of teeth.
• People under the age of 15

People with such conditions are rare, so it can be assumed that over 90% of people can undergo and benefit from teeth whitening.

Whitening products are designed to work on natural teeth, which have microscopic pores that allow the whitening agents to absorb and lift stains. Artificial dental work, such as crowns, veneers, bridges, dentures, permanent retainers, bonding, or fillings, does not have these pores, so their color may not change through whitening, and there's no way to tell, so we recommend you start with our 30 min Halo Bronze treatment and work your way up. 

That means:

Crowns and veneers cannot be lightened beyond the color they were created.

Whitening can sometimes restore veneers or crowns to their original shade if they’ve become stained over time, but they will not get any whiter than when they were first placed.

If your veneers are 6 years old or older, it may take multiple sessions to help bring them closer to their original brightness.

The good news? Teeth whitening will not damage crowns, veneers, or any other dental work. It’s completely safe for surrounding natural teeth and restorative materials.

Pro Tip:

Dentists often recommend whitening your natural teeth before getting veneers, crowns, or bonding. This ensures your dental work is color-matched to the brightest shade your natural teeth can achieve, giving you a more seamless and radiant smile.