Teeth whitening – What can your dentist do to help?

Have you noticed your smile becoming a little less vibrant? There are many factors that go into our teeth becoming discolored. From what we eat and drink, to how we take care of our teeth affects how bright our smiles are. Do you know what’s affecting your teeth the most though?

We’ve put together the common causes of teeth discoloration, which can be broken down into 2 main factors. We recommend becoming familiar with what’s affecting you the most so you can prevent your smile from losing its sparkle.

Internally, sickness and tooth decay are the biggest components of making our teeth look gray, yellow, and sometimes even brown. When we’re sick we usually get prescribed antibiotics which can cause discoloration if taken during the time of tooth development. Yellowness of the teeth can be a sign of early tooth decay, which when treated correctly can be prevented from turning into the browness/ blackness seen during the late stages of tooth decay.

Externally, smoking, dark beverages, and improper cleaning are the most common factors of what makes teeth appear discolored. Tar and nicotine that’s found in cigarettes will build up on teeth and make them appear yellow/brown in color. Teeth tend to absorb the dark coloring found in Tea, coffee, and colas causing them to become stained. Lastly, improper cleaning is another big factor that can cause your teeth become yellowed. By not brushing thoroughly and flossing regularly the plaque and tartar left on our teeth can eventually stain the surface.

So what can your dentist do to help?

Lots of things! Showing you proper techniques to use when cleaning your teeth is a great way to help prevent more staining from happening.

But what about the stains you already have?

Dentists have a variety of ways of being able to remove stains from the surface of your teeth. The most common is a peroxide gel that is applied to the teeth that whitens the teeth back to their natural color. The best part about professional whitening is the results you get within a short period of time. Within about 1 hour your teeth can become up to 10 shades whiter.

Your dentist might even recommend supplementing the professional cleaning with an at home/OTC method of whitening. These are a great way to keep your smile looking its best in between professional cleanings/ whitenings.