Teeth Whitening
Brushing and flossing are everyday ways to keep your teeth bright, white, and healthy. Still, if you feel like your smile is lacking sparkle, or is more yellow than it used to be, you're not alone!
Thinking about teeth whitening? Get the facts first!
Why did your teeth change color?
Overtime, your teeth can go from white to not-so-bright for a number of reasons:
- Food and drink:
Coffee, tea and red wine are some major staining culprits followed by colors added to food.
What do they have in common? Intense color pigments called chromogens that attach to the white, outer part of your tooth (enamel).
- Smoking or chewing tobacco, betel nut, chewing pan and use of mouth fresheners:
Tar and nicotine found in tobacco stain the teeth. Chewing of colored betel nut and mouth fresheners create stubborn stains. Chewing pan is the number one reason for tooth staining among Indians.
- Age: Over time, the outer enamel layer gets thinner with brushing and more of the yellowish dentin shows up. This causes the tooth to change color.
- Trauma: If you have been hit in the mouth, your tooth may change color because it reacts to an injury causing the tooth to turn yellowish initially then turning brown and finally black.
- Medications: Tooth darkening can be a side-effect of certain anti-histamines, anti-psychotic, and high blood pressure medications. Young children who are exposed to antibiotics like Tetracycline and Doxycycline when their teeth are forming (either in the womb or as a baby) may have discoloration of their adult teeth later in life. Chemotherapy and head and neck radiation can also darken teeth.
How does whitening work?
Teeth whitening is a simple process. Whitening products contain bleaches that break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter.
Routine scaling and polishing prior to whitening removes tartar, plaque and stains giving better bleaching results.
Does whitening work for all teeth?
No, which is why it is important to talk with your dentist before deciding to whiten teeth as whitening may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow teeth will probably bleach well, brown teeth may not respond as well, and teeth with gray tones do not bleach at all. Whitening will not work on caps, veneers, crowns, or fillings. It is not effective if your discoloration is caused by medications or a tooth injury.
What are the options?
Talk with your dentist before starting. If you're a candidate, there are two ways to put the shine back in your smile.
1. In-office Bleaching: This procedure usually requires only one visit. The dentist will apply protective gel to your gums and bleach is then applied to teeth.
2. At-home Bleaching: There are kits which typically come in gel form and a tray is provided to fill with gel and place in the mouth for a long period of time. This can be done by you at home. It takes much longer, almost a week or two, to get results.
Are there any side-effects?
Yes, some people may get tooth sensitivity. In most cases, sensitivity is temporary. You can delay treatment and then try again.
Over use of whiteners (at-home kits) can also damage the tooth enamel or gums, so be sure to talk with us.