Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental treatments. Over-the-counter whitening products use abrasives and detergents to remove stains, or bleaching compounds to lighten tooth color. The new research in teeth whitening is focused on optimizing the bleaching process to minimize tooth sensitivity and increase persistence of the bleached shade. Your dentist may recommend a specific whitening product to match your unique needs. Once the whitening process is complete, your teeth will be noticeably brighter. This is an ideal way to enhance your smile for a more confident appearance without the inconvenience of time-consuming and invasive procedures.
Follow good oral hygiene practices, including brushing twice daily and flossing regularly, and use a whitening toothpaste to keep your teeth clean and free of surface stains. Avoid stain-causing foods and beverages such as coffee, tea, red wine, dark sodas, and berries.
Tooth Staining
The outer enamel layer of your teeth is porous, and therefore susceptible to staining. When you eat highly pigmented foods and engage in bad oral habits, staining can build up on your teeth over time. Your dental professional can lift these unsightly stains and restore your smile’s beauty.
Whitening involves a chemical process called bleaching that lightens the color of your teeth. This happens when a bleaching agent breaks down the chemical bonds that hold the colored compounds (known as chromogens) in place. Most whitening products use oxygen-generating chemicals like hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to accomplish this bleaching.
Food and Drink Staining
Even foods and drinks that are considered healthy, such as berries and coffee, can cause staining. These foods and beverages contain chromogens, acid and tannins that can dull teeth. If you do eat or drink stain-promoting foods and drinks, it is best to rinse or brush soon afterwards to eliminate the coloring compounds and prevent enamel damage. Another trick is to use a straw when drinking cola or other acidic beverages, as this directs the liquid away from the teeth and reduces contact time.
Tomato sauce is also a common culprit for tooth staining because it contains color compounds that can adhere to enamel and leave unsightly discoloration over time. You can avoid this by using a white wine or tomato-based sauce in your cooking and pairing it with crunchy vegetables like celery or carrots, which help cleanse the teeth. Brushing with a whitening toothpaste can also lighten stains and help make your smile brighter.
Age-Related Staining
Even if you have great oral hygiene, foods like berries, turmeric and tomato-based sauces can leave your teeth with a yellow tint. These are called extrinsic stains. The same goes for coffee, wine and cigarettes. These stains affect the surface of your teeth and are easy to remove with a regular 6-month oral care routine and professional whitening treatments.
Intrinsic stains, on the other hand, are more difficult to treat. They develop below your enamel and are caused by chemicals or trauma that cause the dentin to darken. These stains can occur due to childhood tooth trauma, medications such as antihistamines and some cancer treatments.
Age-related stains are often out of your control. Over time, your teeth will naturally gain a yellowish tint because of your diet and natural enamel wear, which exposes the underlying dentin tissue to food residues. These stains are a combination of extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration, so the same whitening techniques that work on extrinsic stains will also work for age-related stains.
Dental Veneers
Veneers can mask teeth imperfections and improve the color and shape of the teeth. They can also cover a chipped tooth, close a gap between two teeth, or make an otherwise discolored tooth appear whiter. Unlike crowns and other more invasive dental treatments, veneers can typically be placed in just a few visits to the dentist.
During your initial consultation, the dentist will use local anesthetic to prevent pain and discomfort as they reshape the teeth and remove a small amount of enamel to prepare them for the veneers. They will then take impressions of your teeth and send them to a lab to create the veneers.
You can help ensure your veneers last by practicing proper oral hygiene, including brushing twice per day and flossing regularly. You should also avoid foods and beverages that can stain teeth and refrain from unhealthy habits like biting nails and chewing on pens or other hard objects. It’s important to choose an experienced cosmetic dentist when considering this treatment, so ask about their reputation and reviews online.