Do you want to address yellow, discolored, or darkened teeth? Dr. Elizabeth Duling provides professional teeth whitening treatment to Owens Cross Roads, AL, patients. Her treatment is custom-made for each patient. Dr. Duling always considers each patient’s cosmetic goals before their care so they can receive the best results.
Whitening tooth enamel can motivate patients to care for their smiles and improve their oral health. Cosmetic dental treatments enhance the look of the teeth and gums and can become a motivating factor in maintaining brilliant results.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
Tooth discoloration has many different causes. Patients may experience a combination of multiple types of discoloration. We have to work to determine the type and causes of staining to ensure we provide the correct treatment for your needs. As with all cosmetic procedures, we’ll schedule a consultation before treatment. With discussion and examination, we determine the best treatment course to take.
Age
Everyone experiences tooth discoloration as they age. The bright white outer layer on our teeth, the enamel, wears down over the years, exposing the off-white layer underneath, called dentin. Dentin is yellow, causing your teeth to look more yellow as you age. Age discoloration isn’t harmful to your smile, but it’s something that you may be self-conscious of.
Foods and Drinks
One of the most common causes of discoloration is your food and drink. Dark-colored foods like red wine, coffee, blackberries, and strawberries can all stain your teeth over time. Certain acidic foods like oranges may also stain your teeth. The more you consume these things, the more staining you experience.
Medicine
Some medications can stain your teeth, too. This is particularly true if you’ve taken certain medicines as a child and are still growing and changing. Pregnant women are susceptible as well. Trauma can harm the dental pulp and blood vessels inside your tooth. A “dead” tooth doesn’t have blood flow throughout the tooth anymore. Dead teeth are usually gray.
Tobacco
Lifestyle habits like tobacco use can cause yellow and brown stains on your teeth. The tar in tobacco darkens the teeth, and many of the chemicals in cigarettes harm oral health. Using tobacco products increases your chances of oral cancer and gum disease, among other things.
Poor Oral Hygiene
Other harmful stains develop if you don’t properly manage your oral hygiene. Plaque and tartar build up on your teeth, causing yellow — and eventually brown — stains on your teeth. If you continue to neglect your oral hygiene, the stains can start to darken and turn brown. When you have this kind of discoloration, you’re also putting the stability of your smile at risk. It makes you more susceptible to tooth decay and gum disease.
Take-Home Teeth Whitening
Dr. Duling offers convenient treatment with customized teeth whitening kits. These kits contain custom whitening trays and whitening gel. To create the trays, Dr. Duling takes digital impressions of the teeth and works with a local dental lab.
To use take-home whitening trays, you must first brush your teeth. Then, apply a small amount of whitening gel in each tray compartment. The trays keep the saliva from contacting the gel, which can interfere with active ingredients within the bleaching agents. In addition, the trays allow each tooth to receive the correct amount of gel continuously.
Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Stains
Extrinsic tooth stains appear on the surface of your teeth, while intrinsic stains are deeper, within the tooth enamel. Over-the-counter toothpaste or whitening treatments can remove some surface stains. However, professional teeth whitening can help with both types of stains. Intrinsic stains are harder to remove because they can be caused by certain medications, injuries, or too much fluoride exposure.
Some stains might be stubborn and not respond well to regular whitening treatments. That’s why you need a consultation before starting any whitening treatment. Dr. Duling will perform a full oral exam to make sure whitening is the right choice for you. If she finds that traditional whitening may not work, she will discuss other options that could be a better fit for your needs.
Teeth Whitening FAQs
Teeth whitening is one of the most popular cosmetic dental services, as everyone experiences tooth discoloration. Learn more about the process by reading the answers to these frequently asked questions.
What is the difference between store-bought and professional teeth whitening?
A dental professional administers professional teeth whitening, which means it is safer and will be applied correctly. Additionally, professional whitening has a higher concentration of whitening agents. It will whiten your teeth faster and better. The only downside is that it is more expensive.
How do I maintain the whitening results?
We recommend visiting our dental office for checkups every six months. This helps us clean and polish your teeth, which can keep them looking whiter for longer.
You should also try to avoid foods and drinks that can stain your teeth, like tea, coffee, red wine, fruit juices, soda, berries, tomato sauces, and soy sauce. If you do have these, it’s a good idea to brush your teeth afterward or, at the very least, rinse with water.
Smoking can also stain your teeth and make your whitening results fade faster.
Is tooth sensitivity normal after whitening treatment?
Some tooth sensitivity to hot and cold is normal after a tooth whitening treatment. However, it is only temporary and should subside after about two days. We suggest using a tooth sensitivity toothpaste for a few days after your whitening appointment.
Can I eat and drink right after tooth whitening?
Yes, you can eat and drink after teeth whitening, but we recommend avoiding foods and drinks that can stain your teeth for 48-72 hours. When you whiten your teeth, the bleaching gel opens up the pores on your teeth, allowing it to work. After the treatment, these pores stay open for a little while, making your teeth more likely to absorb stains.
To keep your teeth bright, try to avoid coffee, strawberries, and red wine for a few days.
Should I get my teeth cleaned before the whitening treatment?
We recommend scheduling your teeth whitening session after a dental cleaning at our office. Whitening works better when your teeth are clean because it helps avoid uneven results caused by plaque and tartar. Starting with a clean surface makes it easier to give you a more even and bright smile.
Can I whiten my teeth too much?
This is a possibility. We recommend waiting at least six months between whitening treatments. Even with professional products that are easier on your teeth, using them too often can cause sensitivity problems. Too-white teeth can become unnatural on your face.
How old do you have to be to get professional teeth whitening?
Professional whitening treatment is best for patients 18 or older. Children are not viable candidates because their teeth are still developing. Whitening ingredients can be too harsh and damage children’s tooth enamel. It can also cause sensitivity because children’s dental pulp, or the nerves within the tooth, are not fully developed.
Can I whiten my teeth if I have crowns, veneers, or fillings?
No, teeth whitening will not work on crowns, veneers, or fillings. These dental restorations are made from materials like porcelain or composite, which do not change color with whitening treatments.
Talk to our dentist if you have crowns, veneers, or fillings and want to brighten your smile. After whitening your natural teeth, she may suggest replace old restorations with new ones that match your desired tooth color.
Brighten Your Smile Today
Do you want to try professional teeth whitening? Call our Owens Cross Roads dental office at 256.202.4186. You can also schedule an appointment with Dr. Duling on our website. We will be happy to answer your questions.