Although teeth start white, they naturally change color — first as off-white and then becoming increasingly yellow. The change is due to the yellow dentin inside of the teeth starting to show through the outer layer. Furthermore, injuries to the teeth can increase the yellowing because the damaged teeth form extra dentin.
Yellowing and staining of the teeth are typically much worse if you smoke, and years of smoking can turn your teeth brown. You’re also likely to develop heavier staining if you drink a lot of red wine, tea, or coffee.
Taking certain medications, like hypertension pills, antihistamines, and antipsychotics can stain the teeth, too. Tooth decay due to eating too much sugar or not following a good oral hygiene routine can also lead to discolored teeth.
The teeth-whitening brightens your teeth, reversing the effects of aging. However, it’s important to know that the results from teeth whitening may vary because everyone’s teeth respond to the treatment slightly differently. Your provider can give you a good idea of the results you can expect.
There are many home teeth-whitening products available over-the-counter, including whitening toothpaste and a variety of home-bleaching kits.
These kits can work if you use them properly, but they aren’t as powerful as the teeth whitening treatments provided by your dentist. They can also leak and irritate your gums.
Teeth whitening involves using a bleaching agent that dissolves all common types of stains. It’s an effective approach, but Preva Dental goes a step further with laser teeth whitening.
To perform laser teeth whitening, your provider protects your gums and lips. They apply a bleaching gel to your teeth, then use the light energy from a laser to speed up the whitening process.
Afterward, you’ll have pearly-white teeth. The difference whiter teeth makes to your smile is considerable. You can also include teeth whitening in a cosmetic dentistry package called a smile makeover.
Laser teeth whitening treatments are long-lasting and don’t damage your teeth. To find out more about the procedure or schedule a consultation, call Preva Dental today or book an appointment online.