What causes tooth discoloration?
The No. 1 cause of tooth discoloration is aging. Over the years, activities like biting and chewing wear the enamel down, revealing more of the yellow dentin underneath.
Other factors that may affect the color of your teeth include:
- Oral trauma
- Drinking beverages with tannins like coffee, red wine, cola, or tea
- Eating foods that stain like berries or tomato-based sauces
- Tobacco use
- Taking medication with tetracycline
You might also develop yellow or stained teeth if you don’t brush and floss daily.
What is teeth whitening?
Teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure that uses medical-grade bleaching solutions to remove stains from the surface of your teeth. There are many whitening treatments available, but almost all of them use peroxide-based gels to brighten the teeth.
Peroxide is harmless and presents no risk of side effects. When applied to your teeth, it oxidizes them by breaking up the stain-causing molecules within the enamel.
What are the types of teeth whitening?
Patrick Ryan, DMD, offers two types of teeth whitening:
In-office supercharged laser bleaching
Supercharged laser bleaching can make your teeth 8-10 shades brighter in a single appointment. During this type of treatment, your provider applies a whitening gel to your teeth.
After it sits for 15-20 minutes, they point a special laser light at them. The laser triggers a bleaching reaction, cutting through years of stains.
Take-home teeth whitening trays
Take-home whitening trays make it easy to brighten your smile at your own pace. Each kit contains two custom mouthpieces and a bottle of bleaching solution. You line the mouthpieces with the bleaching solution and wear them for 3-4 hours at a time, whenever is most convenient.
Are the results of teeth whitening permanent?
The results of teeth whitening aren’t permanent, but they usually last 4-6 months and sometimes longer. To keep your smile bright, Patrick Ryan, DMD, recommends brushing and flossing daily, drinking dark beverages with a straw, and visiting the office two times a year for professional teeth cleaning.
To learn more about teeth cleaning, make an appointment at the practice of Patrick Ryan, DMD, by calling the nearest office or booking online today.
Individual results may vary.
