A bright smile is considered the cornerstone of a perfect smile. For many people, white teeth are associated with good oral health and many people opt for teeth whitening treatments.
Although your teeth can be healthy without being extremely white, many people still place a lot of importance on the cosmetic appearance of the teeth. Professional and over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments can significantly improve the whiteness of your teeth by several shades.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Professional teeth whitening treatments can be administered in-office or with an at-home system. Depending on your specific oral health and cosmetic dentistry goals, your dentist can make the best recommendation for your treatment. For the most part, patients can use a customized at-home system to whiten their teeth.
Using the at-home system is easy. Your teeth whitening treatment process will start with the creation of a customized tray for your teeth, somewhat like a mouth guard. Then, you will be given professional-strength teeth whitening gel that you use with the at-home system.
The customized tray for your teeth will hold the whitening gel against your tooth enamel to gradually lift stains. You will have instructions for how many times you should use this at-home system to achieve optimal results.
Over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments are typically easy to use as well. While they are less customizable than professional treatment, you can still achieve great results.
How Fast Does Teeth Whitening Work?
Most patients will be able to see the results of professional teeth whitening treatments within about 10 to 14 days. Your results may develop more quickly if you have healthy tooth enamel or if your tooth discoloration is relatively minor.
If you need to lift the shade of your teeth by several degrees, you may need to wait the full two weeks to see maximum results.
How Long Does Professional Teeth Whitening Last?
The results of professional teeth whitening treatment can last for several years. Most patients enjoy results for one to five years, particularly when patients take good care of their oral health.
It’s possible to extend the effects of your teeth whitening treatments by attending regular dental cleanings, brushing and flossing twice a day, and using mouthwash or toothpaste with whitening ingredients. Over-the-counter whitening treatments may be less effective for long-term results, and treatments may be needed more frequently.
That said, the foods, beverages, and products you consume can shorten the effects of your teeth whitening treatments. Foods and beverages that contain high levels of tannins can stain your teeth.
Using tobacco products such as chewing tobacco and cigarettes can also cause premature staining on your teeth. Cutting back on the consumption of these types of foods and products can help prolong your results.
Can Teeth Whitening Treatments Be Used on Composite Filling?
Some patients may have composite fillings on the surface of the teeth as part of cavity treatment or to correct a chipped or cracked tooth. While composite fillings play an important role in maintaining dental health, the resin material in these fillings can still stain.
However, the ingredients in teeth whitening products, such as whitening strips or professional-strength whitening gels, may weaken the bond between the tooth and the composite filling. Resin also does not respond to hydrogen peroxide whitening the same way natural tooth enamel does.
The only way to brighten a white resin composite filing is to regularly visit the dentist. During your dental cleaning, surface stains can be removed from composite fillings the same way surface stains can be removed from natural tooth enamel.
If you still want to use professional teeth whitening treatments on natural teeth, then you may need to replace composite resin fillings bonded to the surface of the tooth to have a perfectly white smile.
Why Does Tooth Staining Happen?
The enamel of your teeth is highly susceptible to gathering stains over time. The enamel that coats the teeth can soften after being exposed to acids in foods you eat, and as enamel weakens, it is more likely to absorb pigments from food and beverage particles. Over time, this will cause the color of the teeth to darken.
What Foods and Beverages Can Cause Staining?
The most common culprits of tooth staining are beverages such as coffee, tea, wine, and soda. However, the fact is that any food or beverage that contains a high amount of dark tannins can cause stains to build up on your teeth.
Some foods that contain dark tannins include berries, tomato sauces, and most fruit juices, as well as soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, and curry. Even green tea contains tannins that can stain your teeth.
If you plan to use a teeth whitening treatment, limit your consumption of foods and beverages that contain a high level of dark tannins.
Can Medications or Medical Conditions Cause Staining?
Some medications are associated with tooth discoloration, such as certain antipsychotics, antidepressants, and antihistamines. Chemotherapy and radiation of the head and neck for cancer treatment are also linked to tooth discoloration.
Furthermore, medical conditions such as calcium deficiency, eating disorders, liver disease, and celiac disease may make tooth discoloration more likely, even for patients who have good oral health habits.
Does Poor Oral Health Cause Tooth Discoloration?
Poor oral health is often closely linked to tooth discoloration, but not always. When the enamel of your teeth is strong, your teeth are far less likely to be stained by the foods and beverages you consume.
Tooth enamel does tend to weaken when oral hygiene is poor. This is because plaque buildup on the teeth can weaken the enamel layer over time, which then allows tannins to stain your teeth.
The best way to keep your enamel strong is to brush and floss your teeth twice a day, preferably with dental hygiene products that contain minerals such as fluoride.
Does Tooth Discoloration Always Mean Tooth Decay?
Most tooth discoloration is benign. In the early stages, tooth discoloration attributed to food and beverage consumption is simply a sign that your tooth enamel is absorbing pigments from foods and drinks. Severe tooth discoloration, like your teeth turning dark brown, could be a sign that tooth decay is imminent.
When your tooth discoloration darkens from yellowish to colors such as gray or black, this is a sign that tooth decay has set into the tooth. The only way to address tooth decay is to remove and fill cavities to prevent decay from worsening. A dentist will be able to determine whether your tooth discoloration is superficial or linked to oral health problems.
How Is Aging Linked to Tooth Discoloration?
Many people will experience yellowing teeth as they get older. Even if you have had good oral health your entire life, your teeth can still be yellow from age. This is because the enamel wears down with time and the underlying layers of the tooth, the dentin, will show through. Dentin is an off-white or yellowish color.
While most tooth discoloration is only a cosmetic concern, it’s still a good idea to attend regular dental cleanings to ensure your teeth are in good condition. Professional and over-the-counter teeth whitening treatments can produce results quickly and last for a long time. You can maintain your results with good oral hygiene and by cutting down on your consumption of tannin-rich foods and beverages.
Are You Suffering With A Toothache In The Martinsburg Area?
If you are suffering with a toothache you should speak with an experienced dentist as soon as possible. Please feel free to contact us online or call our Martinsburg, West Virginia dental office directly at 304.267.6059 to schedule your appointment. We provide a wide range of general dentistry care as well as more involved dentistry services for patients throughout the Martinsburg area and look forward to you joining the Cornerstone Dental family.
