Teeth whitening to bring out the brilliance in your smile
Teeth whitening is the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedure. The American Association of Orthodontists reports that almost 90 percent of people visiting the dentist ask for teeth whitening.
At a young age our teeth are healthy white. But overtime the enamel coating the tooth is so slowly worn down. Causing our teeth to become stained and yellow, which is why teeth whitening is become increasingly popular today. There are a few methods for whitening. They include at home and in office. With in office treatments, you will see faster results, receive the safest treatment for bleaching the teeth, and yield the whitest smile. So, don’t settle for teeth that have become stained from years of coffee drinking, tobacco use, or just aging. Ask your dentist about whitening options that may be right you.
Brushing your teeth diligently can keep your smile bright and white; however, if you think your teeth lack their usual sparkle, at Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, in Flower Mound, Texas, we can help you regain your pearly whites.
Causes of Tooth Discoloration
Over time, your teeth can go from pearly white to yellowish or grayish color due to several reasons:
- Dark beverages: Drinks like coffee, red wine, and tea contain intense color pigments that cling to the surface of your enamel and stain it.
- Tobacco: Tobacco contains nicotine and tar. Nicotine turns yellow when mixed with oxygen, and tar is black. These two elements combined can wreak havoc on the color of your teeth.
- Trauma: If your tooth sustains an injury, it can turn grayish or yellowish due to dentin formation.
- Age: As you age, your enamel wears down, and the underlying darker dentin begins to show through.
- Cancer Treatment: Chemotherapy and radiation on cancer patients can also darken their teeth.
- Fluoride: Intrinsic tooth stains can develop due to too much exposure to fluoride in childhood.
- Medication: Childhood exposure to certain drugs like antihistamines, antipsychotics, and antibiotics, including doxycycline and tetracycline, can cause darkened teeth in adult life.
How Teeth Whitening Works
At Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, we can whiten your teeth with dramatic results.
Bleaching removes surface and deep stains on the teeth. Bleaches contain active ingredients like hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide in a range of concentration from 10-22 percent. These whitening agents can make teeth five to seven times brighter.
However, whitening is not a permanent process, and after a year or two, if you continue to consume dark foods, your teeth will become discolored again.
What types of whitening are available?
Our team is pleased to offer several professional-grade whitening options, including:
- DayWhite
- Nite White ACP
- Zoom! In-office bleaching
- Take-home whitening kits
Limitations of Tooth Whitening
Teeth whitening comes with a few limitations:
- The use of peroxides during the procedure can result in inflammation of the pulp, resulting in increased sensitivity. The condition will resolve itself in three to four days.
- The whitening agents can also irritate gums, mainly due to improper application that gets the gels on the gums. If you detect any stinging or burning sensation during the procedure, alert us immediately.
- Children whose mouths contain both primary and adult teeth should avoid getting teeth whitening procedures as it can lead to a mismatched teeth appearance when their adult teeth emerge.
- Whitening can only lighten your tooth to its natural color. For a specific shade of white, we recommend veneers.
- Whitening is ineffective on tooth-colored restorations like fillings, crowns, and veneers.
Every person has a different response to whitening procedures. In some people, a whitening treatment can do wonders; others with yellow, grey or other serious discoloration may require bonding procedures or porcelain veneers to whiten their teeth.
To determine if a whitening treatment is proper for you, call us at Jonathan J. Golab, DDS, PA, in Flower Mound, TX, at (469) 444-2119, and schedule an appointment with Dr. Jonathan Golab today.