Why Do Teeth Become Discolored?

In a perfect world, your teeth would stay the same color for the rest of your life. In reality, though, there are plenty of factors that can leave you with a darker or yellowed smile. For example:

• If you drink coffee every day or regularly consume dark-colored foods and beverages (such as blueberries or cola), the particles they leave behind can penetrate the teeth and leave stains.
• Using any kind of tobacco tends to darken enamel over time.
• Failing to brush and floss every day raises the risk of leaving behind plaque and stain-producing substances.
• Tooth decay creates small holes in the teeth that can take on a darker appearance.
• Chemotherapy, head and neck radiation, and other treatments can end up changing tooth color as a side effect.
• Tetracycline and other medications leave severe stains in the teeth when taken by children with still-developing smiles.
• As you get older, the outer layer of your tooth will simply wear away and make the yellow dentin underneath more visible.
• On some occasions, trauma such as a fall or a sudden blow to the mouth can cause discoloration.

Any combination of the above issues can leave your smile looking duller than you might like.

Is Teeth Whitening Right for Me?

Some cases of discoloration are particularly severe, and there can be many different underlying causes. Because of this, whitening is particularly effective in certain situations but may not be as useful in others. Tetracycline stains, for example, might need to be covered with a crown or a veneer instead. That said, professional whitening can definitely be effective for stains above and below the surface of the enamel, including those that conventional products wouldn’t be able to reach.

Before we can begin a whitening procedure, we need to check your teeth. Generally speaking, if you have gum disease, oral cancer, chronically sensitive teeth, or excessively worn-down enamel, the procedure might not be suitable for you. Cavities and gum infections need to be treated before moving forward with a whitening. Also, bear in mind that the treatment will have no effect on a dental restoration such as a crown, a veneer, or a filling.

Benefits of a Professional Teeth Whitening

• A Youthful Appearance: The color of your teeth affects the way other people perceive your age; the whiter they are, the younger you look.
• Increased Confidence: Patients with stained or discolored teeth tend to be embarrassed about how their smile looks, and that hurts their self-image. After whitening, you’ll feel much more comfortable grinning with your mouth open or showing off your teeth while laughing.
• No Preparation Needed: We don’t need to make any drastic changes to the tooth’s structure; in contrast, you might lose some enamel if you have a veneer or crown placed.
• Professional Oversight: Using a do-it-yourself method of whitening can damage your teeth by accident. During a professional treatment, Dr. Song will make sure the process goes as smoothly and safely as possible.
• A Positive Outlook: Having teeth that you’re proud of makes it much easier to smile. The simple act of smiling can immediately lift your mood.

In-Office Teeth Whitening

How long do you think it will take to improve the shade of your teeth? Thanks to our in-office Ultradent power bleaching procedure, it won’t be long before you’re showing off a new and improved smile. After we’ve made a note of the current appearance of your teeth and have made the necessary preparations to keep your mouth safe and comfortable, we will apply a powerful gel filled with hydrogen peroxide. Once the gel is activated, we’ll leave it where it is for a set amount of time. This gives the hydrogen peroxide a chance to penetrate the enamel and start breaking up the molecules that make up various stains that have formed. In-office treatments tend to be completed in 40 to 60 minutes, and the result is a grin that’s multiple shades brighter. Tooth sensitivity is a common side effect, but we can give you tips for managing it until it wears off.

Take-Home Teeth Whitening Kit

Would you rather have the whitening process performed in the comfort of your own home? If you’re comfortable with waiting to attain results, you can ask us about our take-home whitening kits. You can’t find kits like this at the store; they contain a hydrogen peroxide gel that’s stronger than any OTC product. We’ll also include several trays that were created based on an impression of your teeth. (Note that it will take time for a dental lab to make these trays, so the actual whitening process might not start until one or two weeks after impressions are taken.) Once you have your kit, we’ll instruct you on its use. Each day, you’ll wear the gel-filled trays for a certain amount of time. After about two weeks, you should notice significant improvements. We may ask you to return to our dental office for a follow-up appointment so that we can confirm that the treatment was a success.

Teeth Whitening Aftercare

After an in-office whitening, you’ll need to be careful. The enamel will be more porous than usual, so they’ll be more susceptible to staining over the next few days. We strongly recommend that you completely avoid coffee, tea, colas, red wine, berries, and other foods and drinks. Pay close attention to your oral hygiene by flossing daily and brushing regularly. If your teeth are sensitive, be gentle with them; use an anti-sensitivity toothpaste and take ibuprofen or a similar painkiller if you need to. Until your teeth recover, it’s best to stay away from especially hot or cold foods. The discomfort should fade away after just a few days. Call us immediately if it lasts longer than expected or becomes especially severe.

Sometimes a take-home whitening kit is recommended after you complete an in-office treatment. That way, you can touch up the results as needed to keep your teeth gleaming.

What’s the Success Rate for Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening is considered an extremely reliable procedure, having a success rate in at least 90 percent of patients. Of course, said success usually depends on a number of factors. If you fail to practice proper aftercare, your teeth could end up becoming discolored again. Also, it’s important to note that yellow colored teeth respond especially well to whitening treatments while brownish teeth or gray stains might not be brightened as easily. And of course, if you’re using a take-home whitening kit, the success of the treatment depends on how well you stick to the regiment that has been prescribed to you.

Your own expectations need to be considered as well. We can explain to you what the end results will look like. That way you can accurately measure the success of the procedure against the predicted results.

How Long Will the Results Last?

As beautiful as your teeth may be after a whitening procedure, you can only expect the results to last for so long. Even after current stains have been removed, it’s still possible for new stains to form, so be careful of foods and habits that carry a high risk of discoloration. Using your whitening kit or brushing with a whitening toothpaste could help extend the effects; you might also return to our dental office periodically for touch-up treatments. In general, whitening can last for about three years at a time as long as you continue to care for your teeth.

How Can I Avoid Tooth Discoloration in the First Place?

Ideally, you could help your smile maintain its current shade for as long as possible before asking for a whitening treatment. Some discoloration is unavoidable, but there are a few different ways you can protect your teeth from stains. For example:

• After eating or drinking dark-colored food and beverages, brush your teeth or rinse your mouth with water as soon as you can.
• Always use a straw to sip your coffee, soda, juice, or tea. The liquid will slip right past the front surfaces of your teeth, minimizing the amount of staining that occurs.
• Brush, floss, and rinse with mouthwash to keep the teeth free of plaque. (Because plaque is sticky, it gives stain-causing particles a foothold.) On that same note, visit us twice a year for professional cleaning.
• Do not use tobacco at all; it can discolor the teeth no matter if it’s smoked or chewed. If you already use tobacco, look for programs that can help you give it up.

Understanding the Cost of Teeth Whitening

How much will it cost to get a brand-new smile? The price will vary from patient to patient depending on whether an in-office procedure or a take-home whitening kit is used. As time goes on, you’ll also have touch-up treatments to consider. It’s very important to us that you feel comfortable with the care you receive and that you stay within your budget; that’s why we’ll make sure that you completely understand the overall price before you begin the whitening process.