Teeth whitening is a simple and highly effective way to drastically improve the look of your smile. If you have stains on your teeth from foods or beverages, whitening can greatly reduce their appearance and restore your smile to its natural brilliance.
Choosing Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is used almost exclusively on the front teeth, since these are the most visible. If you feel your front teeth look discolored or dingy, whitening is the easiest and most straightforward way to return them to their natural whiteness. However, whitening works best on stains that exist only on the surfaces of the teeth.
The most common causes of this type of staining are foods, beverages, and other staining agents we encounter every day. These include:
- Coffee
- Tea
- Tobacco
- Fruit juices
- Other foods with strong colors
Whitening treatment administered by our cosmetic dentist will often greatly reduce the appearance of this type of stain, lightening the teeth anywhere from five to ten shades.
Treatment is administered in the dental office, where our cosmetic dentist applies a professional-strength whitening agent to the tooth surfaces. The whitener is left for about twenty minutes, then removed and reapplied. After your full, one-hour treatment, your teeth will already look whiter, but over the next few days, you’ll se the full effects of the treatment.
When Is Teeth Whitening Not as Effective?
Some discoloration on the teeth is not caused by foods or beverages, but is actually part of the tooth material. This kind of staining, called intrinsic staining, is difficult to treat and usually doesn’t respond well to whitening treatments. This type of staining is usually caused by exposure to certain types of medication or by damage to the tooth. Our cosmetic dentist can suggest the best treatment for this type of discoloration. This might require treatment like dental veneers.
Whitening is also not very effective on back teeth, and so is usually limited to the front teeth. If you have questions about how to treat your discolored teeth, consult with our cosmetic dentist.
Call the office of Kelli Slate DDS at (214) 821-8639 and set up your appointment today.