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A beautiful bright white smile is highly desirable and has never been easier to attain. However, if your teeth are looking dingy and discolored and you are thinking about whitening them, it’s important to understand what can cause stains and which products might best suit your needs.
The first thing to understand is the different types of tooth stains, as this affects the way you can whiten your teeth.
There are three different types of tooth stains, which are:
- Extrinsic stains.
- Intrinsic stains.
- Tooth stains due to aging.
1. Extrinsic Stains
These tooth stains are external or extrinsic, meaning they affect your tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of the tooth that protects it. Usually, external staining is caused by lifestyle factors that expose your teeth to staining agents.
Foods that stain can include dark or deeply colored foods like curries and berries. Beverages such as tea, coffee and red wine can also stain your teeth.
If you smoke, your teeth will likely become yellowed. This is due to the nicotine in tobacco products that can penetrate tooth enamel easily.
2. Intrinsic Stains
These stains are found on the inside or internal parts of the tooth, underneath your tooth enamel, so they can affect the dentin or even be due to the dental pulp discoloration within the tooth’s center.
Typical causes of intrinsic stains include antibiotic usage during childhood while teeth are still developing. An old root canal can discolor. If you have a large amalgam filling in a tooth, then this can discolor with age, affecting the surrounding tooth structure.
It can also be due to dental fluorosis, where teeth are exposed to an excess of fluoride during childhood, causing brown or white stains to develop. Although dental fluorosis is harmless, it can look unsightly and is often due to drinking well water where fluoride levels are less likely to be known or regulated. In contrast, fluoride levels in public water supplies are continually tested and tightly regulated.
3. Tooth Stains Due to Aging
When you are young, your teeth are covered by quite a thick layer of tooth enamel, which is quite opaque, making your teeth look whiter. This is perhaps why we often associate whiter teeth with youthfulness.
As you get older, your tooth enamel gradually becomes thinner. This is due to enamel erosion that occurs when your teeth are exposed to acids. These acids are found in foods and beverages. They are also produced by bacteria found in dental plaque.
The acids gradually erode and weaken enamel, making it thinner. As it thins, more of the natural tooth color underneath is exposed. This tooth color is in the dentin. At the same time, exposure to staining foods and beverages or smoking can also stain your enamel.
Another reason why tooth enamel can become thinner is brushing your teeth too hard. If you use a hard-bristled toothbrush or scrub your teeth, you can literally wear down your enamel. Dentists always recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and gentle pressure, as when you use the right techniques, this is adequate to clean teeth thoroughly.
How to Identify What Has Caused Your Tooth Staining
The only way to find out for sure is to visit your dentist. They can assess your teeth and general dental health and determine why your teeth have stained and what caused it.
Discovering If You Are Suitable for Teeth Whitening
Your dentist can assess if you are suitable for teeth whitening, and whether your teeth must be whitened extrinsically or intrinsically. You may be less suitable for teeth whitening if you have any cavities, untreated gum disease, or other dental issues.
Also, bear in mind that any dental restorations like crowns, bridges, veneers, or white fillings will not change color during any whitening process. Instead, you may need to budget to replace these restorations after whitening your teeth.
Teeth Whitening Options
Extrinsic stains can be lifted using whitening products containing hydrogen peroxide or bleach. The bleach can penetrate tooth enamel, breaking down the molecules causing staining and lifting the overall color of your teeth.
However, you must use whitening products properly. Overusing these products could irritate your teeth and gums and cause irreparable damage. At the very least, they can cause tooth sensitivity and discomfort.
Over-The-Counter Products
You can purchase plenty of products over-the-counter or online, including whitening strips, whitening toothpaste, and mouthwash. It’s important to follow their directions closely and not to overuse these products or leave them on your teeth too long.
Overusing these products will not make your teeth any whiter. Instead, they could start to look gray and lifeless.
Products like whitening toothpaste and mouthwash will typically contain low levels of hydrogen peroxide and are only in contact with your teeth for a limited time. Therefore, they are unlikely to change the overall color of your teeth significantly.
Why Whiten Your Teeth Professionally?
Although there are plenty of over-the-counter whitening options available, it’s better to ask your dentist about professional teeth whitening.
A professional teeth whitening treatment is performed under the supervision of a dentist using products they have prescribed, which will whiten teeth safely and effectively.
Your dentist can whiten teeth in their office, a treatment that will typically take an hour, or you can purchase a custom-made home whitening kit. Some people use both treatments to attain maximum results.
Before you have a whitening treatment, it’s a great idea to have a hygiene appointment first. This will remove all plaque and tartar buildup and help ensure the whitening agents can penetrate tooth enamel more easily and effectively.
In-Office Teeth Whitening
Treatment is entirely painless, as your dentist will use professional-strength whitening gel that likely contains agents to reduce tooth sensitivity and fluoride to strengthen and protect tooth enamel.
After protecting your lips and gums, your teeth are painted with the whitening gel, and it is light-activated. This helps the gel to penetrate tooth enamel more easily and quickly. The gel may be removed and reapplied several times during your treatment to achieve maximum results.
Read more: How Long Does Teeth Whitening Last?
Custom Home Whitening Kit
A custom kit typically contains whitening trays made to fit over your teeth. Your dentist will prescribe carbamide peroxide in the correct strength for your teeth. Carbamide peroxide is a more stable form of hydrogen peroxide, so it is very safe for home use. All you need do is fill the trays as shown by your dentist and wear them for several hours daily or even overnight.
Treatment takes a couple of weeks to complete, but you will be able to reuse the trays when you need to top up the results.
Treating Intrinsic Stains
If you have some teeth that are internally stained, your dentist will discuss suitable ways to bleach them internally or else cover them entirely. Sometimes it may be better to cover a tooth with a porcelain or composite veneer, especially if the tooth is worn, damaged, or not quite the right shape or size.
Covering the tooth with a veneer ensures it will be the right color, shape, and size so it looks more aesthetically pleasing.
Related article: Veneers Vs Caps (Crowns) – What’s the Difference?
Extrinsic stains respond to peroxide-based whitening. Intrinsic stains and enamel thinning from aging usually need a different approach, from internal bleaching to a porcelain veneer. A dentist at VITAdent’s dental clinic in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn can identify your stain type and recommend the right treatment. Schedule a consultation today to find out which whitening option is right for your smile.