How to Brighten Your Smile With Teeth Whitening Options?
We all aspire to have an attractive smile that allows us to live confidently. Unfortunately, many people still end up with yellow teeth despite practicing good dental hygiene throughout their lives. So what causes dental stains, and which whitening options are available? We are going to discuss that and more in this article.
What Causes Teeth Discolorations and Stains?
There are so many factors that contribute to teeth discolorations. Below are common causes of dental stains:
- Food and Drinks: wine, coffee, tea, and certain fruits can damage your teeth’s white appearance when consumed regularly. The food and drinks we listed release substances that make it conducive for dental stains to develop.
- Tobacco Use: stop or reduce the use of tobacco products. The stimulant has chemicals that can cause your teeth to turn brownish and also affect your general health. Since tobacco use is addictive, talk to a specialist for help on quitting or reducing the amount you are used to consuming regularly.
- Poor Dental Hygiene: apart from preventing dental problems, brushing and flossing your teeth daily is essential in maintaining your teeth’s white appearance. Brushing your teeth helps control the bacteria population in your mouth and removes food particles which if left behind for a while can cause dental stains and cavities.
- Diseases: there are several diseases that may affect the tooth enamel, which is the hard outer layer of the tooth. When that happens, the dentin situated underneath can become more exposed, causing your teeth to appear more yellow in color. Treatment for diseases like cancer uses chemotherapy which, when applied to the neck, causes teeth discoloration.
- Aging: as we age, many of us would have used our teeth for an extended period meaning causing our teeth to wear. As a result, most of the outer layer of our teeth would have been worn, thus exposing the dentin, which is yellowish in appearance.
The examples above show that some causes of dental staining and discolorations are preventable and treatable. If you aren’t sure what caused your dental stains, visit our dentist in Magnolia, TX, for a diagnosis and treatment.
Types of Teeth Whitening Available
Various products claim to offer the best form of teeth whitening available. Out of the options available, some can be bought over the counter in nearby stores, while others have to be issued by a dentist during in-office teeth whitening. We recommend in-office teeth whitening over over-the-counter teeth whitening options since it provides better cosmetic results and is safer. Below are examples of teeth whitening options in case you plan to undergo teeth whitening near you:
- Professional Teeth Whitening
This is the most common type of teeth whitening. Among the other available methods, this is the more popular as it yields the best cosmetic results. The whitening mode is best suited for patients with intrinsic stains and discolorations, which are difficult to remove via other whitening methods. When you go for professional teeth whitening in Magnolia, TX, your dentist will use a highly concentrated form of hydrogen peroxide and other dental bleaching agents to remove all your dental stains for a brighter smile. The entire procedure will be done safely and will have no side effects.
- Only Gel Teeth Whitening
Only-gel teeth whitening is not very popular, and only a few dentists are still performing it because it’s not as efficient as other teeth whitening options. It is similar to modern teeth bleaching options, only that it uses whitening gel instead of laser lights or heat. There are many manufacturers of dental whitening gel, but only a few yield good results once treatment is over. If you are considering this form of teeth whitening, ensure you talk to your dentist first so they may recommend the best whitening gel for the best cosmetic results.
- Laser Assisted Dental Whitening
Laser-assisted dental whitening is one of the most common types of dental whitening. It is done in-office by skilled dentists and yields good cosmetic results as it utilizes the latest dental whitening technology. There are various types of laser-assisted whitening, but all have been tested and proven effective. Not all dental clinics offer this form of dental whitening, so ensure you check in with a dental clinic near you to inquire about the treatment.
- Home Whitening Trays and Strips
Home whitening trays and strips are a few examples of popular at-home teeth whitening products currently available. You can easily purchase the home-whitening products from drugstores and supermarkets near you to use at home. They come with DIY instructions and contain bleaching agents but in small amounts, so they might not yield the best results against tough dental stains.
How do Dentists Recommend Teeth Whitening?
The best thing about in-office teeth whitening is that it allows your dentist to inspect your mouth and recommend the best treatment. Your dentist will check your teeth for stains and analyze them to see if they are intrinsic or extrinsic. After diagnosis, your dentist will use those findings to choose a suitable whitening option.
Conclusion
There are various teeth whitening options available. Unfortunately, some of the whitening options don’t work for everyone. For example, at-home teeth whitening products work best when used to remove teeth discolorations and are ineffective against tough dental stains. Visit Tamborello Dentistry for the best teeth whitening. We always make a diagnosis before treatment to ensure we give the best treatments as per our patients’ dental needs.