One of the most sought dental procedures is certainly teeth whitening. As you know, our teeth tend to get darker as we grow older, and this is can be due many different reasons. Likewise, our teeth give strong first impressions, either it is for a job interview, or for meeting new people. It shows that we care about our health and that we have everything in order.
For this article, we will be talking about what makes our teeth stain, how a teeth whitening can help whiten them, and some tips to keep our teeth from staining.
What makes our teeth stain?
There are many reasons why our teeth may stain. Los Algodones dentists have told us extensively how it can have a wide array of causes such as food, age, or even genetics!
The most common causes for teeth to not be as white as they were are the following:
- Our diet has strong pigments in food. There are certain foods and drinks, such as coffee, dark sodas, tea, and even pasta sauce that can stain our teeth. The pigments get absorbed into our tooth enamel which will mark the difference in the long run.
- Smoking and use of tobacco products. Cigars, cigarettes, and chewing tobacco are not only causes for cancer and bad breath, but also for tooth staining. As it is with food, the components in the smoke get absorbed into our tooth enamel, giving it a darker color.
- Trauma. A hard blow on the teeth can damage it, making it have a different color than the others.
- Certain medicaments. These can vary, but some examples are: high blood pressure medications, antihistamines, and some antipsychotic medications.
- Age. As we grow older, it is normal that for our tooth enamel to grow thinner, making the yellowish dentin’s color underneath show up more.
- Genetics. Sometimes genetics plays its role and we get not only a thinner tooth enamel, but also a darker dentin.
How does teeth whitening work?
In order to properly tackle this subject, we have to know that there are different types of stains on our teeth.
There are superficial stains, called extrinsic, that only affect the surface of the tooth enamel. These stains are typically the most common and easier to remove. Then we have stains that go beyond towards the dentin, called intrinsic stains, which can be caused by antibiotics during early years, or even trauma or too much fluoride. And lastly, we have stains due age, where our dentin naturally gets darker, while also our tooth enamel thins, making it easier to spot the dentin’s color.
Whitening teeth with treatment
Now, when it comes to bleaching our teeth either through toothpaste or teeth whitening treatment, it is important to know that these work for surface stains. Many people use bleaching gels and whitening trays as possible OTC options in pharmacies. Though if you wish for faster results, it is better to head to the dental office!
And then, when it comes to age-related and intrinsic stains, there are other options available. For these cases veneers and even crowns can be used in order to bring the shiny back to our precious pearly whites. These procedures seeks to enhance and correct small imperfections on our teeth.
Keeping your teeth from staining
Preventing stains from developing to our teeth is a good way to keep them white and healthy. Our dentists in Los Algodones always suggest to partake in good dental habits, as they are important for both our health and body.
- Brush twice and floss once a day. This ensures that no plaque and tartar accumulate within our teeth.
- Drink plenty of water. Keeping our saliva productions optima l is essential for dental health. It also helps against dry mouth.
- Visit a dentist twice a year. Getting checked up by a professional keeps our body away from problems that we might not notice. A dentist is also able to track and record how our mouth evolves and changes throughout the years.