What causes teeth discoloration?
No one naturally has perfectly white teeth, and it’s normal to experience teeth discoloration. The hard outer layer of your teeth, called enamel, can become discolored for many different reasons, such as:
Genetics
Some people are genetically predisposed to darker teeth.
Aging
As you age, your tooth enamel gradually gets worn away from use. Below the enamel lays the dentin, which is naturally yellow. Also as you age, the tooth creates more dentin, decreasing the size of the pulp and making your teeth less translucent.
Trauma
In children, trauma from an injury like a fall can disturb the formation of tooth enamel and discolor their tooth. In adults, an injury sometimes causes tooth death. The first sign of tooth death is usually discoloration ranging from yellow to brown or gray to black.
Food and drink
Your teeth can become stained if you expose them to certain foods and drinks, like red wine, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and certain fruits and vegetables.
Tobacco use
The nicotine and tar in tobacco typically stain teeth.
Poor hygiene
If you don’t observe good hygiene practices, like regular brushing and flossing, you give plaque the opportunity to grow, and let stains from food and drink build up.
In addition, overexposure to fluoride, certain diseases, and some medications can cause teeth discoloration.
How can I get whiter teeth?
Christina P. Mason, DDS, Inc. offers two proven and painless teeth whitening treatments, chairside whitening and take-home whitening:
Chairside whitening
If you want professional teeth whitening that you can sit back, relax, and enjoy, consider chairside whitening. During this in-office treatment, your team uses LED blue light in conjunction with a whitening agent to powerfully brighten your teeth.
Blue light emits energy that speeds up and amplifies the whitening process. Unlike UV light teeth whitening, blue light doesn’t heat your teeth and poses no risk to your health.
Take-home whitening
If you prefer to gradually whiten your teeth at home, or if you’d like to create an even brighter smile at home, your team can give take-home trays. You can use these alone or after an in-office teeth whitening session.
Dr. Mason and her team custom make your trays so that they perfectly contour your teeth. To whiten your teeth, you fill the trays with a whitening agent, and use them per Dr. Mason’s instructions.
How long does teeth whitening take?
Chairside teeth whitening treatment usually takes between 30 minutes and one hour, after which your teeth are a few to several shades brighter, depending on the level of whitening you chose.
To achieve teeth whitening at home, expect to commit about two weeks of your time to treatment.
Do you dream of a gleaming smile? If so, let Christina P. Mason, DDS, Inc. provide you with safe, comfortable, and effective teeth whitening. Schedule your visit with the team online or over the phone today.
