It might occur to you one day that your teeth are not as white as they used to be, and that may bother you. If it does, please talk with your Dentist Epping.
Buying an over-the-counter tooth whitening product might seem to be the easiest way to deal with this but it is still best to talk with us first to determine why your teeth are now discoloured.
Teeth colour changes over time for a few reasons, not all of which can be dealt with by an over-the-counter tooth product. We can investigate your situation and advise you of all your options.
The white part of your tooth, the outer enamel, can be stained by the intense colour pigments in some other foods, coffee, tea, and red wine particularly. The tar and nicotine in tobacco can also stain it.
Some discolouration is just a result of getting older. Brushing your teeth over the years wears away the white layer of enamel ever so slowly and reveals the underneath darker layer of dentin. If you had an injury to your mouth at some stage, your teeth might have responded and darkened by producing more dentin too.
Unfortunately, the side effects of some medications can discolour teeth. Some, but not all antihistamines, antipsychotics, and high blood pressure medications do that. Chemotherapy and radiation therapies for the head and neck can also do it. Young children’s teeth form in utero and very early childhood, but if they are exposed to antibiotics then, their adult teeth can be discoloured.
So, what are the options? Your Dentist Epping has these to offer you:
Some kinds of toothpaste contain additional polishing ingredients in addition to their usual abrasive chemicals and thus work on stains more effectively than otherwise.
We can apply bleach to your teeth in a one-off procedure in our surgery after protecting your gums with a gel.
We can set you up to whiten your teeth at home. We’d give you a customised tray to use + the bleach + the instructions about how to do it. It will take more than one application, but you’ll be at home with our guidance.
We can advise you about the best over-the-counter option to purchase to do it yourself.
The dangers?
Teeth whitening can make some people’s teeth sensitive though that is usually only short-term. Your Dentist Epping also encourages you to follow any directions carefully as their overuse can damage tooth enamel and gums.
To find out more, please click this link for an appointment with us:
