Although teeth usually start out dazzling white, things like diet, age, and bad oral habits can all change their color over time, and unfortunately, regular maintenance like brushing and flossing may not always go far enough to prevent it. If your smile looks a little dull and dingy, it’s time to stop covering your mouth with your hands. Here’s a closer examination of the different types of tooth stains and what your dentist can do to remove them!
The Different Types of Tooth Stains
Although they may all look the same on your teeth, there are three different types of tooth stains that your smile can experience:
Intrinsic Stains: These occur below the surface of your teeth, when darkly pigmented foods and beverages infiltrate the tiny pores in the enamel and take up residence inside.
Extrinsic Stains: These surface stains are usually caused by bad oral habits like smoking and drinking dark beverages like coffee or red wine. Although they can sometimes be removed with regular brushing, they may also discolor the buildup on your teeth that can only be removed at your dental cleaning – highlighting the importance of those six-month visits!
Age-Related Stains: Age-related stains can be a mixture of both intrinsic and extrinsic. They develop when your dentin (the layer of tooth below the enamel) yellows with time. Then, as the enamel gets thinner as you age, the dentin becomes more visible and mixes with the other types of stains, changing the entire tone of your teeth!
How Can My Dentist Remove Tooth Stains?
The teeth-whitening industry grosses a staggering 2 billion dollars a year, which is easy to understand when you consider how easy it is to discolor your smile- and how hard it can be to get that gorgeous, glowing white back. The good news is that your cosmetic dentist can help in this pursuit. Here are a few popular options:
In-Office Professional Whitening: In about one hour, your dentist can use professional grade chemicals to remove up to eight shades of discoloration from your smile. The results are permanent, but your teeth can become re-stained. Thankfully, you can always return for touch-ups every six months or so if you’d like!
Take-Home Whitening Kits: Only available from a dentist, these convenient take-home kits come with custom trays and a personalized blend of whitening chemicals. With this treatment, you can experience up to eight shades of stain removal in about two weeks, all from the comfort of your own home, or anywhere else that’s convenient! Plus, your trays are yours to reuse over and over again with refills from your dentist.
Veneers: Do you want to change more than just the shade of your smile? Veneers can improve the shape, size, spacing and color of your teeth for up to 20 years with proper care!
Cosmetic Dental Bonding: Cosmetic bonding uses the same, durable, lifelike materials your dentist uses to create tooth-colored fillings to repair chips, uneven wear, gaps, and even deep stains on the teeth. This treatment is totally painless, can be done in under an hour, and with proper care could last up to five years.
Remember, when your smile isn’t as white and bright as you’d like, there’s no need to hide your gorgeous grin from the world. Talk to your dentist today about your whitening options and get the stunning smile you deserve no matter what discolored it in the first place!
About Our Practice
At Salt Run Family Dentistry, Dr. Leth and Dr. Dunn are pleased to offer a variety of cosmetic dentistry treatments to give you that bright, white smile you’ve been missing. If you’re ready to remove up to eight shades of dental discoloration in as little as an hour, contact us today on our website or by calling 904-824-3540 and schedule a cosmetic dentistry consultation to learn more about how we can help brighten your gorgeous grin!