Have Stained Teeth? Know Your Options
If you currently have teeth that are discolored, it may feel like you are stuck with them like that forever. Whitening kits from your local pharmacy may not have made any noticeable difference. Thankfully, there are some other options when it comes to whitening your teeth.
What Causes Discoloration
It is important to know why your teeth have become discolored so that you can fix it. Stains that are created due to your lifestyle choices, like drinking coffee or smoking, can be fixed by a professional whitening treatment by a dentist. It will be even more effective if you change the specific behaviors that caused your teeth to become stained in the first place.
However, the stain may not be superficial. You may have stains that are permanent due to a few common dental issues. Fluorosis can occur if your teeth have developed a lot of fluoride while they were developing. It often leaves a yellow or brown stain on the teeth, while harmless, can be permanent.
Your prescription medications can also be a reason for discolored teeth. Whitening may be a temporary solution to the problem, but stains will come back if you continue to take the same medication. Speak with your doctor about an alternative medication that may not have the same side effect.
Thin enamel can also lead to darker teeth due to the dentin being more visible. It often leaves the teeth looking brown or yellow in color.
How To Fix Discoloration
Permanent discoloration needs to be addressed in its own way, since using a whitening treatment will not fix the color. Your dentist may recommend dental veneers to cover the discolored surface of the teeth that are visible to others. It works by placing a thin porcelain shell on the front of the teeth, and give them a look and feel as if they were natural teeth. Veneers also help with tooth sensitivity issues, which can be another reason to go with veneers if you are dealing with it.
For stains caused by lifestyle choices, whitening will be a better option. Laser treatments can provide results that are visible the same day you have the treatment done, and is great if you want whiter teeth for a specific event in the near future.
A dentist can also use a peroxide bade whitening solution that is much stronger than the kits you can buy at your local pharmacy. They can even give you whitening trays that you can use at home that will produce better results than over-the-counter kits due to the stronger peroxide.