Teeth Whitening

What causes teeth to become discoloured?

Unfortunately there are tons of things that may cause tooth discolouration. Some are straightforward to avoid, but many are certain. For smokers, the answer’s reasonably obvious - nicotine stains teeth and damages gums - prevention beats treatment in this situation. Give it up before it’s too late, or your may finish up at the dentist undergoing way more than minor treatment.

Harder to give up for some people are the pepping-up caffeinated drinks : coffee, tea and colas. The damage is more subtle and it might take years before you notice any effects at all - but cutting down on these drinks can stop the problem from worsening. Dark food and drinks, such as red wine, blackcurrant and black coffee can also cause teeth to become discolored.

One of the most certain reasons for changes in tooth colour is time itself. The layer under the enamel on a tooth, called dentin, gradually gets darker with age. Sometimes too the antibiotics we took as a kid, or an accident that ‘traumatized’ the tooth - causing the root to ‘die’ - causes discolouration. An unfortunate side-effect of Root Canal therapy is the darkening of a tooth.

Can Anything Be Done To Reverse Tooth Discoloration?

Over half the population are unsatisfied with the colour of their teeth and the good stories is there are a range of dental treatments available that can make a big difference. 4 of the most typical remedies are Bonding, Tooth bleaching, Veneers and Caps or Crowns.

Dental bonding is a straightforward method using resin on teeth. Bonding will lighten the any stains and cover any flaws with a thin plastic coating. It will last for 7-10 years.

Tooth lightening is barely more controversial, as over-the-counter solutions are unproven and often ineffective. Professional dental preparations are safe and will make a big difference. It’s a mild bleaching process that removes stains and restores teeth to their original colour. Most people will see an improvement after the first treatment and after 2-4 weeks, your teeth will be a healthy natural colour.

Dental Veneers are another well-liked dental treatment for bleaching teeth. They’re custom-made porcelain facings that are glued directly to the surface of your tooth. They’re just one millimetre thick and the first tooth is ’shaved’ by the equivalent amount so you wont notice any difference to the thickness of your tooth. Veneers are terribly resistant to marking, which is an advantage over porous bonding, but they’ll typically cost double what bonding costs per tooth.

Since the arrival of veneers, caps and crowns are used less often to boost the appearance of teeth, but the extra coverage and strength a crown gives is beneficial in a number of cases. The entire tooth above the gum-line is covered and the crown becomes, actually the new surface of the tooth. Crowns are typically a touch more expensive than veneers.