Did you wake up on the wrong side of bed today? Had a fight with your loved one? Got crushed in that packed morning commute? Well that’s a lot of reasons to plaster a groan across your face. Sometimes you can’t help it but feel low throughout the day. You can afford to feel low once in a while, but when it comes to a trivial reason like stained teeth you don’t have to compromise on your smile.
Teeth are something that most people take for granted. You might think that your teeth are safe with constant brushing and flossing. However, it might start discoloring and eventually lose its gleam in the long run. Teeth whitening treatments can help you get back those whiter teeth.
What makes your teeth lose its gleam?
Your teeth might start discoloring due to many factors. These factors are classified under two main categories called extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration. Extrinsic discoloration is the most common type of stain that can be easily corrected. You can overcome this through a teeth whitening treatment.
- Extrinsic teeth discoloration
This is mainly caused by food, beverages, and inadequate dental care. Food, like black tea and coffee, dark-colored beets, chocolates, wine, and more can lead to staining of teeth. Smoking is also considered a major reason for teeth discoloration. All these factors might create acid accumulation in your mouth and make your enamel more vulnerable to staining.
You can easily avoid this extrinsic stain by brushing your teeth after eating sticky food. Make sure you brush and floss your teeth twice daily. If you have high acidity in your mouth, start chewing sugar-free gums to neutralize the acidity. Consume food rich in fiber to reduce acidity in your mouth.
If you already spot staining in your teeth, try at-home whitening methods or seek professional dental help. Baking soda is known to have a bleaching effect on your teeth, but don’t use it regularly because it corrodes your gums and teeth. Go for a teeth whitening treatment to wade away stains.
- Intrinsic teeth discoloration
Unfortunately, you can’t get rid of some types of teeth discoloration. These stains might be from a genetic disorder or might sprout right from your childhood. This type of staining is called intrinsic discoloration. Certain medications or trauma in the tooth from a fall or any other injury can also trigger this discoloration. It can also occur due to calcium deficiency or excessive exposure to fluoride. Some types of intrinsic stains can also be removed with teeth whitening treatments.
Teeth whitening can revive your smile
Does the mirror tell you that your teeth need bleaching?
If yes, then you ought to know about teeth whitening procedures. Generally, the whitening procedure is done in two ways – vital and non-vital whitening.
Vital whitening is performed on teeth with live nerve endings. Sometimes, you would have undergone a root canal treatment without a live nerve in place. In such cases, you can chose to take up non-vital teeth whitening.
- Vital teeth whitening
This procedure is generally done by applying a hydrogen peroxide gel to your teeth and exposing it to laser light to activate the lightening process. The dentist usually monitors this process making sure that the stains are removed. Depending on the severity of discoloration, the procedure lasts up to 30 minutes to 1 hour. This process can be done once or multiple times, until you get the desired result. Make sure you visit a trained dentist and get your teeth whitened.
- Non-vital teeth whitening
This process is done on the tooth that has no nerve endings. When you undergo a root canal treatment, the nerve endings in the root are sealed off. If you want to go for teeth whitening, choose the non-vital whitening method. Here, the dentist places a whitening agent inside your tooth and allows it to rest for several days. After a few days, you’ll witness a considerable change in the color of your teeth. The whitening agent can be removed and refilled a few times during this treatment until the desired color is achieved.
Follow-up care after a whitening treatment
Tooth whitening is a simple procedure, but it still requires follow-up care. If you witness any noticeable swelling or pain in your gums or teeth, visit your dentist immediately. Sometimes, the teeth whitening gel might create an allergic reaction and leads to gums soreness. It’s perfectly normal to feel some gum irritation and sensitivity in your teeth after the whitening procedure; this subsides within a week.
If you don’t take proper precautions after whitening, the stains might come back. Smoking, alcohol, and consuming tooth-staining products will eventually end up discoloring your teeth. Make sure you brush and floss your teeth regularly even after whitening to save your teeth from staining.
A good smile is all you need to cheer up your day. Ensure your dental health to hold that smile across your face. After all, nothing is more important than your health and happiness. Stop worrying about your stained teeth and get it whitened!
