Here’s a question, if two people were standing in front of you, and one had yellow stained teeth, while the other had sparkling white teeth, who would you prefer looking at, in a normal day to day scenario? The answer may or may not be, the person with the whiter looking teeth, however on many occasions, it would be preferred. Therefore, a lot of practices help people with services that can get their teeth cleaned and whiter within a few hours, for many reasons.
Did you know that generally, any food types that can stain your clothes, can do the same to your teeth? We’re talking about things such as red wine, chocolates, dark sauces, balsamic vinegar, grapes, blueberries, beets, and the list included on this website. There are many reasons as to why teeth get stained, it could be obvious ones such as smoking, drinking tea, and coffee often, or it could be health-related. There are two main types namely intrinsic and extrinsic.
Extrinsic stains are the ones that usually affect the surface of the enamel and can be corrected or removed completely. This is caused by chewing tobacco, smoking it, teas, and coffees, as mentioned above.
All those above-mentioned foods are typically high in what’s called “chromogens”, which produce a pigment that can easily stick to your tooth enamel. Another way they can stain them is by eroding the top layer, or enamel. This is usually caused by things that contain acid in them or carbonated drinks. When this protective layer is no more available it can easily allow any substance to leach onto it.
Tannin in teas is also responsible for this and if diluted with milk, chances are less likely of staining because the protein in milk can bind to the tannin making it less susceptible to staying in your mouth and on the surface. Of course, for a tea lover, this can be a good and bad thing, as tea has benefits to health.
Overall, we have heard it a thousand times, don’t just brush, also floss and use mouthwash if you don’t have time. not going for regular check-ups can also be a leading cause of bad teeth or discolored ones due to plaque build-up.
What Chemicals Can Affect Your Teeth
As mentioned above there are extrinsic means and intrinsic means. In the second one, intrinsic ways have to do with the inner structure of the tooth or teeth which are referred to as “dentin”. This can sometimes make discoloration a difficult process to get rid of.
Did you know that even some medications can lead to this? Antibiotics for children of the age of 8 years and younger, such as doxycycline and tetracycline, when taken during their developing stages, can have a diverse effect and make their teeth turn a brownish-yellow tint. This can also take effect on the child if a woman is breastfeeding and taking any of these antibiotics.
Another thing to look out for is – Chlorhexidine. This is a chemical often found in prescription-strength mouthwash for adults given to them to help in reducing any gingivitis and possible bacteria in the mouth that causes inflamed gums, can cause brown discolorations on teeth.
Having looked at this, what are our options of getting our pearly whites back to being…well, pearly white? We look at a few below.
Professional Teeth Whitening Options. This is the more permanent type and is typically done at the practice by a professional dentist or dental practitioner. Check this site or sites like it to get more information: https://bilottidds.com/dentist-jacksonville-fl/teeth-whitening/. In comparison to its predecessor, these use a much stronger agent to make sure it is done properly and lasts a long time. For instance, it may use a 30% peroxide grade compared to the 5-10% in the home kits. Highly recommended for stubborn stains.
It contains fewer risks and is a comfortable process, that leaves you feeling fresh, as sometimes the agent used has a mint flavor to it. This is one of the safest alternatives when being done by an expert and you get your money’s worth as well. The additional bonus is that once you reach your desired shade, the dentist will give you your take-home kit to maintain it before you go back after a couple of months if need be.
DIY Option: At-Home Teeth Whitening. So, you have the option of doing it at home, which to some is fine but others don’t have the patience for it. It all boils down to personal preference. It is however a more affordable, convenient, and easy way to do it, but it’s temporary. Done by using gel strips, whitening toothpaste, or “whitening trays” and easily purchased from dentists’ practices and even your local pharmacy, this can be used for most mild cases of discoloration.
There is a tendency of over-bleaching with this one. So, one needs to be careful when using it and for how long they keep it on for, for instance in the case of the tray. You cannot however use this treatment if you have active cavities or are undergoing any treatment at your dentist. Overusing these types of products can harm your gums and tooth enamel too. Before starting to use them, it may be best to consult your dental practitioner.
If you wondering about any side effects, the most common ones include the sensitivity of the teeth and sometimes a slight irritation of the soft tissue. Peroxide on the gums can sometimes feel cold and sensitive for some people. But this disappears over time and does not do any harm to your mouth. Regarding the soft tissue, the exposure of teeth whitening may make them slightly sensitive as well, but again, this will also go away in a short time.
As with all things, if it is your first time attempting to whiten your smileys, asking an expert on how it’s done will save you a lot of hassles, time, and money in the long-run. Good maintenance of your mouth is key to a healthy life. What many people do not know is that your teeth can cause various irreversible health issues such as the ones labeled on this site.
