Teeth stains are all but inevitable. Whether caused by the aging process, wine, food or smoking, most people experience tooth discoloration at some point. Fortunately, you can take simple steps to prevent stains and you can erase them with professional teeth whitening at Smile Care.
Professional tooth whitening is the most commonly performed cosmetic dentistry procedure in the country, and for very good reasons: it is much more effective, safer, more comfortable, and less aggravating than whitening with a store-bought kit. If your teeth are stained and you feel uncomfortable with their appearance, our doctors would be happy to discuss your teeth whitening options during your next visit
How to Maintain Your Teeth Whitening Results
Both of the teeth whitening options provided by our cosmetic dentists are designed to be long-lasting. How you care for your teeth after treatment will, however, have a more direct role in the amount of time your results are visible than anything our dentists can do.
Fortunately, maintaining teeth whitening results is relatively easy. In many cases, it doesn’t even require much adjustment to routines you already have in place. You can work towards keeping your teeth bright and beautiful by:
Not smoking, chewing, or otherwise using products with nicotine.
Reducing your intake of coffee, tea, and red wine.
Drinking sodas and sports drinks through a straw.
Reducing your intake of dark foods like berries and sauces.
Washing away stain causers with foods that stimulate saliva production such as apples, strawberries, celery, carrots and pears.
Swishing water in your mouth after eating or drinking so that stain causers don’t sit on your teeth.
In addition to these steps, you can help keep your teeth white by brushing after every meal and snack with a soft-bristled toothbrush and a slightly abrasive toothpaste. Remember, some types of toothpaste can scratch and damage dental restorations. We offer a gentle water-based toothpaste that neutralizes harmful acids, restores lost mineral content, and gently whitens the teeth without abrasives. We would be happy to discuss this option with you during your teeth whitening consultation.
There are two types of tooth stains:
Stains above the enamel (extrinsic)
Stains below the enamel (intrinsic)
Extrinsic stains are caused by lifestyle choices such as tobacco use, frequent consumption of dark-colored foods and beverages, sodas and sports drinks, inadequate brushing, and infrequent dental visits. Under many circumstances, surface stains can be lightened, at least to an extent, through a professional cleaning.
Topical Tooth Whitening Addresses Extrinsic Staining.
Maintaining a strong daily oral hygiene routine can help remove surface tooth staining before it sets. However, habits like daily coffee or soda consumption and using tobacco may render any at-home efforts ineffective. If you smoke, we cannot stress enough the importance of quitting – not just for the appearance of your teeth, but for the health of your mouth. Smokers are at a significantly higher risk for gum disease and oral cancer. Tobacco users are also at higher risk for tooth decay, chronic dry mouth, and relentless halitosis.
Intrinsic stains may be a result of the aging process. They may also be caused by external factors such as excessive fluoride in water (fluorosis), tetracycline and doxycycline, and mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride. Because they are located below the enamel of the teeth, these stains may not respond to topical bleaching.
Deep stains – those that occur beneath the enamel of the teeth – can still be treated and may even respond well to the in-office teeth whitening services offered at our Manhattan location. However, if staining is significant or unlikely to respond to tooth whitening treatments, we will discuss other cosmetic dentistry options that may work better for your needs. The best way to learn if tooth whitening or another service will most enhance your smile is through a one-on-one consultation with Dr. Tabib or Dr. Mello. Call us to set up your consultation today.