Have you noticed your smile doesn’t seem as as it used to? There could be signs that your teeth may benefit from a whitening treatment. At Front Street Dental House, we want to help you regain confidence in your smile. Here are some common indicators that it may be time to whiten your teeth.
Discoloration Over Time
It’s natural for teeth to darken slightly as we age due to surface stains from coffee, tea, wine, and other darkly pigmented foods and drinks. The older we get, the more exposure our teeth have to these staining substances. Over many years, the little stains can add up and leave teeth looking dull. Teeth whitening can remove years of accumulated surface stains and restore your radiant smile.
Tobacco Stain
For anyone who uses tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars or chewing tobacco, staining is a common side effect. The tars and chemicals in these products readily stain tooth enamel brownish-grey over time. If you’ve since quit, existing tobacco stains may still dim your smile. Professional teeth whitening is very effective at removing tobacco discoloration that lingers after quitting.
Tetracycline Stains
Taking tetracycline antibiotics as a child can sometimes leave teeth with a permanent yellowish or grey tint. The staining occurs when developing teeth are exposed to these antibiotics. As a result, the discoloration becomes trapped in the tooth structure. Laser whitening treatments may lighten but not completely remove tetracycline stains. Custom bleaching trays can often improve the shade considerably.
Post-Orthodontic staining
Braces, retainers, and other orthodontic appliances can lead to plaque buildup that stains teeth during treatment. After orthodontia, teeth may take on a yellowish hue due to neglected cleaning around brackets and wires. Professional teeth whitening helps to remove surface stains and restore the natural white of your teeth.
Bad Oral Hygiene Habits
If plaque, tartar, and other dental biofilm are consistently allowed to accumulate, it can result in unattractive tooth discoloration over time. Poor oral hygiene habits leave ‘extrinsic stains’ on tooth surfaces that whitening clears up effectively. Getting into a regular routine of brushing, flossing, and dental cleanings helps keep these external stains from forming.
Age-Related Intrinsic Stains
As we grow older, microscopic changes occur inside the tooth structure that can cause a yellowish or grayish tint known as ‘intrinsic stains.’ While they start out invisible to the naked eye, many decades of exposure to staining substances make these internal stains noticeable on the tooth surface. Teeth whitening can still improve the appearance despite the staining inside the tooth.
Excessive Coffee, Tea, Red Wine Consumption
Research shows that daily habits of drinking coffee, tea, red wine and other pigmented beverages increase long-term staining and darkening of the teeth as the compounds become absorbed into the enamel layers. Frequent sipping throughout the day can lead to a measurable increase in intrinsic staining over time. Whitening brings teeth back to a lighter, radiant result.
Teeth Grinding/Clenching Habits
Unconscious clenching and teeth grinding cause microscopic cracks and fissures to develop in the enamel over many years. This makes the tooth structure much more prone to permanently absorbing external staining compounds. While whitening may lighten these discoloured areas, ongoing nocturnal teeth grinding should be addressed with a night guard.
Schedule an Appointment Today
If any of these common causes of staining seem applicable to you, there’s a good chance that whitening can significantly improve the shade of your smile. Contact Front Street Dental House today for a consultation to discuss teeth whitening options. We can evaluate how much improvement may be possible based on the specific source and severity of your staining. Don’t let dull, discoloured teeth hold back your confidence any longer – we’re here to restore your healthier and most radiant smile.