Do you have unsightly yellow teeth? Are white spots on your teeth causing you anxiety? Our Annapolis dental office offers a wide range of teeth whitening techniques. We offer in-office teeth bleaching, teeth whitening at home, and specialized treatment for deep stains on teeth. No matter the issue, Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely and Associates in Annapolis, MD, can help you.
How Do Teeth Become Discolored?
Teeth can become discolored for a variety of reasons. Here are some of the most common causes:
- Foods and Drinks: The things you eat and drink can affect the color of your teeth. Dark-colored beverages like coffee, tea, sodas, and red wine can stain your tooth enamel over time. Certain fruits, like berries, can also leave behind stains.
- Smoking and Tobacco Use: Smoking cigarettes or using other tobacco products is one of the biggest causes of tooth discoloration. Tobacco contains chemicals that stain your teeth, making them look yellow or brown with continued use.
- Medications: Some medications can cause deep stains in your teeth. For example, certain antibiotics like tetracycline, or even everyday medications like antihistamines, can weaken or stain tooth enamel. This can lead to stains over time.
- Aging: As we get older, our teeth naturally lose their bright white color. This happens because the outer layer of enamel wears down, exposing the darker layer of dentin underneath. Even if you follow good oral care, aging can still affect the color of your teeth.
- Injury to the Mouth: If you’ve recently chipped, cracked, or broken a tooth due to an injury, you may notice it looks discolored. This can happen because the tooth is damaged, or blood from the injury may darken the tooth from the inside.
Understanding the causes of tooth discoloration can help you take steps to prevent it. Regular dental visits and good oral hygiene can also keep your smile brighter for longer. If your teeth are discolored, talk to your dentist about treatments like professional cleaning or teeth whitening.
What’s The Best Way to Whiten Teeth?
It is easy to be overwhelmed by the variety of teeth whitening products on the market. From whitening toothpaste to gels and strips, choosing the best method can be challenging. We recommend professional teeth whitening treatments from certified dentists for the safest and most effective results. A dentist has access to professional strength bleaching products.
Your dentist in Annapolis can provide guidance on the best application techniques to protect gums and tooth enamel and prevent tooth sensitivity. Don’t be fooled by the cheap whitening products in retail stores. They only offer temporary results that may even hurt your long-term oral health.
Teeth Whitening For Dark or Yellow Teeth
If you have stained teeth, brown teeth, or yellow teeth, you may benefit from a combination of teeth whitening treatments. We offer Zoom in-office teeth whitening treatment for instant results. Zoom whitening is an excellent way to jump start a teeth whitening regimen if you have significant tooth discoloration. In-office teeth whitening procedures can be followed up with at-home teeth whitening to achieve the desired affects.
To maintain your white smile, avoid dark foods and beverages like coffee, tea and soda. If you do enjoy these beverages, use a straw to prevent the liquid from coming in contact with your tooth enamel. You should also avoid tobacco use, a common cause for stained teeth and yellow teeth.
Treatment for White Spots on Teeth
It may seem contradictory to have white stains on your teeth. However, you may have noticed white spots on your teeth. White spots on teeth are a sign of early tooth decay.
White spots on teeth most often form during orthodontic treatment with metal braces. Food particles and other debris become trapped against the tooth and erode the enamel and tooth structure. Our dentist can easily treat these spots.
Discolored Teeth FAQs
Learn more about discolored teeth in our Annapolis, MD, dental office with answers to these commonly asked patient questions:
Are teeth stains permanent?
Professional stain removal and teeth whitening treatments can remove staining from enamel. However, some stains may be more difficult to remove and require multiple treatments.
Surface Stains are usually caused by things like drinking coffee, tea, red wine, or using tobacco. Surface stains can often be polished away during a dental cleaning, or lightened with professional teeth whitening treatments. Many people notice a big difference after just one whitening session.
Deeper stains are more difficult to remove. These stains may come from factors like certain medications, trauma to the tooth, or aging, which can cause discoloration in the deeper layers of the tooth. These deeper stains might require multiple whitening treatments or special procedures like bonding or veneers to improve the appearance of your teeth.
How do you restore discolored teeth?
There are a variety of ways one may restore discolored teeth. The most common ways include scheduling regular professional cleanings, professional teeth whitening, veneers, and reducing your consumption of foods and drinks that may cause staining. These include soda, coffee, red wine, ketchup, etc.
Does salt water whiten teeth?
A common misconception is that saltwater is a safe and natural way to whiten teeth. Saltwater does whiten teeth, however it may also damage the enamel on your teeth. Enamel cannot repair itself once damaged, and salt may be abrasive to it, therefore we do not recommend using saltwater to whiten teeth.
How do you restore discolored teeth?
There are a variety of ways one may restore discolored teeth. The most common ways include scheduling regular professional cleanings, professional teeth whitening, veneers, and reducing your consumption of foods and drinks that may cause staining. These include soda, coffee, red wine, ketchup, etc.
Does salt water whiten teeth?
A common misconception is that saltwater is a safe and natural way to whiten teeth. Saltwater does whiten teeth, however it may also damage the enamel on your teeth. Enamel cannot repair itself once damaged, and salt may be abrasive to it, therefore we do not recommend using saltwater to whiten teeth.
Schedule a Risk-free Consultation
Ask Lee, Bonfiglio, Vesely and Associates about treatment options for white spots on teeth. We will improve their appearance, and prevent the spread of cavities. You have may teeth whitening options. Call (410) 989-8298 for more today.
