Tooth discolouration can be the result of several different factors. Our diet, medicines and even genetics all play an important role in what colour our teeth are. Discoloured teeth, however, are not aesthetically pleasing, can cause loss of confidence, and sometimes even health issues. Fortunately, there are efficient, modern and gentle methods to make them shiny and white again.
Causes of Tooth Discolouration
The enamel of our teeth, as any other material, shrinks and expands in the case of temperature change. Because of that, tiny cracks form on its surface, providing room for stains to settle. This is a natural phenomenon, but after a while it might make our teeth look greyish or brown, especially when consuming lots of heavily pigmented food and beverage, like coffee, red wine or foods with colorants. Smoking is also notorious for causing serious discolouration on the teeth.
Besides that, medicines taken by our mother when pregnant, or by us in our childhood can also result in tooth discolouration. Developmental disorders of the enamel or the dentin might make our teeth more porous and brittle, which attracts more discolouring materials than healthy, denser teeth. It is not common, but sometimes teeth die without any conspicuous symptoms. Haemorrhage or detritus of bacteria in the dead tooth might all cause discolouration.
Treatments against Tooth Discolouration
If we decide to do something about the discolouration, the dentist first determines what have caused the stains on our teeth. If it is simply the result of pigmentation from food, tooth bleaching is a quick, easy and efficient method to make our teeth pearly white again. The process can be either an at home treatment, or a chairside session. During home treatments, patients use generic or tailor-made dental trays. These are filled with whitening gel, and worn for several nights until they exert their effect, which lasts about 6 months.
Chairside sessions take place in the dental surgery with professional oversight. During these treatments, whitening gel is applied to the teeth, which are then illuminated with a special blue light, activating the bleaching ingredients of the gel. The whole procedure takes only 90 minutes, after which the patient leaves with a radiantly white smile. If besides stains the tooth has other issues, namely, it is dead or too brittle to have it bleached, veneers, crowns or bridges can provide spectacular, natural results.
Modern dentistry offers a wide variety of treatments against discoloured teeth in every price range, no matter what the root cause is. Book an appointment at Forest & Ray Dental, and place your trust in our dentists to find you the perfect solution to your problem.