As clean and healthy as you may keep your teeth, there’s still a chance that you might, at some point, have to deal with staining. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed in your dental hygiene; on the contrary, stains can occur even when your teeth are at their healthiest. In some cases, though, noticeable discoloration might be more than…
As clean and healthy as you may keep your teeth, there’s still a chance that you might, at some point, have to deal with staining. It doesn’t mean you’ve failed in your dental hygiene; on the contrary, stains can occur even when your teeth are at their healthiest. In some cases, though, noticeable discoloration might be more than mere cosmetic staining, in which case there may be reason to worry. Before trying to brighten your smile with an over-the-counter mixture of chemicals, we advise first learning all that you can about your teeth stains and whether or not teeth-whitening will work to brighten your smile.
Why Teeth Stain
The most common kinds of tooth discoloration merely indicate years of exposure to food and beverages, and friction from biting and chewing. Still, some stains might indicate poor hygiene, a developing tooth infection, a symptom of some health conditions, or an adverse reaction to certain types of medication.
How Teeth Stain
So how exactly does everyday food stain your teeth over time? It’s no secret that darker foods and drinks have more staining potential, or that their dark color is the reason. However, everything you consume contains color molecules (chromogens) to some degree, and has the potential to alter your teeth’s color. Chromogens have a habit of sticking to your tooth enamel, causing external, or extrinsic, staining. Unfortunately, brushing and flossing your teeth doesn’t always eliminate all of the chromogens leftover from your meals, and often, teeth staining is inevitable.
What to Do About Teeth Stains
Extrinsic teeth stains, or teeth that appear generally duller than they used to be, can typically be brightened with a professional teeth-whitening treatment. Our take-home kit, which will contain custom-made trays that fit comfortably over your teeth, will allow you to apply the professional-strength bleaching agent evenly for a beautiful, uniform result.
If your teeth stains are intrinsic, and indicative of a more serious underlying issue, then we’ll perform a thorough examination to determine the source and discuss a more appropriate course of treatment.
ABOUT YOUR KNOXVILLE COSMETIC DENTIST:
Jim Erpenbach, DDS, has proudly provided expert dentistry services to families in Knoxville, TN, and all surrounding communities, for over 28 years. To learn more, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Erpenbach,Â?call our office todayÂ?at 865-584-8630.
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