What causes teeth to yellow or stain?
If yellow or stained teeth are knocking your self-confidence and you’re looking for a solution to bringing back your white smile, then teeth whitening at Heyford Smiles Dental Clinic may be an option for you. Teeth whitening is a form of dentistry that involves bleaching your teeth to make them a lighter shade of colour. While it cannot make your teeth brilliant white, it is able to lighten your teeth’s existing colour by several shades.
The most common cause of teeth yellowing is due to lifestyle habits. We find drinking caffeine-containing beverages such as tea and coffee to be the most common cause of staining on the teeth. These types of drink contain substances that enter the enamel of your teeth and cause long-term discolouration. Smoking is also one of the top causes of discolouration; most of the time smokers can prevent the staining of their teeth by stopping or reducing how much they smoke, however the stains caused by smoking are very difficult to remove. Other factors that can cause staining of the teeth include poor oral hygiene, excessive fluoride use and certain illnesses or medications. If any of the above causes have left you feeling embarrassed of your teeth, contact our Dentist in Upper Heyford today to book yourself in for a tooth whitening appointment.
How it works
There are many treatment options to consider when you want to whiten your teeth, ranging from at-home whitening strips to professional in-office whitening treatments. We strongly advise that you speak to your dentist for advice on what route would be best for you to take and the benefits and risks of each method. If you choose to have your teeth whitened at our clinic, our Dentist in Upper Heyford will first assess your teeth for any staining. If staining is present, the dentist will then take an impression of your teeth in order to make a mouthguard and will teach you how to use it along with a bleaching gel. The teeth whitening process is then activated by the bleaching agent which is inserted into the custom-made tray that transfers it onto your teeth. It is important to note you may require several treatments of whitening depending on the initial shade of your stained teeth.
Maintenance
The process of teeth whitening is not a permanent solution, at most it can last for up to three years based on each individual. In order to keep your teeth white after you have had your treatment, it is important that you focus on maintaining good oral hygiene by brushing twice a day, flossing and rinsing your mouth with a fluoride mouthwash. Try to avoid revisiting old habits such as excessive drinking of tea, coffee and wine or even smoking.
Benefits of teeth whitening
As with all dental treatments, teeth whitening comes with both benefits and risks and it is highly recommended that you discuss these thoroughly with your Dentist in Upper Heyford before opting to proceed with the treatment.
The benefits of teeth whitening are many with the most obvious being that your teeth appear brighter and whiter thus boosting your confidence. Teeth whitening is a quick and non-invasive process with no recovery time meaning you can go about your day as normal straight after the treatment is complete. Getting your teeth whitened by the dentist will remove stains thoroughly making your teeth stronger and healthier.