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Tooth color varies from person to person - just like skin
and hair color. There are a number of ways that teeth can be
made to look whiter.
Why do teeth get discolored?
There are many reasons why teeth can become discolored. Simple things like drinking tea,
coffee, red wine or other food and drink with strong colorings can cause it. Smoking is
another major cause, which can result in a yellowed appearance to the teeth.
As people grow older their teeth can become darker naturally. Tooth decay, fillings
and tartar build-up can also all contribute to discoloration. Teeth have nerves and blood
vessels inside them. If these nerves and blood vessels are damaged (this can happen because
of decay, or if the teeth are knocked) the tooth may get darker.
Some types of staining can be caused by diseases or medicines. For example, if a type of
antibiotic called tetracycline is given to children whose teeth are still developing,
their adult teeth may form with a yellow or greenish tinge.
There are many simple ways to improve the appearance of discolored teeth. Visit your dentist
or hygienist to have your teeth scaled and polished on a regular basis. This involves removing
any tartar that has built up. Your dentist or hygienist will also give you advice about
preventing tooth decay.
Regular tooth brushing, stopping smoking and cutting down on strongly colored food and drink
will help stop stains returning. Whitening toothpastes are slightly abrasive, which may help to
remove surface staining. However, they do not alter the natural shade of your teeth.
Your dentist can also give you advice about replacing your metal fillings and crowns with
tooth-colored ones.
Professional tooth bleaching
There are several different ways that dentists can bleach your teeth. These are separated into
external techniques (where the bleach is placed outside of the tooth) and internal techniques
(where the bleach is placed inside the tooth). They are described in more detail below.
External bleaching
This means that the color of the teeth is lightened by placing a bleaching gel on the outer
(external) surfaces of the teeth. Once again, using bleaching gels in this way may not work
for certain types of discoloration, such as that caused by metal fillings or damaged blood
vessels inside a tooth. There are two ways to do external bleaching.
- Home bleaching: Firstly, your dentist makes the rubber mouth-guards so
that they fit your teeth precisely, and secondly, the bleaching gel is
stronger so it tends to be more effective. Your dentist will give you tubes of
bleaching gel and instructions on how to put the gel in the mouth-guards. You
will need to wear the mouth-guards for a few hours each day. It may take a few
weeks to achieve the color that you want. Your dentist will give you detailed
instructions.
- In the surgery - this is also known as laser or power bleaching. Your
dentist will put a rubber seal around your teeth to protect your gums. Then,
the bleaching gel is painted onto your teeth and a special, bright light is
pointed at them. This light speeds up the whitening process. The procedure
takes two hours.
The whitening effects of different bleaching methods can last for a few years, but
this varies from person to person. Your eating, drinking, smoking and tooth-brushing
habits may have an effect on how long the treatment lasts.
It's important to bear in mind that bleaching doesn't always result in the whiteness
that you expected. The results vary from person to person and depend on the shade of
your teeth before bleaching. For this reason, it is important to discuss all the possible
options for improving the appearance of your teeth with your dentist before you make a decision.
Will bleaching damage my teeth?
All dental treatment carries a risk of side-effects, which are
the unwanted, but mostly temporary effects of a successful treatment.
Potential side-effects include sensitivity of the teeth to hot
and cold, a sore throat, tender gums and white patches on the
gums. These side-effects are more likely to occur during or immediately
after "laser" bleaching and should disappear after a few days.
Contact your dentist if the symptoms persist.
Who shouldn't have bleaching?
There are some instances when a dentist may recommend that you do not have
bleaching. For example if you have decay, this should be treated before starting
any whitening treatments. Similarly, your gums should be healthy, so if you have
any gum disease this should be treated.
If your teeth are extremely sensitive to hot and cold food or drinks, or if
there are lots of fracture lines on your teeth, bleaching may not be
recommended.
Some types of staining (eg tetracycline antibiotic staining) do not respond
to bleaching as well as others. Bleaching, if successful, can take longer on
tetracycline stained teeth.
Bleaching won't work on false teeth, crowns, veneers or fillings (including
tooth-colored fillings). Instead, your dentist may be able to replace these with
lighter ones.
Bleaching is not recommended for children whose teeth are still developing or
for pregnant or breastfeeding women
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