Teeth Whitening

What causes teeth to change color?

The most common cause of tooth discoloration is the natural aging process. Over the years, activities like biting and chewing cause your enamel to wear down, revealing the yellow-colored dentin underneath. The more visible your dentin becomes, the more discolored your teeth appear.

Other things that can change the color of your teeth include:

• Drinking coffee, red wine, or other beverages with tannins
• Eating foods that are tomato-based like curries or pasta sauce
• Using tobacco
• Oral trauma
• Taking medication that contains tetracycline

You might also develop brown or yellow teeth due to poor oral hygiene. If you don’t brush and floss daily, plaque, tartar, and food particles can collect on your enamel, changing its color.

What is teeth whitening?

Teeth whitening is a type of cosmetic dentistry that uses FDA-approved bleaching solutions to cut through stains and discoloration. The products currently on the market use carbamide or hydrogen peroxide, harmless chemicals that present no serious side-effects. 

What are the types of teeth whitening?

The Melrose Dentist offers several types of teeth whitening, including:

Philips Zoom! in-office teeth whitening

Philips Zoom! in-office teeth whitening can make your teeth between 6-8* shades brighter in under an hour. Before treatment, your provider covers your gums and tongue with a protective rubber dam. 

Then, they apply a whitening solution to each of your teeth and let it sit for about 20 minutes. Afterward, your dentist points a special light at your teeth, triggering a bleaching reaction. They repeat these same steps several times until you achieve the desired shade of white. 

Take-home teeth whitening trays

Take-home trays make it easy to whiten your teeth on your own time. Each take-home whitening kit comes with a custom set of plastic mouthpieces, a bottle of whitening solution, and a syringe. You use the syringe to transfer the whitening solution to the trays and wear them for 3-4 hours at a time, whenever is most convenient.  

Does teeth whitening provide permanent results?

The results of teeth whitening aren’t permanent, but they typically last six months and sometimes even longer. To maintain optimal brightness, The Melrose Dentist recommends brushing twice daily, flossing regularly, and visiting the office every six months for professional teeth cleaning.

You might also want to avoid activities that stain your teeth like using tobacco or drinking dark-colored beverages. 

Take the first step toward a brighter, whiter smile and request a teeth whitening consultation at The Melrose Dentist. Call to speak with a member of the administrative staff, or book online today.

*Individual results may vary.