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Causes of Tooth Discoloration
The enamel on the teeth thins and becomes weaker with age, and reveals the darker tissue underneath, causing the teeth to appear discolored. Preventable causes of discolored teeth include cigarette smoking, and use of other tobacco products, which cause the teeth to stain from yellow to brown with continued use. Coffee and tea also stain the teeth with a brownish color. Red wine and blueberries cause rapid discoloration if the teeth aren't cleaned properly. Certain medications, such as tetracycline, also have the side effect of teeth discoloration.
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Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is achieved in either one of two ways. The first way is use of a bleaching agent. A whitening treatment change the natural color of the teeth with a bleaching agent ingredient. Bleaching products use peroxide to remove surface stains, as well as deeper stains beneath the surface of the tooth enamel. Whitening treatments that are non-bleaching work with a chemical function that removes only surface stains.
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Teeth Whitening Home-Use Products
There are a wide array of home-use whitening products available, from the popular Crest White Strips, to bleaching trays, to "paint on" whiteners, to light overnight applications. Most of these peroxide-containing and/or bleaching agent-containing products have the safety and approval seal from the American Dental Association (ADA), and are highly effective for teeth whitening, as peroxide concentrations average 10%, according to the ADA. However, these products require continual and consistent use for effectiveness, unlike professional laser whitening, which only requires one treatment to achieve desired results, and those with tooth sensitivity often experience discomfort during and after use.
Whitening mouthwash and toothpastes are called dentrifices, and are of the whitening category of products that are non-bleaching and use a chemical function to remove surface stains from the teeth with continual use. In a water-based solution, carbamide peroxide breaks down into hydrogen.
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Professional Laser Whitening
Professional teeth whitening is a cosmetic procedure performed exclusively by dentists. A professional, high-strength bleaching gel is applied to the teeth and is activated with laser light beams over a one-hour session. With laser whitening, the teeth can turn up to 16 shades brighter after 1 treatment. People with sensitive teeth often benefit from this treatment, since discomfort is minimal, and the results last up to one year. Also, bleaching concentrations in laser whitening gel are at levels effective to treat tough stains that over-the-counter products cannot.
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Natural Teeth Whiteners
The American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry recommends the following foods as natural teeth whiteners: strawberries and lemons, which act as natural "bleaching" agents, and raw vegetables, which act as natural teeth cleaners that can remove stains. Also, the AACD recommends brushing the teeth twice a month with regular baking soda to keep them white.
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Considerations
Cosmetic overlays, such as porcelain veneers or crowns, are not effected by any whitening treatments, no matter the type of treatment or the concentration of the bleaching agent. For whiter veneers and crowns, one only has the option to replace them all together.
