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What Stains Can Professional Teeth Whitening Fix?

Since your smile is one of the first things others notice about you, you’ll want your pearly whites to look their best. If you’re dealing with stained or discolored teeth, learn more about the different kinds of stains that professional teeth whitening in El Dorado Hills can fix.

woman choosing the perfect shade before getting Teeth Whitening in El Dorado Hills

Teeth Stains Professional Teeth Whitening Can Correct

Food and Beverage Stains

Highly pigmented foods and drinks have colored molecules, chromogens, that cling to the surface of your teeth. When chromogens sit on the tooth enamel, they make your teeth appear stained. The color of the stains on your teeth may vary depending on the types of foods and drinks you consume.

If you’re a coffee drinker, your teeth may appear yellow or light brown. However, your teeth may have a reddish tint if you regularly drink wine or enjoy foods with tomato sauce. Professional teeth whitening uses bleaching agents that break down these colored bonds and make your teeth look whiter and brighter.

Medication Stains

Certain medications, such as antipsychotics, high blood pressure medication, antihistamines, tetracycline, and doxycycline, can cause tooth discoloration over time. While professional teeth whitening can remove some medication stains, your dentist may recommend other cosmetic dental treatments, including dental veneers or crowns.

If you’re taking medications that can stain your teeth, you might want to check with your healthcare provider for alternate medication before changing your medication routine.

Trauma Stains

Your teeth will build up more dentin in response to trauma due to a severe blow to the face. Since the dentin layer is yellow, your teeth will have a yellowish tint after an injury. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening treatments contain active ingredients that penetrate the enamel and dentin. As the bleaching agents lighten the dentin, they can make your teeth look whiter and brighter.

Age Stains

Teeth discolor over time as the enamel wears away. However, the aging process also causes teeth to become more brittle. Besides exposing the yellow dentin layer underneath the enamel, aging also increases the likelihood of getting teeth stains.

If your age-related dental stains make you feel self-conscious, be glad to know that professional tooth-bleaching ingredients can penetrate your enamel and dentin layers. However, your dentist may suggest additional cosmetic treatments to get the desired results.

Can I Still Get My Smile Whitened If I Have a Cavity?

You’ll want to address existing dental issues, such as tooth decay before you whiten your teeth since teeth whitening solutions contain chemicals that can irritate decayed or damaged teeth. Unless you’re willing to risk experiencing pain, discomfort, and increased tooth sensitivity, it’s best to have that cavity filled first.

How Often Do I Need to Whiten My Smile After My First Treatment?

You may not need touch-ups for about a year or even longer as soon as you achieve your desired brightness. However, this depends on your oral hygiene and lifestyle habits. For instance, you may only want to wait six months before touching up if you regularly use tobacco products or drink a lot of coffee, tea, or wine.

Your dentist will let you know if it’s time for another whitening session during your bi-annual checkups and professional cleanings.

a person's teeth before and after whitening

Considering Teeth Whitening in El Dorado Hills?

At Forest Ridge Dental Group, we’re passionate about helping you feel good about your smile. If you’re ready to experience top-quality dental care, contact us today to make an appointment.