Major Causes of Teeth Discoloration

According to tooth whitening Glasgow dentists, tooth whitening solutions are affordable and available to most Glasgow residents. However, only 15% of patients requiring a tooth whitening process every consider the various options available to them. This is mainly due to ignorance and misinformation. There are teeth whitening options available for all budgets and for all patient temperaments and the whitening process will always leave your teeth significantly whiter and brighter than before.

Types of Teeth Discoloration

There are two types of teeth discoloration. Extrinsic teeth stains are discoloration that are caused by external factors such as smoking, drinking and aging. The dirt or discoloration is on the teeth enamel. This means that the original tooth is okay and with removal of the dirt, the teeth should be back to normal. If the extrinsic stains are mild, you can remove them by simple dental processes such as brushing your teeth or prophylactic dental cleaning. On the other hand, if the strains are strong, you may require other more forceful treatments such as teeth bleaching. If not managed in good time, the extrinsic stains can get ingrained into your teeth and thereby forming a permanent stain.

Intrinsic teeth stains are stains that form from within your teeth. Such stains can be caused by teeth being exposed to tetracycline and other related minerals especially during teeth formation. Taking a lot of fluoride in your diet also causes intrinsic stains.

Major Causes of Teeth Discoloration

There are different causes of both extrinsic and intrinsic teeth discoloration.

Age of the Patient

As one grows older, their teeth get more discolored because of the regular food stains and due to wear and tear. This is a natural aging process. However, dentists advise that proper dental hygiene will maintain your teeth color for longer. When applying the whitening solutions, it may be harder for older people to whiten their teeth as compared to younger individuals. The stains for the elderly people have been more ingrained into the teeth making it harder to remove.

Genetic traits of Your Teeth

There are also genetic discoloration traits that become more profound with age. For example, thin teeth that are more translucent get discolored much easily and it may be harder to whiten such teeth.

Eating, Drinking and Smoking Habits

There are various foods that affect the color of your teeth when taken excessively. These include cola, wines especially red wine, carrots, coffee and other strong color foods and beverages. Certain foods such as fruits with a lot of citric acid may also cause discoloration. Smoking is also a major cause of teeth discoloration.

Cracked Teeth

If your teeth are cracked because of any trauma experience, the cracks can let in dirt which will discolor your teeth in the long run.

Teeth Whitening Solutions

There are several tooth whitening solutions available to anyone with discolored teeth. The solutions used depends on the extent of the stains and the preference of the dentist and the patient.

Peroxide Gel

One solution for tooth whitening is application on Peroxide Gel. The gel may be applied by a dentist or trained technical person. During the gel application, the teeth gum must be protected by a rubber dam. The gel is applied thrice in 20 minute intervals. If the stains persist, you may need to re-apply the process.

Take-Home Whitening Kits

Take home whitening kits produce significant results when used consistently over some time. This kit has a much more dilute gel of Peroxide that can be applied at home. It is applied using a custom-made bleaching trays similar to a sportsman mouth guard. The tray remains in your teeth for about an hour.

Over-the-counter Bleaching

Over the counter bleaching solutions are the cheapest treatment for whitening teeth. The gel is available in most chemists. It is applied using whitening stick-on strips or gel painting tools. The effect of teeth whitening is much slower with this process as compared to other solutions. It is best used for people with light extrinsic stains.