Most people like seeing a full set of pearly whites smiling back at them when they look in the mirror. If you have discolored or stained teeth, however, you might find your smile lackluster or even embarrassing, and you might wonder, can teeth stains be removed? Fortunately, they can! Keep reading to learn about why you might have stains on your teeth and what can be done about them.
What Causes Teeth Stains?
Tooth staining can occur for a variety of reasons. Many times, it has to do with what you put in your mouth. Remember, teeth are porous and can absorb the hues of various foods, drinks, and other substances.
Some foods and beverages that can discolor your teeth include coffee, tea, cola, root beer and other dark-colored sodas, red wine, blueberries, beets, tomato sauce, grape, or cranberry juice.
Smoking or chewing tobacco can stain your teeth.
Medications you’re taking can cause stains. Treatments including antihistamines, blood pressure medications, antipsychotic medications, and chemotherapy can cause teeth stains.
Trauma can also cause staining in some cases.
Poor dental hygiene is another cause. Plaque and tartar can accumulate on the teeth and cause discoloration over time.
As you age, your enamel wears down and you might also be taking medications that cause staining.
What Are the Top Procedures to Remove Teeth Stains?
Now that you know about the causes of staining, you probably want to know how teeth stains can be removed. Depending on what’s causing the staining, your dental professional will be able to offer you various options:
Some teeth whitening products are available over-the-counter and can be used at home without the need for dental care. These include whitening toothpastes and trays that you buy at the pharmacy. This option is convenient, but it’s only moderately useful for light surface stains on the outer layers of the teeth.
Our dentists provide in-office teeth whitening, which provide better tooth whitening results than pharmacy bought toothpastes and whitening kits.
We can also create custom tooth whitening trays with a stronger bleaching agent to be used at home. You would use this bleaching gel in the trays as directed to remove staining.
Veneers can be used to cover discolored, stained, and chipped teeth. Also, to camouflage unsightly gaps or misshapen teeth. Veneers are thin pieces of very durable, custom tooth shaped casing made by a professional dental laboratory. Veneers are not permanent and will need eventual replacing, but they will give you a bright, white smile for many years.
Contact Us to Resolve Your Dental Problem
If you have stained teeth or would like a brighter smile, the team at Impact Dental Care can help. Please click here to book an appointment for a consultation. If you are due for a dental cleaning, please also call us as soon as possible.