For most of you, a beautiful smile is associated with intact and white teeth. However, sometimes uniform whiteness of teeth can be disrupted by various types of discoloration. Before deciding to whiten your teeth on your own, we encourage you to consult with a dentist, as such changes may be caused by a serious systemic disease. In the following article, we explain what causes tooth discoloration, how to effectively get rid of them, what whitening methods are available to enjoy long-lasting results, and how much teeth whitening treatment costs.
To determine the cause of tooth discoloration, the dentist will conduct a thorough dental examination, collect medical history, and if necessary, prescribe radiological diagnostics.
The color and distribution of individual discolorations can help the dentist identify the cause. Changes may involve the entire dental complex, its fragments, or individual teeth, and they may differ in the type of discoloration. They may affect both teeth with vital and non-vital pulp. Consulting with a professional dentist is an important step in effectively combating discolorations.
Causes of Tooth Discoloration
They can be divided into external and internal factors. External factors include a wide range of lifestyle and dietary habits, including:
- Consumption of intensely pigmented products such as certain juices, herbal teas, cola, and other carbonated beverages,
- Intake of iron-containing supplements,
- Consumption of substances such as coffee, tea, cigarettes, red wine,
- Use of tetracycline antibiotics during tooth development,
- Inadequate quality of daily oral hygiene practices,
- Use of older filling materials
The influence of these factors can significantly weaken the effectiveness of standard hygiene actions, such as brushing, flossing, or mouth rinsing, if these activities are not performed immediately after exposure to these factors. Neglecting these practices or their low quality strongly contributes to the formation of discolorations.
What Causes Tooth Discoloration?
The tendency to tooth discoloration is also an individual matter, depending, among other things, on the degree of enamel mineralization.
Internal factors include:
- Inherited enamel defects,
- Tooth damage during enamel formation,
- Diseases such as porphyria and alkaptonuria,
- Hormonal disorders,
- Hyperbilirubinemia,
- Tooth decay,
- Traumatic and inflammatory changes in the tooth pulp,
- Age
As mentioned earlier, to effectively treat discolorations, it is necessary to determine their cause. The only competent person to make a diagnosis is a dentist. It is worth seeking professional advice before deciding to conceal or remove discolorations. The specialist will advise on how to achieve white and healthy teeth and which method will be the best for the patient.
How to Effectively Whiten Teeth? – Teeth Whitening Methods
What are the available teeth whitening methods? Here are some of them:
- Using whitening toothpaste, gels, and strips
- Tray-based whitening
- Professional teeth whitening using the beyond lamp
- Professional hygienization procedure
- Application of veneers or crowns
Many people wonder how to effectively whiten teeth. It should be noted that professional treatment performed in a dental office will always be much more effective than treatments performed at home. Additionally, it is important to remember that systemic diseases can also be the cause of tooth discoloration. Rapid diagnosis of such conditions is crucial for effective treatment and teeth whitening. We encourage you to use the services of our dentist at Warsaw Dental Center in Warsaw.
