Can you treat heavily stained teeth?

Our teeth start off nice and white but over time, they become stained and discoloured. They can take on a yellow or brown tinge which can cause a great deal of embarrassment.

What causes staining? Smoking, alcohol such as red wine, tea, coffee, Coca Cola and spicy foods are all contributors. Teeth can become discoloured as we get older and we may find that only a professional clean will do. This clean takes the form of a ‘scale and polish’ and is still one of the best ways of removing stubborn stains, tartar and plaque.

There are three levels of staining:

  • Surface level: these are a light form of staining and can be removed by brushing your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste.
  • Deep embedded: these are caused by smoking, red wine, coffee etc and are a deeper form of staining. They cannot be removed by a toothbrush and require a professional clean or teeth whitening.
  • Inherited: these types of stains are usually genetic. There are some people who naturally have darker coloured teeth than others. These can only be removed by professional teeth whitening.

A scale and polish can help as can a teeth whitening treatment. Teeth whitening can remove these stains as well as ‘bleaching’ your teeth white.

There are two types of teeth whitening:

  • ‘In-house’ (in the surgery) teeth whitening
  • A tooth whitening kit

‘In-house’ whitening means that the treatment is carried out at your dentist’s surgery. This involves the dentist using a peroxide based bleach which will whiten your teeth. If you are worried about burns or damage to your gums from the bleach then rest assured that your safety is of prime importance.

A home tooth whitening kit consists of a series of trays which fit over your teeth. These trays contain a whitening gel (peroxide based) which will lighten your teeth. These are combined with a visit to your dentist for a final deep bleaching treatment.

Another option for stained teeth is dental veneers. These laminated shells are made from porcelain, ceramic or a composite material and can be cemented to the front of your teeth to improve their appearance.

To learn more visit our teeth whitening section.

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