Can Yellow Teeth Become White?

We have good news: you don’t have to live with yellow teeth forever! That’s right, our Grand Rapids cosmetic dentists offer both professional in-office and at-home teeth whitening treatments for patients wanting a brighter smile.

Whether your smile has dulled due to dietary habits, aging, or other factors, effective solutions are within reach.

Here’s what you need to know about tooth discoloration, how our dentists can help, and natural “remedies” that are best avoided.

Common Causes Behind Discolored Teeth

Most of the time, the hidden cause behindyellowed or discolored teeth is not so hidden after all. For example, if you’re like many adults around the world, you drink coffee in the mornings. Unfortunately, coffee can easily stain your teeth when consumed on a regular basis.

Avid tea drinkers also fall into this camp thanks to its intense color pigments that cling to your enamel. The pigments are known as chromogens and are contained in other beverages like red wine as well.

Your teeth changing color can also be attributed to:

• Smoking or other tobacco use
• Natural aging
• Oral trauma or injury
• Certain medications
• Excessive fluoride exposure (fluorosis)
• Poor dental hygiene

If you identify with one of the reasons listed above, our cosmetic dentists can help by either performing our in-office teeth whitening procedure or giving you custom whitening trays and gel to take home. We can also discuss the possibility of porcelain veneers if your specific tooth discoloration is severe.

Please remember that if you want your results to last after teeth whitening treatment, the cessation of tobacco use, regular dental cleanings, and daily oral hygiene are all encouraged.

In-Office vs. At-Home Teeth Whitening

For those nervous about messing up their results or fear they are too forgetful for at-home teeth whitening, we recommend coming into our Grand Rapids dental office for the procedure. Depending on how much whiter you’d like your teeth to be, our dentists can brighten your smile by several shades in one single, comprehensive appointment.

Perhaps you are someone who would prefer to get the job done at your own pace. If that is the case, our take home teeth whitening option is the easy and effective solution you’re looking for. We’ll provide you with the custom whitening trays, powerful, yet safe whitening gel, and instructions. Over the course of a few weeks, you’ll use your supplies to reach your desired shade.

What If My Teeth Are Sensitive?

Prior to recommending either at-home or in-office whitening treatment, our dentists will start with an oral exam and thoroughly evaluate your smile. If you currently have sensitive teeth, we’ll assess the level of sensitivity you experience, identifying the causes behind it, and determining whether your teeth are healthy enough for whitening. Overall, the goal is to ensure that any treatment will be appropriate without exacerbating your sensitivity.

During the evaluation, you can expect our dentists to examine your enamel thickness, check for signs of gum recession, and look for any other factors contributing to your sensitivity, such as cavities or worn restorations. If your teeth are deemed suitable for whitening, our dentists will discuss the best options for your specific needs, whether that be in-office treatment or customized at-home teeth whitening trays.

Popular Teeth Whitening Methods to Avoid

We’ve all heard of the pure and natural teeth whitening methods that are designed to lighten up your smile in no time. Some solutions are more far-fetched than others and very few have been shown to have a positive effect on the color of your teeth.

Natural teeth whitening methods to be wary of include:

• Rubbing acidic fruits or fruit peels (lemons, oranges, etc.) on your teeth to remove dark stains
• Practicing oil pulling and swishing coconut oil around in your mouth to lift yellow stains
• Brushing your teeth with a mixture of baking soda and water
• Using any oral care product involving charcoal as a main ingredient

Whereas professional teeth whitening from our dentists is safe for your enamel, natural remedies can often cause damage to that part of your tooth. For instance, if acidic fruits or fruit peels are used deliberately, the enamel will soften and can wear away.

Our cosmetic dentists instead use safe, but powerful whitening gel to brighten your smile. The gel is also dental-grade and has been proven to efficiently whiten teeth that are discolored.

Brighten Your Smile By a Few Shades

Are you ready to take the next step and commit to a smile free of stains? If so, our cosmetic dentists in Grand Rapids, MI, welcome you to give professional teeth whitening a go. Whether you prefer in-office or at-home treatment, we’re here to help! Call Contemporary Family Dental today at (616) 209-3969 to schedule an appointment.

This blog post has been updated.