Our smile is one of the first things people notice about us, so it’s important to be confident with the smile we have. Yet, we’re not always born with a smile we love; it’s important we keep up good dental practices and seek the right corrective measures to keep our pearly whites bright.
If you’re unhappy with your smile, it’s essential for your mental health that you change it. Teeth whitening is the perfect solution for lightening teeth that have lost their lustre. If you’ve never had a professional treatment, you may wonder: How does teeth whitening work? Sydney Laser Dental Care can help.
Why Aren’t Teeth White to Begin With?
Your teeth only look dull or yellow because of the outermost layer of your teeth, the enamel and the dentin.
Tooth enamel is a thin covering over the tooth’s external portion, creating a hard shell that protects the tooth’s more sensitive components. This is only a semi-translucent covering; when people have yellow teeth, the real reason for this shade is from the dentin. The semi-translucent enamel merely reveals the colour of the layer beneath it.
Typically, people find that canine teeth—the pointed teeth at the outer edges of your smile—are more yellow than other teeth. This is because they contain more dentin, and the frequent wear-and-tear they’re exposed to makes the enamel thinner.
What Colors Teeth?
Three key factors influence the colour of your teeth: Genetics, age, and environmental or lifestyle choices. These factors cause intrinsic (internal) or extrinsic (external) staining.
There are many sources of extrinsic discolouration. Some examples of this are:
- Coffee
- Red wine
- Red sauces
- Soda
- Chocolate
- Tea
- Plaque build-up
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
Teeth are also more likely to discolour if you use particular medications, frequently experience a chronic dry mouth, don’t have good oral hygiene, or have a diet high in sugars.
Intrinsic stains typically appear as grey, white, brown, yellow, or orange discolourations on the teeth. Often these stains come from the dentin and are not simply surface-level cosmetic stains, and because of this, they are harder to whiten. One of the common causes of these stains is overexposure to fluoride, but other potential causes are natural age-related dentin discolouration, taking certain medications, or oral trauma.
Whitening your teeth resolves yellowing teeth, but not other kinds of discolouration. If you’re experiencing abnormal tooth discolouration, such as black stains or brown spots, it’s important you consult with your dentist. Sometimes these can be signs of specific problems that need to be addressed, such as internal bleeding caused by oral trauma or hypocalcification.
Whitening is not the solution for every kind of discolouration, and it’s crucial you seek the correct treatment.
Getting The Best Results
If you want the best results, nothing tops professional in-chair whitening treatments. The more unique your dental profile is, the more you would benefit from specialist dental teeth whitening.
The dentist considers your dental profile to help you get the results you desire. They can also give direct feedback about your particular situation, tailoring it to your needs, and let you know what may or may not work for you. A common scenario involves how to whiten your teeth if you have crowns, dental implants, or fillings since whitening treatments don’t influence all these dental procedures. In these situations, consulting a dentist is invaluable so you can receive personalised guidance.
If you have crowns, fillings, or other dental procedures that have introduced foreign material into your dental arch, whitening will not damage this work. However, artificial materials simply won’t respond to whitening treatment. This can create a colour mismatch between your natural teeth and a crown, implant, or filling.
It’s often easier to perform teeth whitening before the dentist performs these dental procedures, or ask your dentist to change your crowns’ shade during routine maintenance, so they match the colour of your whitened teeth.
How Does Teeth Whitening Work?
There are different options for teeth whitening; although they vary in cost and efficiency. If you’re new to whitening treatments or simply want to get the best results, you may want specific information: How does teeth whitening work? Getting these details can help you avoid mistakes and make the right choice for your smile from the very beginning.
At Sydney Laser Dental Care, having considered all the available options, we are proud to offer the latest advanced in-chair laser tooth whitening treatment, carried out by our expert team. The results will leave you with a happy, confident smile.
Contact Us Today
Don’t feel you need to hide your smile. Get quality teeth whitening and premium care from our friendly staff at Sydney Laser Dental Care. We’re here to give you your dream smile and help you feel free to show it. Find your confidence—contact us today to arrange your appointment.
Phone: (02) 9158 6213
Pyrmont NSW 2009
Phone: (02) 9158 6756
Illawong, NSW 2234
Phone: (02) 9159 6083
Sylvania Waters NSW 2224
