Dark or Stained Teeth
If you’re concerned about the appearance of your teeth, let’s briefly examine behaviors that contribute to staining, how to prevent staining, and treatment options.
What Causes Tooth Staining?
Because of the smooth and dense appearance of teeth, many people forget their surfaces are full of pores. These pores are microscopic, but despite this, the pores on tooth enamel can absorb pigmented material and form a stain over time.
Certain food, drinks, and elements of one’s lifestyle can increase the potential for teeth to darken, including:
- Drinking coffee, tea, soda, and red wine
- Deeply colored fruit (tomatoes, berries, etc.)
- Poor oral hygiene
- Tobacco use
- Certain medications
- Oral diseases
- Preventing Stains
Some causes of tooth discoloration are difficult to avoid, like necessary medical treatments or the effects of existing disorders.
However, there are a few things individuals can do to prevent developing tooth stains or worsening the discoloration they already experience. For example, you might consider:
- Smoking reduction or smoking cessation
- Limit the amount of staining food and drinks you consume
- Drink pigmented fluids through a straw
- Rinse or brush after eating and drinking
- Improve oral hygiene practices
- Attend regular dental check-ups and cleanings
- Stain Treatment
For mild staining, using a whitening toothpaste or at-home whitening treatment may be helpful in removing a couple shades of stain from the surface of teeth.
When teeth are significantly stained, individuals often look for more effective ways to reduce the appearance of the discoloration in addition to preventing further staining. In these situations, professional treatment is often recommended.
At Solace Wellness Center, our providers utilize the KöR medical-grade whitening system to brighten our patients’ teeth. KöR is recognized as the world’s most effective whitening system, as it can remove anything from standard coffee-induced discoloration to severe tetracycline staining.
Our whitening treatments can be provided both in our office location and as an at-home treatment with both day and night options to fit every patient’s need.
If you’d like to explore your whitening options, call us today at 978-851-8600 or request an appointment and one of our front desk staff will help you soon.
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