Bonding, veneers, crowns, bridges, dentures, and implants are dental restorations that cannot be whitened since they are constructed of manufactured materials, mainly porcelain. Only natural enamel teeth can be bleached if the cause is reversible, as determined by your dentist. Your Dental Implants in Frisco TX professional may recommend one or several treatments depending on the source of the discoloration.

Whitening at home:

• Avoid meals and beverages that cause stains. Our habits can cause teeth discoloration.
• Use over-the-counter dental whiteners in the form of stick-on strips or tooth-shaped trays.
• Cleaning your teeth with regular tooth brushing and flossing practices daily is essential. Though one should be practicing good dental care anyway, stepping up your game can improve the appearance of your teeth if your habits aren’t up to par.

Whitening by a professional:

• A dentist performs professional whitening in the chamber, using professional whitening materials and treatments to speed up the whitening process. Some items may require heat and particular light to speed up the bleaching process. Other professionally available goods will have a stronger whitener concentration, sometimes with desensitizer and a bespoke tray for improved whitener adhesion. In the hands of a qualified dentist, the treatment is entirely safe.
• Dental bonding is a treatment in which your dentist uses a special curing light to set a white resin on your tooth. To improve the color and structure of your smile, the light ‘bonds’ the resin to the tooth.
• Dental crowns can whiten your smile while protecting, covering, and restoring damaged teeth. Your dentist can match the color of a crown to the color of your other teeth.
• Dental veneers are porcelain ‘shells’ custom-made to cover the front of your teeth and improve their color and shape. They are tiny and thin, roughly the same size as a false fingernail. If you opt for veneers, your dentist will advise you to avoid biting into hard foods with your front teeth to prevent breaking.

Is it possible to whiten your teeth naturally at home, and is it safe?

It’s normal if you want to try to whiten your own teeth. Why not? It works, it’s natural, and it’s less expensive or do you think. It’s not always safe and effective.

Here are some ‘Do it yourself’ whitening do’s and don’ts:

• Fruits are delicious, but they’re terrible for your teeth. Citric acid, which is found in fruits, is never a good idea to utilize because it erodes enamel. If the magazine recommends using anything inherently acidic (like lemons, oranges, or apple cider vinegar), don’t. Save it for eating or cooking. Long-term citrus contact is like soaking your teeth in an acid bath, and it will only wear down your enamel.
• The use of activated charcoal or a baking soda paste to whiten teeth has not been demonstrated to be effective or safe. Baking soda is an abrasive ingredient that can wear away the enamel on your teeth, essential for keeping them white and healthy. The second layer, the porous yellowish dentin, will be exposed if you lose too much enamel. This can turn your teeth yellow, making them more susceptible to stains and cavities.
• Oils and spices have been advertised on the internet and in periodicals as natural tooth whiteners. Unfortunately, there is no evidence that turmeric will not make your teeth whiter, nor that “pulling oil” (swishing coconut oil in your mouth) would make your pearly whites any whiter. It’s best to keep both for cooking.

Try this:

• Brush your teeth for two minutes twice a day, once when you get up and once before bed.
• To be safe, choose the right toothpaste. It will be better if a dentist has approved it.
• Floss in between your teeth at least once a day.
• Foods and drinks that stain teeth should be avoided, such as cola, coffee, tea, and red wine.
• To avoid staining your front teeth, keep a clean reusable straw available to sip beverages.
• After drinks that contain acid or may stain, such as juice, lemonade, coffee, or red wine, sip water and rinse your mouth.
• Quit tobacco, either smoking or chewing.

It’s essential to develop good habits when it comes to your teeth. You might be able to avoid tooth discolorations by making a few simple lifestyle modifications. If you’re a coffee drinker, try cutting back or switching to a different beverage. Also, if you smoke, get help quitting because smoking has far-reaching consequences that go beyond your oral health. Brush and floss regularly, and have routine dental check-ups and cleanings every six months. 

Schedule an appointment with our professionals to know what can be done to avoid and treat tooth discoloration.