Permanent teeth have a porcelain tone because they're made of calcium phosphate, a white-colored mineral. However, your teeth are also porous, meaning they absorb tarnishing substances in the foods and beverages you take daily. These compounds can change your smile's appearance and cover your teeth with spots, but dentists have developed teeth whitening to get them back to normal. If you decide to undergo this cosmetic dentistry procedure in Franklin, NC, you must understand which stains it can remove and how long the effects last.
Types of Stains
Yellow
Yellow tones are the most recurring type of stains you can get on your teeth, and if your smile has turned this color, your dentist will likely be able to remove the spots with whitening. When your teeth take nutrients and minerals from your food, bacteria stick to the surface and tarnish your tooth enamel.
Not brushing and flossing after every meal eventually leads to yellow plaque and tartar build-ups on your teeth. If these stains don't go beyond the external layer of your teeth, a dental professional can easily take care of them by cleaning them or using bleaching gel.
Brown
Like yellow ones, brown stains are extrinsic, as they only affect your outer tooth layer. Your smile comes into contact with everything that enters your mouth. Therefore, when you eat pigmented foods or drinks, your teeth absorb these substances and acquire their colors.
Getting brown spots from coffee or wine isn't dangerous for your teeth, but smoking also stains your smile this color while putting your health at risk. Tobacco contains tar and nicotine, which enter your bloodstream and affect your immune system. This process makes it harder for your mouth to battle cavities and gum disease.
Regardless of the source of your brown stains, a dental professional can get rid of these colored spots with whitening as long as you're healthy enough to undergo the cosmetic procedure.
Black
Unfortunately, black stains mean bad news for people who want to get their smile professionally whitened. If your teeth have turned this color, stains have probably reached deeper tooth layers and have wreaked havoc from the inside out.
For instance, when bacteria infect the pulp and cause an infection, they kill nerve tissue and lead to tooth loss. Hence, your teeth will blacken, signaling your dentist that they have to extract the dead tooth. Severe cavities can also make holes in your teeth and go past your enamel, making the affected area darker.
If your teeth are black, a dental professional has to treat the underlying condition first, either by performing a tooth extraction or healing the infected tissue. Once you've fully recovered, your dentist will assess whether bleach will do the trick and remove the stains.
Is Teeth Whitening Permanent?
After your dentist gives you the green light to undergo teeth whitening, they will apply a gel over your smile. This product contains bleach to remove stains in your tooth enamel, turning them several shades whiter. Once the procedure is over, the results can last up to three years, but this number can change if you don't adopt proper habits like:
- Brushing your teeth for two minutes twice a day
- Flossing
- Using a straw to drink staining beverages
- Avoid smoking
Looking to Enhance Your Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures in Franklin, NC?
The effectiveness of teeth whitening depends on the type of stains on your teeth, which can be yellow, brown, or black. Our team is ready to help you determine if this cosmetic procedure is for you. Contact our team today to book an appointment!