Stains on teeth are common and can come from a variety of sources, from medication to the foods and drinks you consume. Stains are mostly cosmetic, which means that they aren't necessarily a sign of tooth decay or even any tooth damage at all, but because of the way they look, they're still something you probably want to remedy. Some stains can be taken care of at home, while others may need more professional treatment.
Use Whitening Toothpaste
Whitening toothpaste doesn't actually whiten your teeth; they are primarily used to remove stains on your teeth. Whitening toothpastes contain mild abrasives and peroxide (or other polishing agents) which, over time, can scrub the stains off your teeth. This method takes some dedication and won't happen quickly, and they tend to be most effective on minor stains, so they are a good choice if you have started to notice minor stains that you want to prevent from getting any worse.
Use Baking Soda with Your Toothpaste
It might seem gross to put baking soda in your mouth, but it's actually an effective tool to use for stains. You can use baking soda by mixing some in with your toothpaste, or by buying a toothpaste with baking soda already in it. It's safe to use and is more abrasive than most standard toothpastes.
At-Home Bleaching
For darker or more stubborn stains, at-home bleaching kits can be your next step. These kits come in a few forms. You may find a carbamide peroxide kit in the form of a gel you brush onto your teeth, or it may come in a tray that molds to your teeth. You can also use whitening strips, which are a little less powerful than the brush application kits, but you can still see results within a few days.
While these will give you results faster than using special toothpastes and baking soda, it will still take time. It's a gradual process; for faster treatments, you will need to see a dentist.
There is one potential downside to using bleaching products. Bleaching does change the color of your teeth, so if you have any veneers, fillings or crowns that match the current color of your teeth, they will not change along with the bleach, and will start to stand out.
Dental Treatments
Dentists use a different process to bleach your teeth. They use a method called "power bleaching" which takes roughly 30-45 minutes. The effects are visible much more quickly, even if you need followup appointments.
In more severe cases, your dentist can use a composite bonding material, which is like applying a filling material to your whole tooth to cover the stains if they aren't responsive to other treatments.
An important note about dental treatments for staining is that these procedures are largely considered cosmetic, so your insurance company may not be able to cover them.
For more information, contact Artistic Dentistry by Gerard Wasselle, DMD or a similar location.
Share21 September 2015
Hi, my name is Kevin Nelson and I want to tell you about my experience. I had a painful tooth so I went to see my dentist. After the examination, he said that I needed to have a root canal to save the tooth. I told the dentist to just pull the tooth instead and then he explained why that wasn't a good idea. He said that pulling the tooth would cause additional problems and then he told me what could happen. I didn't want any more problems, so the dentist did the root canal and I'm glad that he did. I wanted to write a blog to tell others about the benefits of a root canal and what to expect during the procedure. I hope that by getting the word out, other people won't make the same mistake that I almost did by getting a perfectly good tooth pulled.