Fix Stained Teeth

Treating Stained Teeth

Teeth stains can be caused by several things including medications, pigmented beverages and foods, aging and genetics, and trauma. Dentists are able to use a variety of techniques to address stained teeth, depending on the extent and cause of the staining. If the color of your teeth feels unsatisfactory or uncomfortable to you, here are some ways to safely remove stains from teeth, including whitening toothpastes, whitening strips, at-home bleaching trays, in-office bleaching trays, and porcelain veneers.

Whitening toothpastes are popular for their affordability and ease of use. Most types of toothpaste contain some kind of abrasive ingredient to help scrub stains away, but in general whitening toothpastes also contain special chemicals or polishing agents that can make them more powerful. If used regularly, these toothpastes can usually lighten teeth by a few shades.

Whitening strips are strips applied once or twice a day for a couple of weeks. The strips are peroxide based and applied directly over the teeth. They contain bleaching products and can effectively help with mild teeth stains. They are available over the counter and come in gel or strip form.

At-home bleaching trays are plastic trays filled with a peroxide based bleaching gel or paste and can improve mild to moderate teeth stains. The tray is formulated to hold the peroxide based solution against the teeth every day for a month for a specific amount of time. These at-home bleaching trays are effective for people with milder stains, and are also available over the counter, usually costing between $100-$300. Custom trays for home use are also often available from your dentist, and since they are custom fit for your teeth and gums they often produce even better results that the store-bought whitening trays.

In-office bleaching trays are much stronger whitening treatments that the at-home trays. Heat, light, or a combination of both are often used by dental professionals to speed up and/or enhance the whitening. Often, especially with multiple treatments, teeth will lighten anywhere from three to eight shades. There are some in office rapid whitening treatments available, as well, that use ultraviolet light to intensify the effect of the gel.

Porcelain veneers, a more extensive treatment, can be used if there is extreme tooth discoloration, or if stains or discoloration are not responding well to the other options.

For this treatment, thin sheets of porcelain (or tooth colored resin) are bonded to the surface of the teeth and can offer a very natural looking whiter smile. These veneers can be a great option when dentin with teeth have grown dark because of trauma, fluorosis, or use of certain medications such as tetracycline.

Though some people suggest natural whitening remedies for teeth, these are often ineffective, and have even been known to cause damage. Various home remedies have even been show to reduce surface hardness in teeth, such as mixtures of lemon, and/or baking soda. Be sure to talk to your dentist about safe and effective options best suited for whitening your teeth.

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