Other than lack of good oral health habits, the most common reasons you have stained teeth or yellowing ones include:

• What you eat: Many food and drink items cause yellow teeth. Watch out for tea, soda, wine, coffee, and even some produce like apples.
• Use of tobacco: Smoking or using chewing tobacco can also lead to yellow or brown teeth.
• Specific medications: Many medications, including antihistamines and some antibiotics, can make teeth more yellow.
• Your age: When people get older, their tooth enamel starts to wear down, leading to off-white teeth by revealing the dentin underneath.
• Certain diseases: Dentin, the material under the layer of tooth enamel, is yellower than the enamel. Certain conditions or treatments for these conditions can discolor teeth. Some examples include chemotherapy or infections. 
• Your genetics: Some people are born with whiter shades of enamel than others, so it could be harder for you to maintain bright teeth because of your genes. 

If you aren't sure why your teeth are losing their brightness, a dentist can help diagnose the underlying issues causing teeth stains.

Why It's Important To Maintain Whiter Teeth

While people often want to whiten their teeth for cosmetic reasons, there are other good reasons to focus on brightening your smile. If your yellowing teeth are because of poor dental hygiene, your oral health could be at risk. Tooth decay can lead to gum disease and other dental health problems. It is important to whiten teeth. 

Ways To Treat Teeth Discoloration

There are many ways to whiten your teeth. Some of these options are preventive, while others address issues with tooth decay or tooth discoloration after they appear. Here are the main ways that stained teeth are treated:

• Maintaining good brushing and flossing habits every day.
• Seeing a dentist for regular dental checkups.
• Cutting back or avoiding the food and drink items that tend to stain teeth.
• Trying tooth whitening products that are available over-the-counter. These include toothpaste, strips, and more.
• Taking home whitening treatments that your dentist gives to you.
• Going to the dentist for a bleaching treatment in the office.
• Getting a procedure such as dental bonding or veneers.

When it comes to various bleaching agent options, they are not all the same. Let's look more at the different options and which are best.

Can I Use Teeth Whitening Products At Home?

There are many teeth whitening strips that you'll find when you go looking at a drugstore, and generally, there isn't too much harm in using these. However, they can make your teeth sensitive, so you should ask your dentist to be sure. And, if you do notice any side effects like pain or sensitivity, stop using the product.

The other issue with most over-the-counter options is that they aren't as powerful as the procedures provided by a cosmetic dentist in Fillmore. A dentist can use much more concentrated solutions, so they work better. They also tend to work much more quickly and have longer-lasting results. So, if you do want to whiten your teeth at home, your best bet is to get a take-home product from your dentist's office.

How Professional Teeth Whitening Procedures Work

The most effective way to whiten teeth is to get a teeth whitening service. In-office procedures go like this:

• The dentist polishes teeth with a grainy material that removes plaque.
• They place gauze or retractors to keep your lips and tongue from touching the bleaching agent.
• Then, the teeth are covered with a solution.
• Most of these whitening products are cured with a light or laser that activates the peroxide.
• The solution is left on the teeth for around half an hour to an hour.
• Finally, the product is rinsed off, and fluoride is given to lessen the chances of tooth sensitivity.

This process helps ensure results almost immediately, but multiple sessions may be necessary for some patients.

Get In Touch With Us Today

At Paul Jang Dentistry, we provide teeth whitening services to our patients. We know that you want to look and feel great when you smile, so if discolored teeth are ruining your confidence, reach out today to request an appointment.