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Bloomingdale Cosmetic Dentist Explains Teeth Whitening and Bleaching Options

When it comes to brightening your smile, patients have more options than ever before. Whether you’re looking for a quick brightening treatment or a total smile rejuvenation, whiter teeth can take years off of your smile. Different patients can benefit from different types of whitening and bleaching treatments. As you explore cosmetic dentistry options it’s important to continually consider your current dental health, your desired cosmetic results, and your timeline. Today I’m going to be reviewing some of the enamel rejuvenation treatments our Bloomingdale cosmetic dentists frequently employ.

What causes dental staining?

Teeth can become dull and discolored for a number of reasons. Staining can be environmental, biological, or the result of trauma or illness.

Some patients experience dental staining from foods and drinks. Common culprits are dark berries, red wine, coffee, tea, and cola. Additionally, both chewing tobacco and smoked tobacco stain dental enamel.

Another cause of dental discoloration is aging. White dental enamel covers the inside of the tooth, called dental pulp. Dental pulp is frequently dark or yellow in color. Therefore, as patients age, and their dental enamel becomes thinner, teeth can appear darker because the dental pulp is beginning to show through.

Moreover, dental staining can be a result of dental fluorosis or tetracycline use. Young children are susceptible to these conditions in the years when their permanent teeth are still developing. Dental fluorosis is caused when a child ingests fluoride or is exposed to higher levels of fluoride as their permanent teeth are developing. Patients with dental fluorosis have teeth that are stained and pitted. Children who use the antibiotic tetracycline may develop permanent teeth that are appear dark and dingy.

These types of staining can be receptive to different types of treatments.

Teeth whitening treatments—treatments that whiten teeth by removing debris from the enamel’s surface—can help improve minimal dental staining. Dental cleanings, toothpastes, and mouthwashes are all methods of teeth whitening.

Teeth bleaching procedures, on the other hand, utilize hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide to bleach dental enamel. Teeth bleaching treatments are commonly referred to as “teeth whitening” procedures, but teeth bleaching treatments are unique because they can whiten teeth beyond their natural state of whiteness. There are bleaching formulations that can be used at home and others that are professionally applied in-office. These options can be effective for patients with severe staining.

Finally, dental veneers—thin layers of porcelain that are applied over dental enamel—can be used for patients with dental fluorosis or tetracycline staining. Veneers are also a great option for patients with aged, yellow teeth that are resistant to other whitening and bleach treatments.

If you want a whiter smile, the best course of action is to collaborate with a dental professional to find a solution that fits your unique situation. Our Bloomingdale cosmetic dentists utilize different whitening and bleaching treatments for different patients—there is a cosmetic solution our there for your specific smile. Give us a call if you have any questions or you’d just like more information about teeth whitening and bleaching—(630) 994-5174.