Dentist Anchorage | Denali Family Dental Center

Teeth discolor for different reasons. Tobacco is one of the reasons why teeth discolor. Discolored teeth do not have to be a problem. There are number of options a victim can choose from for Anchorage tooth whitening.

 

Tooth whitening

 

Tooth whitening, or tooth bleaching, involves restoring the natural white color of teeth. However, due to different reasons, some people want their teeth to go beyond the natural white color. Whitening beyond the natural color is also referred to as teeth whitening.

When teeth are discolored, the natural shade of the teeth is underlying. This means that discoloration of teeth is caused by staining. The stains can be removed and the natural color of teeth restored. The stains are caused by plaque, tartar and tobacco among many other things. All these can be removed by having the teeth cleaned by a dental professional. You do not have to see a dentist to remove the stains on teeth. Pharmacists sell teeth bleaching agents over the counter. Some of the stains, especially those caused by poor oral hygiene can be removed by simply cleaning the teeth properly at home.

 

What is used to bleach teeth?

 

To restore the natural shade of teeth, bleaching is inevitable. But bleaching teeth is different from any other kind of bleaching. You cannot just use any bleaching agent. Dentists employ a number of techniques to bleach teeth. There are products which are sold in chemists that are used to bleach teeth. The techniques of teeth bleaching include; bleaching strips, laser tooth whitening, bleaching gel and bleaching pen. The chemicals that these techniques utilize are not harmful to the teeth and the health of the patient. These chemicals include; hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide.

Certain professionals claim that carbamide peroxide is less effective. It is still used because it has very few side effects. Bleaching has side effects. It is important to ask the dentists about the side effects before the procedure begins. The common side effects associated with teeth bleaching are increased sensitivity and gum irritation. The side effects tend to fade away with time.

 

Natural shade of teeth

 

The way people perceive the color of teeth is dependent on several factors. These factors include; lighting conditions, opacity and the human eye. The enamel is naturally white and semitransparent. The underlying layer, the dentine, is slightly dark and more opaque. The natural color of teeth is not pure white but an off-white shade. Nonprofessional cosmetic dentists as well as the media tend to portray the color of teeth to be pure white which is not true.

 

Causes of tooth discoloration

• Plaque- plaque forms on the surface of teeth. If left to accumulate the teeth tend to appear yellowish in color.

• Tartar- when plaque is left to accumulate it forms tartar. This is harder to clean.

• Smoking tobacco- tar in the smoke of tobacco leaves teeth with brown stains.