Tooth discoloration is when the colour of your teeth changes. They might appear yellowed or less bright.
Causes:
- Superficial stains: due to tea, coffee, tobacco, poor oral hygiene etc
- Deep stains: due to dental trauma, medications, fluorosis etc
Depending on the degree of stains, a dentist can suggest various treatment options. Treating tooth discoloration can be done without cutting the teeth. It is a safe treatment option and also economical.
Care and treatment:
How do dentists treat discoloured teeth?
Dentists use different tooth discoloration treatments depending on the underlying cause and degree of discoloration.
- Bleaching:
Dentists may offer professional teeth whitening treatments. These methods use chemicals agents to break the stains, which are safe for the teeth.
Bleaching in the dental office takes about an hour to complete. At-home whitening treatments provided by the dentist may require 30 to 60 minutes for up to 6 weeks.
- Dental bonding:
Teeth with deep discolouration that doesn’t improve with whitening, dentist may recommend Dental bonding. This procedure involves applying tooth coloured material to conceal discoloured teeth.
- Porcelain veneers:
If there is widespread tooth discolouration that doesn’t improve with whitening, then veneers are given. These are tooth-coloured ceramic shells that the dentist bonds permanently to the front surface of teeth to camouflage discolouration.
- Dental crowns:
Sometimes tooth discolouration is a symptom of cavities if there’s a decay in addition to discolouration restoration is with crown. Crown is a tooth shaped cap that fits over your teeth
Can I prevent tooth discolouration?
- Brushing teeth 2 to 3 times a day using soft bristle brush and ADA approved fluoride toothpaste
- Flossing once a day
- Limit food and drinks that stain teeth like tea, coffee, etc
- Quit smoking
- Visit your dentist for routine cleaning and examination
Dr. Akshata V Badiger
Lecturer, Department of Conservative dentistry and Endodontics KLEVKIDS, Belagavi
Email Id:akshatavb2405@gmail.com
