A dazzling smile goes a long way in life. Which is why we want to keep our teeth healthy, clean, and white! To keep teeth shining brightly, many people use teeth whitening. You may be familiar with the usual peroxide gels and whitening strips. Those are certainly effective!

However, perhaps your teeth are too sensitive for whitening. When our teeth don’t have enough enamel to protect themselves, they become sensitive to heat and cold, and more prone to decay. Teeth whitening gels often remove a layer of enamel, meaning sensitive teeth are not suitable. In other instances, discoloration may be present deep inside the tooth. Whitening cannot effectively correct this. For cases, such as these, there are teeth whitening alternatives.

Yellow or discolored teeth can dampen an otherwise lovely smile. You deserve a healthy set of pearly whites, so why not ask your dentist which treatment option is right for you?

Proper oral hygiene

Taking care of your oral health goes a long way in keeping your teeth white. Bacteria create plaque, which discolors your teeth. Eventually, plaque can harden into tartar, which appears even more discolored and unsightly. 

Brush your teeth twice a day, for at least two minutes. Use a soft bristle brush, so your tooth enamel isn’t worn down. Your gums will also thank you, as hard bristles irritate them and cause inflammation. Using teeth whitening paste also helps in keeping your teeth white.

Make sure to floss as well! Flossing removes hidden plaque and scrapes away food residue. Daily flossing prevents gum disease, which can cause even more tooth decay and swelling or bleeding gums. The appearance of your gums matters as well, and unhealthy gums look bad. 

Porcelain veneers

With heavily stained teeth, or those with deep intrinsic stains, traditional whitening methods either require many visits, only work partially, or fail to work altogether. For stains of this nature, we recommend porcelain veneers.

Veneers are thin, ceramic shells which go over the front of your teeth. They can be custom designed to the exact shade you want, and they can be applied in just a couple of visits! When choosing your desired color, make sure to avoid going too white, as that can look unnatural. Your dentist will help you decide on the perfect shade for your face and complexion. 

Please note that for veneers to work, your dentist will need to remove some tooth enamel, so teeth without enough enamel aren’t eligible. 

Tooth-colored dental bonding

If you only have discoloration on specific spots, which form intrinsically from medication or trauma, standard whitening techniques like peroxide gels will not work.

Instead, your dentist can use tooth-colored composite resin to even out darkened areas of your teeth. This method is great for those who otherwise have a pleasing shade to their smile, but would like a bit of touch-up on certain spots.

Things to avoid

More of a preventive measure, avoiding certain consumables can prevent discoloration from occurring. If you want to keep your teeth white, we recommend avoiding or moderating the following:

• Smoking
• Red wine
• Beet juice
• Dark tea
• Black coffee

With beverages, you can also rinse your mouth out with water to prevent some staining. Smoking, however, has no prevention, so the best idea is to cut back or quit altogether.

Brighten your teeth today!

If you’re considering teeth whitening, we’ve got you covered. Our practice includes a teeth whitening subscription, so you can come in for lifelong regular whitening treatment. Give us a call at 831-457-0343 or send us a message to set up an appointment to start your teeth whitening journey!