At Smile N Shine Dental, Fremont we provide customized options for teeth whitening depending on individual patient needs, expectations and causes of discoloration of teeth.

Schedule your appointment today to know which teeth whitening options could give you best results with minimum discomfort.

Reasons for Discoloration of teeth:

• Certain Food with strong color and Drinks like Coffee, tea and red wine are some major staining culprits. They have Intense color pigments called chromogens that attach to the white, outer part of your tooth called enamel.

• Tobacco Use/Smoking: chemicals like Tar and Nicotine in tobacco create stubborn stains.Tar is naturally dark. Nicotine is colorless until it’s mixed with oxygen. Then, it turns into a yellowish, surface-staining substance.

• Age : Below the hard, white outer shell of your teeth (enamel) is a softer layer Dentin. Over time, the outer enamel layer gets thinner with brushing and more of the yellowish dentin shows through.

• Trauma: If you’ve been hit in the mouth, your tooth may change color because it reacts to an injury by laying down more dentin, which is a darker layer under the enamel.

• Medications : Tooth darkening can be a side effect of certain antihistamines, antipsychotics and high blood pressure medications. Young children who are exposed to antibiotics like tetracycline and doxycycline when their teeth are forming (either in the womb or as a baby) may have discoloration of their adult teeth later in life. Head and neck radiation and Chemotherapy can also darken teeth.

• Fluorosis: Exposure to High level of Fluoride during teeth development age can lead to tooth discoloration called Fluorosis

Am I a candidate for Teeth Whitening?

Teeth whitening may not work same for everyone. That is why it’s important to talk to your dentist before deciding to whiten your teeth, as whiteners may not correct all types of discoloration. For example, yellow teeth will probably bleach well, brown teeth may not respond as well and teeth with gray tones may not bleach at all. Whitening will not work on dental work like crowns, bridges, veneers, fillings.

Teeth Whitening options:

• In-Office Bleaching/Teeth Whitening: This procedure is called as Chairside teeth Whitening and usually requires only one office visit. The dentist will apply  a protective gel to your gums  to protect your gums. Bleach is then applied to the teeth. Light activation is then used for maximum results.

• At-Home Bleaching/Whitening: Your dentist can provide you with a custom-made tray for at-home whitening. In this case, the dentist will give you instructions on how to place the bleaching solution in the tray and for what length of time. This may be a preferred option if you feel more comfortable whitening in your own home at a slower pace, but still with the guidance of a dentist. Out-of-office bleaching can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks.