WHAT CAUSES TOOTH DISCOLORATION?

Teeth can become discoloured for different reasons, often either due to internal or external causes of discoloration.

Internal tooth discoloration is due to changes in the structure of the tooth. The main reasons are the use of antibiotics such as tetracycline as a child, excessive consumption of fluoride, developmental disorders, decay, amalgam fillings, root canal fillings and trauma.

External tooth discolouration is caused by exposure to environmental factors such as chromatic food/drink and tobacco staining.

Whiter teeth are often associated with youthfulness because as we age, the outer part of the tooth (enamel) may become thin and translucent due to hard tooth brushing or erosion from stomach acid or acidic drink/foods allowing the inner yellow dentine to become more apparent.

Whitening teeth to improve the appearance of your smile is a popular dental treatment option if you are concerned about the discolouration of your teeth as it is a relatively safe and affordable procedure often with instantaneous results.

HOW DOES TEETH WHITENING WORK

The teeth whitening gel contains the active ingredient, Hydrogen Peroxide which breaks down into water and oxygen ions when in contact with the tooth’s surface. The oxygen molecules from the gel penetrate into the enamel of your teeth and break down the discoloured molecules to become colourless, they are then removed naturally from the tooth by your saliva resulting in a whiter brighter smile.

TYPES OF TEETH WHITENING

There are two options used to whiten teeth, in office or take-home whitening treatments.

In-office teeth whitening option: The in-office whitening gel used has a higher concentration of the active ingredient hydrogen peroxide and so the gums must be blocked out. The gel is applied by our Mt Maunganui and Te Puke dentists/hygienists, with the procedure lasting about an hour.

Take-home teeth whitening option: The ‘do it yourself’ option, involves purchasing over the counter whitening products such as whitening strips, paint-on gel, whitening toothpaste and gum, and applying it to your teeth at home. For safety reasons, the concentration of hydrogen peroxide is much lower than an in-office option.

An alternative and safe option to the ‘do it yourself’ option is a dentist supervised tooth whitening option whereby custom made mouth guards are made which properly fit your mouth. You can then purchase the whitening gel from the dental professional and use the guards and gel at home to brighten your smile. The guards can be re-used every couple months to maintain your newly brightened smile.

CANDIDATES FOR TEETH WHITENING

Most people are potential candidates for teeth whitening however the result may not be as effective in some patients, as the amount of whitening varies among individuals and is dependent on the quality of the tooth structure. There will be some individuals where the teeth whitening effect is minimal or non-existent. For this reason an examination with your Tauranga dental care professional is required.

People who are not candidates for teeth whitening include

• People with significant periodontal disease.
• People with fillings that are not sound, decayed or broken teeth which require restoration prior to teeth whitening.
• Pregnant women and children under the age of 14.

STEP BY STEP

1. Brush your teeth before starting your whitening session.
2. Break off the syringe tip and insert, in your custom tray, a small drop of whitening gel in the middle part of the teeth you wish to whiten. Most people only whiten the teeth that are shown when they smile, usually from premolar to premolar. You should only use about 1⁄4 of the syringe per whitening session.
3. Insert whitening trays into your mouth and ensure they are seated comfortably.
4. If there is any excess gel extruded onto the gums, use a tissue, your finger or a cotton bud to remove. DO NOT SWALLOW RINSED GEL. If you continue to feel a burning sensation from the gel on your gums, remove trays and rinse mouth to remove gel and start again.
5. Leave the trays in the mouth for the time indicated below
   a. Opalescence PF Mint 35% =  1 x 30mins- daily
   b. Opalescence PF Mint 16% = 30 -90mins  daily depending on sensitive to overnight
6. After treatment, remove the trays. Rinse mouth and use a soft toothbrush to remove excess gel. Do the same with the tray.

For 24 hours post treatment teeth are susceptible to stains from chromatic food such as red wine, berries, rich coloured sauces, dark coloured vegetables, coloured spices and coloured mouthwash. These coloured foods must be avoided as well as smoking.

Discontinue whitening if you experience tooth sensitivity and start using a desensitising toothpaste. Once the sensitivity has reduced, wait a few days before starting the whitening process again. GC Tooth Mousse Plus is a product found to be beneficial to use in between whitening episodes.

Your teeth will not whiten beyond a certain shade, this will differ among individuals due to the cause of discolouration and the quality of tooth structure present. Over time your teeth will discolour, the advantage of custom made whitening guards is you can whiten your teeth again.