Stains, Discoloration & Bleaching

By Deirdre E. Mueller, editor

Stains

Many of our patients ask about stains on their teeth and what causes them. Usually stains are caused by the food and drinks we regularly consume, including several we "can't do without": coffee, dark teas such as Lipton (not herbal teas), dark colored sodas (like cola), chocolates and other dark and acidic foods. To cut down on stain buildup, you can drink sodas, coffee and tea through a straw. This allows the liquid to bypass your teeth and avoid contact with most of the stainable surfaces. Also, rinsing, or better yet brushing and flossing, right after eating or drinking will minimize stains on your teeth.

Stains caused by food and drinks are usually removed through daily brushing and flossing. However these stains, called extrinsic stains, if left on your teeth and allowed to buildup can eventually be difficult to remove and will require a dental cleaning called prophylaxis.

Another type of stain, called intrinsic stains, is absorbed into the teeth through cracks and fissures in the enamel. These cracks and fissures may be microscopic and invisible to the naked eye. No amount of brushing, flossing or prophylaxes will remove an intrinsic stain. But that doesn't mean you have to live with discolored teeth forever. While you cannot remove intrinsic stains, dental bleaching can significantly lighten them.

Bleaching

Dental bleaching is a safe, effective way to lighten the color of your teeth, even if they are naturally dark in color. A mold is taken of your teeth and used to create "bleaching trays" in the laboratory. At night you take these trays fill them with bleaching solution. Sit back, relax and watch TV or read for the time designated by the dentist (usually 30 - 45 minutes or overnight) depending on the product selected for your care. The degree of desired color change and the depth of the stain or darkness determines the duration of treatment. For most patients two weeks of twice daily bleaching will return teeth to their original color or lighten naturally dark teeth.

Discolored Teeth

Some people are born with discolored teeth, often due to medicines taken by their mother during pregnancy, genetics, or childhood diet. Dental bleaches are effective in lightening discolored teeth, but the treatment may take longer than with stained teeth. In these cases, the length of treatment may be as long as 6 months, but usually the change is so dramatic that it is time well spent. SMILE!