Different Dentist Treatments for Discolored Teeth

A dentist is a practitioner who has undergone extensive dental education and training to be able to diagnose, assess, remedy and treat issues in the oral cavity. There are different types of dental professionals who try to treat their patients according to their specialties. With regards to a discoloration in the enamel, it is usually a cosmetic dental professional who can treat this but almost all others can easily try and succeed as well. Bleaching is the most effective kind of whitening treatment for this problem but it has to be supervised by a dental professional for it to be truly safe and effective. Veneers can also be used to remedy the staining.

Discoloration

Discolored teeth are not pretty to see and they give an impression of a poorly maintained set of pearly whites as well as a dirty oral cavity filled with plaque. There are many different substances that a dentist can name which can stain a tooth. Most of these are found in our food and beverages such as tea, coffee and colas. Regular intake of certain fruits and vegetables can also encourage the staining to increase especially if there is little done in terms of cleaning. Smoking is also a source of this problem because it can discolor the teeth yellow, especially the front ones. The nicotine in the cigarette stains the teeth through which the smoke and other elements pass through. Tobacco and the chewing it can also cause the pearly whites to change color. Aging can also greatly affect the appearance of our teeth. The process wears down the enamel which in turn makes it thin enough to expose what the actual color of our dentin is, yellowish. Dentin is naturally yellow in color and as the enamel thins due to the regular wear of use the yellow dentin comes to fore.

Prevention

A dentist may recommend several remedies and treatments in order to get rid of the discoloration but preventing it from happening is also very important. The individual should know what causes the staining in the first place in order to prevent it from happening. Avoiding or lessening the intake of colored beverages can help to prevent it. If the person does drink some, it is best to follow it up with a swig of water and a soft gargle. Brushing the teeth should be done twice a day, at the very least, and this should be done after meals. Smoking should be stopped altogether but if this is impossible, then some moderation may be necessary. After eating brightly colored fruits and foods that you think might stain, brush your teeth. Flossing also helps because some of the colored food may be stuck between teeth and be difficult to remove with just brushing.

Regular visits to the dentist should also be able to help prevent any staining. Usually, a cleaning is schedule twice a year in order for the dental professional to check and maintain his patient's teeth. At the first sign of discoloration, a visit should be scheduled in order to assess the situation.