Good Teeth Whitening Candidates

If you have teeth that are stained or discolored, you know just how much that can affect the overall appearance of your smile. For this reason, many people turn to teeth whitening options. Teeth whitening can brighten your smile by up to 10 shades in just one visit. When you visit with a Northern Virginia cosmetic dentist like Dr. Martin Abel or Dr. Shannon Abel, your candidacy for teeth whitening treatment will be assessed. For the moment, let’s take a quick look at who is a good candidate for teeth whitening. We’ll also suggest an alternative treatment if teeth whitening will not be a viable option.

It should be noted that there are many different causes of tooth discoloration and staining. Some of the most common causes are different foods and beverages. Essentially, any food or beverage that can stain a white t-shirt can caused tooth discoloration over time. So be wary of coffee, tea, colas, red wine, curries, blueberries, beets, and so on. Tobacco products can also lead to tooth discoloration (as well as serious health issues), so be sure to quit.

The best candidates for Northern Virginia teeth whitening are people who have stains on their teeth that are on the surface levels of the enamel. They should have otherwise healthy teeth and gums and should have realistic expectations about what dental bleaching can achieve and how it will improve the color of their smile.

Now, teeth whitening is not ideal for people who have dental stains that originate from within the tooth. The bleaching solutions in teeth whitening will not be able to affect that part of a person’s tooth. For these matters, porcelain veneers is a better option to consider. Porcelain veneers will conceal the front surface of the tooth, making it appear much brighter and whiter. As with teeth whitening, we will need to assess your situation to figure out if porcelain veneers are the best solution for your needs.

If you would like to learn more about how to deal with tooth discoloration as well as other dental care matters, be sure to contact our Rockland, Maryland cosmetic dentistry practice today.