Why do teeth lose their bright whiteness over time? There are a few reasons for this occurrence, mainly related to the normal aging process and the foods and beverages people consume. Fortunately, professional teeth whitening can be done at a Dental Clinic in Lumberton TX, restoring a patient’s smile to its earlier bright color. The effect tends to be rejuvenating, since people instinctively associate white teeth with youth.
Enamel on the outside of the teeth has a normal white hue while the dentin underneath is a bit yellower. As people age, this semi-translucent enamel tends to become thinner, making it more difficult for the material to effectively camouflage the dentin. Preventive measures against enamel thinning can be taken at home, including brushing with a fluoride toothpaste soon after waking up and again before going to bed. Fluoride strengthens enamel and can even rebuild it to a certain extent. Chewing gum containing xylitol stimulates the production of saliva, which also protects the teeth. In addition, the component xylitol is known to help enamel remineralize.
Some dark substances gradually stain teeth over time. It’s easy to figure out which ones they are because they also can cause stains on fabric and gradually discolor certain hard materials. Coffee and black tea are prime examples. If someone uses the same light-colored thermal mug every day, that mug tends to become discolored over time. This can even happen with glass and ceramic coffee cups unless someone takes the time to scrub away the discoloration. Red wine, grape juice, colas, and dark berries also can slowly lead to teeth discoloration. As with coffee cups, having a dental hygienist polish the teeth with a mild abrasive every six months is helpful. This is part of routine teeth cleaning that can be performed at a clinic such as Beaumont Smile Center.
More intensive whitening processes can be done at a Dental Clinic in Lumberton TX if routine teeth cleaning no longer is able to achieve the results the patient wants. Whitening often is started with an initial treatment by a hygienist or dentist and then continued at home. Anyone who is thinking about having teeth whitened may click here to learn more.
