Do you find it awkward to take pictures?

Do you feel self-conscious about your smile because you worry about the colour of your teeth?

The Hollywood smile of your dreams is closer than you would believe, so stop worrying!

What is tooth discolouration?

Maybe you’ve used every whitening toothpaste you can find, but your smile isn’t as bright as you’d like it to be. Understanding what may be causing any discolouration you can see is the first step to having a whiter smile, and there are several potential causes for this:

• Drinking lots of coffee, wine and cola can darken the external surface of the tooth, the enamel. Smoking will also have the same effect.
• Chips and tooth damage can lead to discolouration, especially when the tooth pulp has been damaged. Root canal treatment can remove this pulp before it has a chance to decay and darken; although teeth that have undergone root canal treatment may also become less white.
• Internal changes to the tooth structure, or dentine, can happen as a result of:

• Over-exposure to fluoride during childhood. Once the enamel is formed (generally by the age of 8), fluoride will not discolour teeth.
• Tetracycline antibiotics prescribed to you before the age of 8, or given to your mother during the later stages of pregnancy
• Tooth trauma during childhood
• A rare condition called dentinogenesis imperfecta which causes grey, amber or purple discolourations

• Tartar. When plaque builds up on the teeth, over time it hardens into tartar – a brownish substance often found at the gum line. Because tartar is porous, it absorbs stains from hot drinks and nicotine more easily, exaggerating the discolouration.
• Age-related factors. Dentine naturally yellows over time and as the surface enamel thins with age, it begins to show through
• Coeliac disease. The tooth enamel of sufferers is often poorly developed and brown, yellow or white spots may be visible on the teeth.

How can I prevent tooth discolouration?

Some people are naturally predisposed towards darker teeth, but there are small changes you can make to your routine that will help prevent your teeth darkening excessively:

• Brushing your teeth after every meal will help to prevent some stains.
• We recommend that you rinse your mouth with water after having wine, coffee or other drinks or foods that can stain your teeth.
• Regular visits to a dental hygienist will help to remove surface stains and keep most tartar deposits at bay with a periodic scale and polish.

What are my treatment options?

Our dentists at Diamond Dental Care & Implant Centre can diagnose tooth discolouration with a quick examination, and some types can be removed with professional cleaning, for example those stains caused by coffee. Good home care is always recommended to help minimise discolouration, such as brushing, flossing and rinsing after meals. Whitening toothpastes may remove minor surface stains but they will not change the overall colour of your teeth.

We can advise on a safe and effective tooth whitening treatment to suit you, so that before long you’ll be smiling confidently at every opportunity! There are two main options for improving the colour of your teeth:

• Whitening with a gel

Your dentist will apply a light-activated whitening gel that will make the teeth significantly whiter in just 30 – 45 minutes. Follow-up treatments may be needed, or take-home whitening trays may be recommended, depending on your individual requirements. Dentist approved at-home treatments are also available, but the take-home gels used are not as strong and thus the process takes longer (two to four weeks on average). Non-dental over-the-counter products are weaker still, but they may lighten your teeth over time.

• Fitting a crown or veneer where the discolouration is more severe, after root canal treatment for example. Your tooth is covered with a colour-matched composite bonding material to form a crown, or another option is veneers, thin ceramic shells that cover the outer surfaces of the teeth.

Please contact our friendly team on (07) 5241 5321 for further information or advice about teeth whitening on the Sunshine Coast.