Tooth Whitening

TOOTH WHITENING

Extrinsic stains are best removed through routine scaling and polishing, while intrinsic and age-related discolourations can be treated via professionally prescribed teeth whitening procedures.

Extrinsic stains occur when the outer layer of the tooth, also known as the enamel, is stained. This may happen because of several factors:

1. Diet
   Frequently consuming coloured foods like coffee, tea, cola, or red wine stains your teeth over time.
2. Smoking
   Nicotine and tar in tobacco stains the necks of your teeth above the gum line, giving them a yellowish-brown colour.
3. Poor dental hygiene
4. Accumulated dental plaque and calculus formed on the teeth due to poor dental hygiene can cause discolouration of teeth, which varies between grey, yellow, black or brown.
5. Environmental factors
6. Fluoride is known to cause teeth discolouration. Excessive usage of fluoride products such as mouthwash, toothpaste, or drinking water with high fluoride content can cause your teeth to be discoloured.

Intrinsic staining takes place at the deeper layer of the enamel and the dentin, which is the tissue lying below the enamel. These stains give your teeth a yellowish or greyish hue. Similar to extrinsic stains, there are many factors for this:

• Antibiotics
• Giving certain antibiotics to children whose teeth are still developing can stain their teeth, which will carry into their adult life.
• Dental trauma
• Teeth can be discoloured from the inside out due to bleeding within the tooth itself, which decomposes and forms a blueish-brown stain.
• Genetic factors
  A small number of people who suffer from congenital issues may also have discoloured teeth.