How teeth become discoloured
There are several reasons why your teeth can become discoloured, including age and lifestyle. Discolouration detracts from an otherwise healthy and attractive smile, which is why many people opt for professional teeth whitening in Swansea.
Some common causes of discoloured teeth include:
- Food and drinks like coffee, tea, dark sodas, red wine, and some fruits and vegetables.
- Tobacco products like cigarettes and chewing tobacco.
- Poor dental hygiene habits, like inadequate brushing or flossing.
- Trauma, illnesses, or diseases.
- Medications and treatments like high blood pressure medication, chemotherapy, antihistamines and some antipsychotic medications.
These elements can leave dark or yellowish stains on your teeth. The good news is that your local dentist can lift these stains.
Benefits of take-home teeth whitening kits
Take-home tooth whitening kits are a convenient and flexible way for you to control the teeth whitening process and freshen your smile whenever you notice discolouration starting to occur. While whitening can take a couple of weeks, it’s a great way to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your home.
At your initial consultation, we will take a mould of your teeth and send it to the lab to have a bleaching tray professionally made. When it comes back to our practice, we’ll ensure the bleaching tray fits tightly over your teeth, then send you home with the tray and some teeth whitening gel.
We recommend take-home bleaching kits because our bleaching trays can last for years.
Plus, the bleaching gel we provide is far superior to over-the-counter teeth whitening kits and our custom-made bleaching trays fit perfectly over your teeth, sealing in the bleach and preventing it from contacting your gums. This allows us to prescribe bleaching gels that are much stronger and more effective than over-the-counter teeth whitening kits at your local pharmacy.
After any bleaching procedure, teeth will gradually yellow again (perhaps 18 months). With a take-home bleaching kit, you can bleach your teeth whenever you notice discolouration starting to occur. The only cost in repeating the bleaching process is to purchase more gel, which usually costs less than $50 for a two-week treatment.
Take-home bleaching kits allow us to control and prevent sensitivity more reliably. All bleaching techniques cause some sensitivity. Because home bleaching is more gradual, sensitivity can be treated and controlled during the bleaching process.
Finally, home bleach systems allow you to bleach one or two nights a month and keep your smile the same colour, preventing the stain or yellow appearance from returning.
