How teeth become discoloured
There are a number of different 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 even 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 these stains can be lifted with the help of your local dentist.
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 to achieve, it’s a great way to whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own 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 make sure the bleaching tray fits tightly over your teeth, and then send you home with the tray and some bleaching 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 over time (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.
We also believe that 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 during the bleaching process and kept under control.
A leading bleaching expert based in Texas USA recently commented that home bleaching still provides the best bleach results, especially for severe staining, since it can be continued over a long period of time if necessary.
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.
Are tooth whitening treatments covered by Medicare?
Unfortunately, cosmetic dentistry (including teeth whitening) is not covered by Medicare as it is not an essential service. However, if you have a health fund, some of the treatment costs will be covered (depending on what coverage you have).
There are also plenty of flexible payment options available here at Swansea Dental Practice. Get in touch with our team for more information.
Talk to our team about teeth whitening in Swansea
Ready to begin your journey to a brighter, whiter smile?
Contact our team on (02) 4971 1432 to book a consultation today! Our highly trained and qualified dentists will talk you through your treatment options and help you achieve the smile you’ve always wanted.
For the teeth whitening Swansea residents have come to trust, contact Swansea Dental Practice today.
