How Scaling and Planing Can Heal Your Gum Tissue
Gum disease is a top cause of tooth loss among adults, and while it’s really common, the good news is it can be treated — and even prevented. Here’s how root planing and scaling can help.
Help! My Teeth are Yellow
Tooth stains are a common complaint among both women and men, for good reason. Your smile plays a major role in how other people see you, and that means if your teeth are yellow or dingy, it can have a direct bearing on your self-confidence. Fortunately, tooth whitening treatments can help eliminate yellowing and other stains so your smile looks healthy, youthful, and gorgeous.
At A to Z Dental Studio in Fairfax, Virginia, Hiba Zakhour, DDS, offers both in-office whitening treatments and at-home kits to help patients of all ages get the dazzling smiles they crave. Here’s what’s causing your teeth to turn yellow — and what you can do to reverse those stains and enjoy white, bright smile.
Why your teeth look yellow
No one wants yellow teeth. In fact, last year alone, about 37 million Americans had their teeth whitened, using either in-office or at-home whitening methods. Unfortunately, teeth stains are pretty common, partly because so many factors can cause or contribute to yellowing and dinginess.
Your diet
Foods and drinks are perhaps the most common causes of teeth stains, including yellowing. You might think staining is only associated with foods with artificial colors, but natural pigments in deeply hued foods can cause stains, too. That includes popular foods and beverages, such as:
- Blueberries
- Coffee
- Tea
- Tomato products
- Chocolate
- Spices like turmeric and curry mixes
On top of that, foods that are high in acids can temporarily soften your tooth enamel, making it a lot easier for stains to penetrate the superficial layers of your teeth. That includes less-than-healthy options, like soda and energy drinks, as well as healthy snacks like citrus fruits and juices, too.
Your tobacco use
Tobacco is a major cause of yellow and brown stains, along with general discoloration. That’s true of both smokable tobacco, like cigars, pipes, and cigarettes, and chewable forms, too. Most tobacco-related stains are due to nicotine and tar, but other components can cause stains or make it easier for stains to penetrate teeth.
Your health
Many medicines, including medicines for high blood pressure and allergies, can cause yellowing or dinginess, and so can some cancer treatments. Tooth trauma and diseases that affect your tooth’s enamel can also be contributing causes of tooth discoloration.
Your age
Yellowing also tends to become more common as we get older, due in part to years of wear-and-tear, as well as past eating habits and age-related changes in the tooth’s enamel.
Your oral health habits
Of course, if you don’t care for your teeth with regular brushing and flossing, sticky plaque and hard tartar can build up on the tooth surfaces, making teeth look worn and uncared for. If you skip professional cleanings, your teeth can start to look yellowed.
Proven paths to a brighter smile
Both take-home whitening kits and in-office treatments can significantly improve your smile’s appearance by getting rid of stains so your teeth look whiter and healthier.
In-office whitening
Dr. Hiba offers the Venus White® and ZOOM!® whitening systems, which are designed to provide dramatically whiter teeth in just one or two office visits. During your treatment, Dr. Hiba applies a special gel to your tooth surfaces, making sure the entire surface is covered. Then, she applies a special light that activates the gel so it penetrates deeply into the enamel layer. Treatment takes about an hour or less, resulting in teeth that are up to 10 times whiter.
Take-home kits
Take-home kits require two initial visits. At the first appointment, Dr. Hiba takes impressions of your teeth, then creates custom trays designed to hug the contours of your teeth. At the second visit, you’ll receive your trays along with a special whitening gel. You’ll wear the gel-filled trays for about two weeks, either for 30 minutes twice a day or overnight, depending on your whitening goals.
Help yourself to a brighter smile
Don’t let yellow teeth make you feel less attractive and less confident. Schedule a visit with Dr. Hiba to learn how professional teeth whitening treatments can give you a smile you can be proud of. To book your office visit, call the office or use our online form and request an appointment today.
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