Teeth lose their sparkle and shine as one grows older. The pearly whites turn to a shade of dull white, yellow or even black.  The teeth lose their gloss when the dental enamel loses its shine. This happens over the years by aging, accident to the oral region and teeth are affected, lifestyle and habits that bring stain to the teeth or long-term use of medicines that affect the colour.

Teeth have different parts to it – the outer dental enamel that offers protection, the inner dentine and the inner core or pulp region of the teeth. The whole teeth basically can be said to crown and root – the above-mentioned parts are covered in these two basic regions. When it comes to teeth colour – the most prominent reason for discolouring happens because the dental enamel is worn off. The inner layer of the teeth begins to reflect through the thin enamel and the colour of the teeth is not sparkling white. Discolouration also happens when the stains are absorbed through the pores of the teeth and the colour of the teeth changes.

Restoring the colour of the teeth is possible through different methods, performed in the dental clinics and also at home. Depending on the cause of the teeth discolouration, various effective measures can be found. The diverse options that help to bring back the lustre of the teeth are examined here.

Bleaching at the clinic

Teeth whitening at the clinic happens faster and is done by a professional – this is the main advantage of doing in-house. A whitening gel is applied to the teeth surface and a specialized light is applied to the teeth. The gel that is applied is stronger and the light helps fasten the process. The whitening result is obtained in a limited period. Of course, this will also depend on the strength of the stains on the teeth. If the stains are stronger then more visits will be needed to achieve a good result. Doing whitening in the clinic helps to negate any drawbacks or complications that can happen as dentists will know and use the correct procedures and techniques according to the oral health of the person. Like for instance, other soft neighbouring areas like the gum tissues will be protected before the procedure starts.

Whitening trays

These trays are filled with whitening agents that can be slipped into the teeth and they perform the bleaching action. These trays are available from the dental clinics and also from the stores. In the former, the trays are custom made and they are made after the teeth moulds are taken in the clinic. In the store brought whitening trays, they are flexible and moulds into the teeth and perform their action. Some of the trays have the whitening agents filled in them, whereas in some others they need to fill up. The whitening gels come in syringes or packets that need to be filled into the trays before they are placed on the teeth. Some side effects such as teeth sensitivity are seen due to the effect of whitening agents. But they usually disappear on their own in a few days. These trays need to be used for prescribed hours to obtain results.

Gels and Toothpaste

Whitening gels contain peroxide that helps to remove or lessen the stains on the teeth. The gels are applied to the teeth and left there for some time. The strength of the stains will determine how long one needs to leave the gels on the teeth. These gels can be washed off after the prescribed time. These gels are not toothpaste so brushing needs to be done as normal using the toothpaste to keep the mouth clean. These gels serve only to lighten the stains and make the teeth whitener. The toothpaste on the other hand do not contain active peroxide like gels have but they do have abrasives that help to reduce the stain. They work very well to remove the surface stain, but the internal stains cannot be removed using toothpaste.

Whitening strips

The whitening strips mostly contain peroxide as the whitening agent. They are plastic strips and they contain the whitening agent on them. They can be applied to the teeth for some time. The peroxide then works on the stains of the teeth and breaks them down. When the stains are removed, the teeth get back their sparkle. Instructions on how to use these whitening strips will be available on the box. Usually, it will be to use them for about two weeks and wear them for around thirty minutes daily. This will help the peroxide to work on the stains and reduce and remove them completely. If the instructions are not followed correctly then it can lead to unwanted side effects. Gum irritation, tooth damage are some of the side effects seen if the instructions are not followed and the whitening strips are left on the teeth for a longer time than prescribed.

Laser bleaching

This procedure is the recent whitening procedure that is available at the dental clinic and it is also more costly than other procedures. The whitening agent is applied to the teeth and then the laser is applied to it. This will fasten the whitening process greatly. This procedure shows a greater result- the stains becoming lesser to a greater degree in a short time. It is important that during the process one remains still when the laser is applied to the teeth. Aftercare is also important, right after the procedure avoiding food and drinks such as coffee, soda is recommended as the pores are open and they will absorb the stains from the food/drinks very easily.