Having yellow or discoloured teeth can be quite unattractive and can really add years to a person’s appearance. There are many reasons why teeth turn yellow that are both man-made and completely natural. Obviously one of the biggest causes is smoking. The nicotine in cigarettes and cigars is yellow and can stain very easily. Persistent smoking over the years can cause a yellowing of the teeth that is impossible to remove with normal brushing.
The other significant cause of yellow teeth is simply age. Teeth naturally lose their colour as we get older as one of the signs of aging so anyway to reverse this process will make us look younger. That’s where teeth whitening comes in. Whitening can really change the appearance of discoloured teeth and as it has become more popular over the last decade or so, is now affordable for almost any budget.
Whitening works by applying the active ingredient, hydrogen peroxide, to the surface enamel of the stained teeth. It seeps in gradually and bleaches the enamel back to a healthier white colour. There are many different treatments on the market, some more suitable for some patients than others but results are achievable in every case.
Kirby dentists offer various forms of teeth whitening as a standard cosmetic dentistry treatment and if you have it performed in surgery there are no safety risks associated with some home-whitening kits. Ask your dentist for detail and you could whiten your teeth by up to an incredible ten shades.