How to Keep Your Smile Bright After Teeth Whitening
Start the new year right with whiter, brighter teeth and greater self-confidence. It can all be yours with just a single in-office whitening treatment that takes about an hour. Here's how it works.
It could be that morning cup of coffee or the glass of wine at dinner. You may be a fan of blueberries. Some medications could affect you, as can overexposure to fluoride. Even dental work can discolor your teeth. Not all of these can be fixed with a whitening treatment.
When you want a white smile, but you’re dealing with one or more types of stains, dental veneers are the way to go. Veneers can be matched to your existing teeth or applied as a set to brighten your entire smile.
Contact the team at Bucktown Wicker Park Dental, located in Chicago, Illinois, to learn more about the advantages dental veneers offer for stained and damaged teeth. You may be surprised at the options available to you.
The most common cause of tooth stains is food and drinks. The main culprits include tea, coffee, red wine, dark berries, and colas. Although light-colored and starchy foods, like pasta and potatoes, can also cause stains.
Tobacco products are another notorious cause of tooth stains. Skipping regular dental cleanings or daily brushing and flossing can allow staining compounds to set into your teeth.
Certain antibiotics can cause tooth discoloration, particularly in children under the age of eight. Antihistamines and other drugs can also have a staining effect.
Some dental work can give your teeth a gray appearance, and if you’ve had a root canal or trauma to a tooth, it may darken.
Finally, age is a factor. White tooth enamel thins, and the yellow dentin layer shows through, dulling the appearance of your teeth.
Porcelain is often the material of choice for dental veneers. It’s thin and strong and can reproduce the opalescent look of natural teeth. In fact, if you have a single problem tooth, a veneer made to match your remaining teeth could be the way to go.
Otherwise, veneers can brighten your entire smile. They can also correct structural and cosmetic problems, including chips and gaps.
While veneers are a permanent dental solution, there are some factors to consider before beginning the process. The expected life of dental veneers is about 10 years, but with good care, they could last even longer. But if you grind your teeth in your sleep, your veneers can wear quicker.
While no substance is completely impervious to food stains, porcelain boasts significant stain resistance. But like your natural teeth, poor dental hygiene speeds up the deterioration of your veneers.
Schedule a consultation with Bucktown Wicker Park Dental to learn more about dental veneers. Call the office at 773-252-2303 to book an appointment to discuss your best options. A healthy and bright smile is waiting for you! Call now.
