Teeth Whitening Specialist

Why do my teeth turn yellow?

The ideal smile is full of bright, sparkling, pearly whites, but there are a wide range of factors that can drain the color from your teeth and leave them dull and discolored. The most common culprit for an off-white smile is poor oral hygiene. Brushing and flossing twice a day go a long way toward combating staining on your teeth, and keep your smile bright and fresh. 

Consuming a lot of foods and beverages with dark pigments can adversely affect the color of your teeth, as well. Drinking too many dark liquids, like coffee, black tea, and red wine, or eating too many dark foods, like tomato-based sauces or berries, can leave stains on your teeth over time. Tobacco products also contribute to staining on your teeth.

In some cases, medications affect the color of your teeth. Certain antihistamines and antipsychotics can cause permanent staining, as can exposure to tetracycline antibiotics before age 8. 

The color of your smile also changes naturally as you age. The hard outer layer of your teeth (enamel) gradually gets thinner over time, while the inner layer (dentin) turns yellow. As you get older, the yellowed dentin begins to show through the thinner enamel more, leading to a smile that might not be as white as you’d like.

How do you whiten my teeth?

There are a few different ways to safely and effectively whiten your teeth, and they all work on the same basic principles. A whitening gel containing hydrogen peroxide is applied to the surface of your teeth, which penetrates your enamel and breaks up the pigmentation that creates the discolored appearance. Without heavy pigments staining your enamel, the natural white color of your teeth is free to shine through.

Can’t I just use a store-bought whitening kit?

You should never whiten your teeth with an over-the-counter product. Compared to professional teeth-whitening treatments from the team at Reston Dental Center, store-bought whitening kits are less effective and potentially harmful to your oral health.

Because generic whitening strips and trays aren’t designed to fit your unique smile and aren’t administered by a professional, the bleaching solution frequently leaks out and irritates your gums. When it does manage to stay in contact with your teeth, the whitening solution used in over-the-counter kits isn’t nearly as strong as what you get at your dentist’s office, meaning your smile won’t get nearly as white. 

For a truly white smile, you need a professional. Schedule your professional teeth whitening with the team at Reston Dental Center by calling the office or booking a visit online today.