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TEETH WHITENING TIPS

Madison Avenue Dentists, PC Blog TEETH WHITENING TIPS

Why my teeth are not white even though I brush my teeth every day?

There are many reasons why your teeth may not be as white as you want despite all the brushing and flossing.  Here are the causes of discolored teeth and the solutions to brighten them

LACK OF PROFESSIONAL CLEANING. 

Even if your home care is good, you cannot remove hard deposits and stains that accumulate over time. The calculus or tartar on the teeth can only be removed by professional instruments. 

Often cleaning alone will make the teeth brighter and make the teeth surface smoother. Over time, regular cleaning can brighten and whiten the teeth.

MEDICATION-INDUCED DISCOLORATION.

Some antibiotics such as tetracycline can stain the teeth permanently if they were taken during pregnancy or early childhood years. Expecting mothers should not take tetracycline for this reason.  

The only way to mask the discoloration would be having veneers since teeth whitening does not work.

FLUOROSIS

Too much fluoride consumption during early childhood years can cause fluorosis, which can make the teeth dark and gray.  This also can be only treated by veneers. No amount of brushing and flossing can help the teeth to be whiter.

STAINING BY COFFEE, TEA, AND DARK DRINKS AND FOOD.  

These stains are surface stains; however, they are often beyond the efficacy of brushing and flossing.  In-office and home professional bleaching would be a great solution to remove the stains.

DISCOLORATION DUE TO ROOT CANAL TREATMENT OR NON-VITAL PULP. 

Once the tooth receives root canal therapy or the nerve dies because of decay or trauma, the tooth starts to discolor to a point that it is dark gray. 

Such a tooth can only be treated with full coverage(crown restoration) to protect and restore the normal, white tooth contour and color.

Do you or your loved ones have a discolored tooth (or teeth) despite vigilant brushing and flossing?

 

Natural white smiles are just a phone call away!  Call us today for a consultation appointment.  

Author
Dr. Stella Oh Dr. Stella Oh is a highly accomplished surgically trained prosthodontist who practices at Madison Avenue Dentists, PC. Dr. Oh provides all levels of dentistry, from routine care to full mouth reconstructions involving dental implant surgeries. She has completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from NYU College of Dentistry and further finished a 3-year prosthodontic residency and 2-year Dental Implant Surgical Fellowship. Furthermore, she has taught at NYU College of Dentistry for numerous years while maintaining a private practice. "Learning should never stop" according to Dr. Oh, "and educating patients about dental care is important." Dr. Oh continuously researches new science and technology in dentistry to improve patient care and the successful outcome of her treatments. She implements a cutting edge scientific approach with an integrative concept in mind. "Mouth is not a separate part of one's body," says Dr. Oh, "but it should consider as an important part of overall health."

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