Not all stains are the same. Surface stain from coffee, tea and smoking polishes off. Colour that has soaked into the enamel needs whitening. Here is how to tell the difference.
Stained Teeth may involve different types of stains, and knowing the difference helps you understand which treatment may be suitable.
Extrinsic stains sit on the surface of the enamel. They come from coffee, tea, red wine, cola, curry, berries and tobacco, and they cling especially to rough spots and tartar. These come off with professional polishing, often completely.
Intrinsic stains are inside the enamel or dentin: yellowing with age, tetracycline from childhood, fluorosis, or darkening after a tooth injury. Polishing does not touch these. Whitening does, with varying results.
Standard cleaning ends with polishing using a fine paste that removes most everyday stain from coffee, tea and smoking. Many patients are surprised how much whiter their teeth look after a thorough scale and polish alone, before any whitening.
Stubborn stain that polishing cannot lift is a sign the colour is inside the enamel, and whitening is the next step.
If your teeth are clean and still look yellow, the colour is intrinsic. Professional whitening breaks down the pigment inside the enamel and lightens the whole tooth. Age-related yellowing responds best; tetracycline and fluorosis respond more slowly.
Stain Removal Teeth Edmonton always clean and polish before whitening so you start from your true shade and the gel can penetrate evenly.
The biggest culprits:
After a stain removal or whitening:
Come in when:
Yours Dental Hygiene in southeast Edmonton offers polishing, air polishing and professional whitening with evening and weekend appointments.
