Teeth Whitening
Your smile creates an
immediate, subconscious, visual impact on people you meet. A brighter smile
gives the impression of youth, vitality, radiant health, happiness, and
warmth. A bright smile is perceived as a healthy smile. Be sure to consult
with your AACD member cosmetic dentist to learn which whitening treatment is
best for you. Teeth whitening remains one of the most economical ways to
enhance your smile. Smiles Are Valuable Statistics reveal that
we place a high value on our smiles. According to an American Academy of
Cosmetic Dentistry survey:
♦ Virtually all adults (99.7%) believe a smile is an important
social asset.
♦ 96% of adults believe an attractive smile makes a person more
appealing to members of the opposite sex.
♦ Three-quarters (74%) of adults feel
an unattractive smile can hurt a person’s chance for career success.
♦ And when respondents were asked,
“What would you like to improve most about your smile?” The most common
response was:
Whiter & brighter teeth. If you are not happy with your smile, teeth
whitening may be a good first step.
Causes of Tooth Discoloration
Deciduous (baby) teeth are typically whiter than
the adult teeth that appear later. As we age, our adult teeth often become
darker, yellower, or stained. This is partly why white teeth make people
appear more youthful.
Just as there are a number of ways to lighten or
brighten teeth, there are also several different ways for teeth to become
discolored. The main causes of darkened teeth are genetics, antibiotics, and
certain foods, plus teeth tend to darken as we age. Internal tooth
discoloration is caused by changes in the enamel of the tooth and the
dentin. The main causes of internal tooth discoloration are exposure to high
levels of fluoride, tetracycline, use of antibiotics as a child,
developmental disorders, tooth decay, restorations, root canal issues, and
trauma.
External tooth discoloration is caused by factors
outside the body, mainly foods and tobacco. The main causes of external
tooth yellowing are smoking, foods with tannins, coffee, tea, carrots,
oranges, and other foods.