Menu
Yellow teeth can be really embarrassing and affect the way you feel about your smile, however you are not alone, as yellow teeth and discolouration are one of the most common cosmetic concerns at our dentist in Tunbridge Wells.
Extrinsic stains
There are two types of staining which can cause discolouration of your teeth. Extrinsic staining is the most common type of staining and can be found to a certain extent amongst the majority of the population. Extrinsic stains affect the enamel of the teeth and are caused by poor oral hygiene and other environmental factors such as food and drinks. For example, tea, coffee and wine can cause discolouration of the teeth. Specific lifestyle choices such as smoking and chewing tobacco can ruin the colour of your teeth. Certain medications such as tetracycline and chlorhexidine, as well as certain underlying health issues, for example calcium deficiency, eating disorders and liver disease, can also cause staining of the teeth.
Intrinsic stains
Intrinsic staining is when you may have caused damage inside your tooth, either as a result of dental problems or a physical injury which has caused trauma to your mouth. These stains affect the dentine of your teeth. They are grey or black in appearance and unfortunately they cannot be removed with teeth whitening procedures, but require further dental treatment.
Teeth whitening at home or at the dentist
Teeth whitening treatments at our dentist in Tunbridge Wells work using a combination of hydrogen peroxide and carbamide peroxide that work as bleaching agents to safely whiten your teeth. You may wish to consider home whitening kits which allow you to gradually whiten your teeth in the comfort of your own home. Or you may wish to book an appointment at the clinic for an instant and more dramatic effect. Home whitening kits work using a combined day treatment and night treatment. The whitening gel is placed into individually tailored trays which are then worn in your mouth for up to an hour during the day and whilst you sleep throughout the night, helping to gradually whiten your teeth over the course of a few weeks. If you book a teeth whitening session at our dentist in Tunbridge Wells then this is usually carried out using higher concentrations of the bleaching agents and can only be carried out by our dentist, but you can walk away with a beautiful smile in approximately 45 minutes.
Dental veneers
For intrinsic stains, which cannot be removed using teeth whitening procedures, you may wish to speak to our dentist and find out about dental veneers which are created to mask all imperfections of the teeth and create a spectacular new smile for you. Dental veneers are thin porcelain shells that are designed to cover the entire front surface of your tooth. These are perfect for cracks in your teeth, broken teeth, small gaps in your teeth, misshapen teeth and teeth affected by intrinsic staining. You can choose to have one veneer to disguise an issue which may be affecting one tooth or you may decide to get veneers for your upper or lower arch. Alternatively you may like to transform your smile completely by getting a full set of dental veneers here at our dentist in Tunbridge Wells.