Teeth tend to become discoloured as time goes by. This can lead to a dingy and dirty appearing smile, something that most people would like to avoid. The good news is that professional teeth whitening services offered by dentists are a safe way to improve the look of your teeth.

There are several reasons why teeth become discoloured as they age. Different people will experience various levels of discolouration based on a number of factors. These factors can include how many staining substances the person drinks (staining substances include sodas, coffees and teas), their genetic makeup, their age and how healthy their teeth and gums are. Tetracycline, which is a type of antibiotic can also cause stains to develop. Smoking and excessive drug use is also common causes of discoloured and stained teeth.

Professional tooth whitening services provided by a dentist’s office are the only thing that can actually alter the teeth from the inside. To accomplish this most dentists will use a whitening gel that contains carbamide peroxide. This gel will be placed in a custom mouthpiece to be worn at home for a set period of time. When this ingredient breaks down it allows oxygen to enter the enamel of the teeth. This will effectively ‘bleach’ the colour surfaces of the teeth. This product will not alter the structure of the tooth, it just whitens the colour. Crowns, fillings, bonding and other artificial structures located inside of the mouth will not whiten however.

Many patients who undergo orthodontic treatment chose to have teeth whitening after their braces come off, giving them a dazzling white smile to match their straight and aligned teeth. Orthodontic procedures include Invisalign, which uses clear aligners, and Six Month Smiles, which uses clear brackets and tooth coloured wires to guide the teeth into a straighter position for a more attractive smile. If you are coming to the end of your orthodontic treatment you should consider celebrating your new smile with a whitening treatment.

Parrock Dental and Implant Centre offers tooth whitening and a wide range of braces in Gravesend to patients who are looking for a simple solution to having a straighter and whiter smile. To schedule an appointment with Dr Rik Trivedi or any other member of the dental team at Parrock Dental and Implant Centre a patient can call 01474 537191, visit the website at www.parrockdental.co.uk or stop by their office located at 189-191 Parrock Street, in Gravesend Kent DA12 1EN.