It’s not too uncommon in movies and TV for the bad guy/girl to have yellow teeth. This is supposed to say to the audience that something is “wrong” with them, but in reality, yellowed teeth are much more common than you might think. Dark drinks like coffee and soda, tobacco, and even natural aging can all cause your smile to lose its luster and develop that iconic “evil” yellow hue over the years. Fortunately, unlike the characters you see on screen, you can actually do something about it with teeth whitening in Denver. All it takes is just a quick trip to the dentist to give your smile that “heroic” white glow.
But First, Why Are Your Teeth Yellow in the First Place?
Your teeth are actually composed of three distinct layers: enamel on the outside, a substance called dentin underneath, and at the center, the dental pulp, a small amount of nerve tissue. Your enamel, despite being extremely strong, is also very porous, filled with thousands of tiny holes. Whenever you consume a dark drink/sauce or use tobacco, small pigments can become lodged in these pores and cause the color of a tooth to gradually darken.
On top of this, as we age, enamel naturally thins. Because it is translucent, this makes it easier for the color of the underlying dentin to shine through, and it’s—you guessed it—yellow.
How Teeth Whitening Can Help
While you’ll find loads of teeth whitening products at the store, most of them actually have fairly low concentrations of the compound needed to actually whiten the teeth: hydrogen peroxide. As a result, while they might make your teeth slightly brighter, you’ll probably barely notice a difference.
The better bet is to simply visit a dentist in Denver. They’ll be able to offer you a whitening treatment using a bleaching gel that contains a much higher level of hydrogen peroxide, enabling it to better break up stubborn stains. Many dentists can also speed up this process by exposing the gel to a special light, helping you save time while getting the results you want. They can also give you your own custom-made take-home kit that will include mouth trays made just for you as well as the stronger whitening gel.
Whether in the dentist’s office or at home, the average professional whitening treatment should make your smile 6-8 shades brighter, which you’ll definitely be able to see!
Maintaining Results
Of course, after you’ve had your teeth whitened, how can you make sure they won’t turn yellow again? Thankfully, helping your smile shine for years to come is relatively simple:
- Avoid those things that caused your teeth to stain in the first place, namely drinks like coffee and soda, tobacco, darkly colored foods and sauces, etc…
- Brush and floss your teeth every day to prevent the build up of food debris that could yellow your teeth.
- Routinely visit your dentist in Denver for checkups and cleanings. They’ll also be able to give you a whitening touch-up whenever you need one.
While having yellow teeth certainly doesn’t make someone evil like in movies and on TV, everyone would definitely prefer to have a pristinely white smile, and you can get exactly that with your dentist. Don’t waste your time and money with underpowered store bought treatments—go right to the professionals to get reliable results you’ll love.
About the Author
Dr. Stefanie Walker has been practicing dentistry for over 13 years and has made Denver her home since 2011. She is proud to call herself a perfectionist, so if you’re looking to improve the appearance of your smile in any way, she’s definitely the dentist to talk to! To learn more about teeth whitening and your other cosmetic dentistry options, she can be contacted through her website.