It can be easy for our teeth to become discoloured, particularly as we age, even with brushing twice a day and flossing. Even with good daily oral hygiene habits, a dental hygienist will still recommend professional teeth cleaning every six months so that people can take full advantage of the health benefits of doing so.
Teeth stain removal or teeth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth and removing any calculus or tartar staining the teeth without removing any of the tooth surfaces. Professional teeth stain removal can also tackle the different types of tooth stains and provide additional health benefits for people’s oral health.
The 3 Types of Tooth Stains
When it comes to tooth stains, there are three different types of tooth stains which might tarnish your natural smile and may require different removal methods.
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Extrinsic Stains
Extrinsic teeth stains discolour the outer layer of each tooth, which is known as the enamel. The enamel protects the softer part of the tooth that’s underneath, and this can become stained as it absorbs some of the colours of the items consumed, such as smoking, and from certain food and drinks, including coffee, tea, and red wine.
Depending on the severity of the staining, extrinsic tooth stain removal can be achieved either with professional tooth cleaning and polish treatment or sometimes over time with teeth whitening products such as toothpaste. Even after a professional teeth stain removal, this type of staining will continue to occur unless lifestyle habits are changed, and oral care is improved with regular brushing, flossing, and six monthly check-ups with a dental hygienist.
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Intrinsic Stains
Intrinsic teeth staining is more complicated, as it is a deeper ingrained staining which can be difficult to remove. Intrinsic staining occurs when the sensitive layer underneath the enamel becomes stained, which can be the result of tiny fractures in the tooth enamel and bleeding within the tooth. This issue can also be genetic for some people.
Intrinsic stains can be removed, but it can be incredibly difficult to do so without an appointment with a dental hygienist for teeth whitening. However, teeth whitening is not a permanent solution, and stained teeth will begin to show again within a few months, which might lead to your dentist hygienist suggesting more permanent alternatives such as dental veneers.
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Age-Related Stains
Age-related stains are only natural because the enamel thins as we age, which can cause teeth discolouration even with a diligent oral hygiene routine. In this case, a dental hygienist can whiten your teeth and remove the tooth discolouration, however, due to the thinness of the tooth enamel, it might not become as white as much. If so, a dental hygienist may recommend covering the thinning enamel with dental crowns or bonding to conceal all tooth discolouration.
What to expect from a Professional Teeth Stain Removal
Professional teeth stain removal is a procedure aimed at removing and deeply cleaning your teeth, which can help to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. For most people, the best frequency will be every six months or so, however, if you are at a higher risk for gum disease, then you may need more frequent visits.
The procedure itself can usually be done within three to four weeks, and your dental hygienist will clean the most difficult-to-reach areas of your mouth using special tools, which can scrape off stubborn plaque. Once the treatment is started, you will need to continue the treatment at home by regularly applying the recommended whitening product over two to four weeks.
4 Reasons to Get Your Teeth Professionally Cleaned
Besides addressing the build-up of plaque and tartar, teeth stain removal can also lead to additional health benefits when done by a dental hygienist.
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It Helps Prevent Gum Disease
Gum disease is a prevalent and concerning issue that will affect most adults to some degree at some point in their life. The earliest stage of gum disease is gingivitis, which causes swelling of the gums, potential bleeding on brushing, and often bad breath. Gum disease occurs from the build-up of bacteria, and without professional intervention, it can gradually erode the bone and cause teeth to become weak, loose, and even fall out.
Regular professional dental hygienist appointments can help catch the signs early, and the hygienist can remove the deposits that create the environment that leads to bacteria.
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It’s a Chance to Spot Other Issues
A regular appointment with a dental hygienist can also help to identify any other oral issues which might need further investigation. For instance, oral lesions and suspect areas can be left unnoticed when cleaning at home. However, dental hygienists will be able to spot and prevent a small issue from becoming more serious.
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It’s a Confidence Boost
Having your teeth professionally cleaned can be an immediate confidence boost, particularly if the discolouration has been prevalent for a long period of time. After a professional teeth stain removal, teeth feel healthier, cleaner, and fresher, which means that your natural smile can feel more confident and bright.
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It’s Painless
While the process might take a few weeks, most appointments with the dental hygienist will be relatively quick, and all will ensure that patients will be as comfortable as possible. Most of the treatment involves using the latest technology in dental hygiene, which is a device that uses a combination of water and fine powder to remove surface stains and early tartar.
This type of cleaning and polishing ensures that the treatment is effective, focused, and gentle, resulting in a quick and painless appointment. More permanent treatment methods, such as professional bleaching, are similarly designed to ensure the patient is as comfortable as possible throughout the appointments.
Beaulieu Dental is one of Chelmsford’s most modern and welcoming dental practices.
Beaulieu Dental is a professional dental practice with extensive dental experience with our friendly team. We appreciate the importance of your oral health and understand how much you value your smile, which is why we offer a wide range of professional treatments.
We also offer direct access appointments for our dental hygienist, so you can see them without first seeing a dentist, as well as Denplan Dental Care, so that our patients can spread the costs of dental treatment into affordable monthly payments.
If you are looking to restore your natural smile, then be sure to get in touch with us today, and a member of our friendly team will be sure to get back to you.
