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Has the sparkle in your smile faded over time? Stained, dull, or discolored teeth keep your smile from shining its brightest. Teeth whitening can help you get your sparkle back. Over time, the foods you eat and the beverages you drink can discolor your teeth, replacing the white with dingy yellow, brown or gray. Teeth whitening, in most cases, can help bring the shine back to your smile. The quality and appearance of your smile has a more direct effect on your personal and business relationships than any other part of your appearance. You can choose to whiten your teeth at home or have your cosmetic dentist in Islip distribute custom whitening trays, which has proven results. Professional teeth whitening is an easy, safe and effective way to brighten those stained or dull teeth in as little as one appointment. Even a single tooth can be individually brightened to match the adjacent teeth. Combined with good oral hygiene, teeth whitening from your dentist can enhance your smile by several shades. Professionally Dispensed Whitening Trays Many dentists offer the option for professionally dispensed take-home whitening kits. Professionally dispensed trays are much more controlled, easier to use and produces better results than over-the-counter whitening. The whitening trays give the most flexibility to patients and are easy to use for touching up your teeth every few months to maintain a sparkling smile. Whitening trays dispensed by your dentist work similarly to over-the-counter kits, but in order to start the process, your dentist will make a custom mold of your teeth so that the tray is custom-fitted to your mouth. This lessens the likelihood of irritation and keeping contact between the bleaching agent and your gums to a minimum. Tooth Discoloration and Stains Discolorations of your teeth also fall into two categories: extrinsic and intrinsic discoloration. Extrinsic discoloration occurs in the outer layer of your tooth (enamel). These stains can range from white streaks to yellow tints or brown spots. Intrinsic discoloration occurs in the inner structure of the tooth (dentin) and appears to have a yellow or grey tint. Your diet can play one of the biggest roles in the coloring of your teeth. Studies have shown that certain types of food can contribute to staining more than others, making it important to pay close attention to the foods that you eat. Red wine, coffee, tea, soft drinks, oranges and some acidic foods like citrus fruits or vinegar can contribute to the discoloration of your teeth. In addition, smoking plays a large role in the staining of your teeth. The nicotine in cigarettes has been shown to leave brown deposits which are gradually absorbed by your teeth, causing intrinsic stains. Grinding your teeth can also add cracks to your teeth, which can ultimately cause darkening to the teeth. Some other causes of stains include: • Aging
• Trauma
• Medications
• Disease
• Poor dental hygiene If you are not happy with the color of your teeth, consult your Islip cosmetic dentist for the best option to whiten your teeth. Teeth whitening is not for everyone, but with proper assessment by your dentist, a whitening plan can be created for your specific needs.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Joseph Morris, an experienced Islip cosmetic dentist. Dr. Morris and his experienced staff offer a full array of general and cosmetic dental services including Invisalign, veneers, teeth whitening and implants in Islip, and are committed to delivering the highest quality of care to every patient they serve.
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