Whitening is a temporary solution for stains. It can last for 6 to 12 months if you avoid smoking and caffeinated beverages If not, the effects may last even less than a month.
Try to avoid beverages and food that stain the teeth easily, such as coffee, tea, red wine, berries, and tomato sauce.
If you are a smoker, avoid smoking altogether. Teeth tend to become discolored and yellowish with the use of tobacco
Use a straw when you drink a beverage to minimize the teeth from staining.
Avoid having oily and spicy foods that can cause staining for at least a week.
There can be two reasons for yellow teeth.
Firstly enamel is the outermost covering of the teeth, while dentin is the underlying yellow layer. The thinner your enamel is, the more the yellow color of the dentin shows through. Hence, aging can cause discoloration due to the thinning of the enamel.
Aggressive and hard brushing can also strip away the enamel layer of your teeth over time and make your teeth appear yellow.
Secondly, the plaque that resides on the surface of your teeth turns yellow over a period of time because of the stains it picks up from the food we eat.
If you wish to have teeth that look more white and shine brightly there is no harm in getting it done. It is best to get a teeth whitening done by a professional dentist instead of reaching out to teeth whitening kits available at the drug store. Pregnant women and children should avoid this treatment. Teeth with crowns, bridges, veneers, laminates or any prosthesis on their front teeth will not have any effects of teeth whitening.
Earlier people did experience sensitivity after the whitening procedure. But recently newer whitening kits are available that do not cause sensitivity issues and are more effective. But make sure you get the treatment done by a professional dentist and do not believe in over-the-counter whitening kits available at the medical stores.
Yes, you can whiten your teeth at home. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and prepare trays that fit you perfectly. At home, you need to fill the trays with whitening gel given by your dentist and wear them daily for several hours for 2 to 3 weeks.