As we all age, some changes do occur to your teeth. One of them, unfortunately, is that they start to yellow. This happens for more than one reason. As we get older, our enamel starts to thin and the second layer of tooth, which is yellow, thickens and shows through more. As well, what we eat and drink over the years leaves stain behind and has a great effect on colour. Tea, coffee, red wine and smoking of any kind are the major culprits. If your generally happy with your smile, and it’s only the fading colour that has you concerned, ask the advice of your dentist as to what can be done. Perhaps bleaching is the right choice. There is more than one way to bleach (for example store bought bleach strips, take home kits with custom fit trays, in office ZOOM treatment ) so make sure you get all the information you need, including risks and expected outcomes of each, to make an educated decision. If it’s more than the just the colour that’s the issue, more complex treatment options need to be discussed which may include moving teeth into a more pleasing alignment, porcelain veneers which can control shape and colour, etc. Next week, I will discuss how to close spaces between front teeth that some people find aesthetically displeasing.
Dr. Jay Rabinovich