Quiz: Addressing Dental Discoloration

quiz-addressing-dental-discolorationOne common problem that makes patients self-conscious about their smile is dental discoloration. You may think you are taking care of your teeth, but over the years, staining agents can gather, and your enamel can start to lose its whiteness. Diligent daily care can help keep stains from accumulating, but if you want to enjoy significant results in a short span of time, talk to your dentist about a professional whitening treatment. Your dentist, after confirming that a whitening procedure is the right answer to your cosmetic problems, can provide a kit that allows you to apply professional whitening agents to your teeth at home. You can have a major smile improvement within two weeks! If whitening is not the best way to whiten your teeth, another cosmetic dental procedure may be able to help.

Questions:

True Or False: Acidic products can soften your enamel, making it more likely that stains will gather on your teeth.

True Or False: Intrinsic discoloration is treatable with professional whitening agents.

True Or False: Porcelain veneers are impossible to stain, so you do not have to worry about them losing their whiteness.

Answers:

True! Limiting items like coffee and soda can help preserve your smile – these darker liquids can leave stains, but acidic products also soften your enamel. That softening makes it easier for staining agents to stick, and make it easier for you to develop a cavity.

False! Intrinsic discoloration calls for a different approach than a whitening treatment. Porcelain veneers can hide this form of discoloration, in addition to hiding other physical flaws.

False! After receiving porcelain veneers, you should be mindful about products that can leave stains. The porcelain material can resist discoloration, but it is still possible for them to dull over time.