I had my teeth professionally whitened about a year ago and loved how they looked. Recently, though, I’ve noticed that they aren’t nearly as white as they were right after I finished whitening. I drink tea almost every day, so I’m assuming that has something to do with it. Does this mean the whitening wore off? Will I need to start the entire teeth whitening process over again every year?
Melissa
Dear Melissa,
What you’re describing is completely normal. Teeth whitening can produce beautiful results, but it doesn’t permanently protect your teeth from future staining.
The good news is that you won’t need to start from scratch.
Why Teeth Darken After Whitening
Your teeth are exposed to pigments every day. Some foods and beverages are particularly good at contributing to stains, including:
- Coffee and tea
- Red wine
- Dark berries
- Tomato-based sauces
- Cola and other dark beverages
Smoking and other tobacco use can also cause significant staining. Even some spices have higher stain potential than others.
Professional teeth whitening removes stains that have accumulated within your natural tooth structure. Once your teeth are white, however, they are still exposed to new pigments. Over time, new stains can gradually develop.
There’s another factor involved as well. Teeth naturally become darker as we age. The enamel covering your teeth is somewhat translucent, and the dentin underneath it is more yellow. As enamel changes over the years, more of that underlying color can become noticeable.
That doesn’t mean your original whitening treatment failed. Your smile simply needs an occasional touch-up.
You May Only Need a Whitening Touch-Up
One advantage of professional take-home teeth whitening is that, if you still have your custom whitening trays and they continue to fit properly, maintaining your results is simple and inexpensive.
Your dentist can provide additional professional-strength whitening gel, and you can periodically touch up your smile rather than repeating the entire initial whitening process.
How frequently you need a touch-up depends on your habits. Someone who drinks tea or coffee every day may notice staining sooner than someone who rarely consumes highly pigmented foods or drinks.
Don’t worry, though. You don’t have to give up your tea to keep a beautiful smile.
Can You Prevent Your Teeth From Staining Again?
You can’t prevent all future discoloration, but you can slow it down. Good oral hygiene and regular professional cleanings help remove surface stains before they become more noticeable.
I’m also going to recommend that you use Supersmile Whitening Toothpaste for your everyday oral hygiene. This uses Calprox to remove surface stains without damaging the enamel on your teeth with abrasives, the way most whitening toothpastes do.
What If Your Teeth Aren’t Whitening Evenly?
There is one important think to keep in mind as you do touch ups. If you notice that one tooth remains significantly darker than the others, don’t keep applying more whitening gel to that tooth.
A tooth that suddenly becomes gray or unusually dark may have experienced tooth trauma or have another dental issue that needs to be evaluated. Also, dental restorations can create an uneven appearance because teeth whitening works on natural tooth structure but does not change the color of porcelain crowns, veneers, or composite bonding.
If your entire smile has simply become a little darker over time, though, you probably just need a whitening refresh.
This blog is brought to you by a friendly dentist in Kalamazoo, Dr. Susan Dennis.