Everyone wants a “wow” smile. Although this starts with a healthy smile, a little extra whitening may be desired. Teeth whitening, a bleaching process to whiten or lighten tooth color, is most commonly accomplished with chemical oxidizing agents, such as hydrogen peroxide, alone or in the presence with light, acting as an activating agent.
Although considered a type of cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening may be an important psychological boost to a person, whether an adolescent or an adult, embarrassed by off-colored or stained teeth. Focus on the whiteness of one’s teeth may be an off-shoot of media perceptions of unrealistic beauty that is imposed upon the general public. However, as noted by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a negative self image due to discolored teeth can evoke serious consequences for kids and teens.
Many factors interact to cause discoloration of teeth. Tooth discoloration is a function of the age of an individual and of environmental lifestyle choices. Teeth darken as we age. Underneath the enamel, the hard, outer white covering of a tooth, is the softer region termed the dentin, with a yellowish tinge. As one ages, the enamel thins thereby allowing the yellow dentin to be more pronounced.
Factors Contributing to Teeth Discoloration
Lifestyle choices that affect tooth whiteness include:
Tobacco use
Drinking colored beverages, such as tea, coffee, wine, sports drinks, and cola
For the pediatric dentists including Dr. Babich, yellowing teeth due to aging is not an issue. Baby teeth are whiter than adult or permanent teeth. Thus, a pediatric dentist Dr. Sara Babich focus may be directed to teens, especially those who smoke or consume large amounts of colored beverages.