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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Think about how many times per day you rely on your teeth. You use them to chew breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks. You press your tongue against them to make certain sounds when you speak. There's really no doubt about it — your teeth are important, and they deserve your respect. You can pay them that respect by visiting your dentist for regular cleaning and checkup appointments. You should also call at the first sign of dental pain, tooth discoloration, or other oral health changes. Read more about dentists and dentistry here on this blog, where we dive deep into related topics.

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Show Your Teeth Some Respect

Can't Get The Results You Want With Tooth Whitening? This May Be Why.

by April Myers

Teeth whitening can do a lot for many people, but there are some out there who still end up dissatisfied with their appearance after using whitening products. If your teeth seem to still be discolored after whitening, there's likely a reason for it. Here's what you should know and what you can still do about the color of your teeth.

Types of Tooth Discoloration

There are three common types of tooth discoloration, and the type that you have can chance how successful whitening your teeth is.

The first type is standard staining of the teeth. This is when color from food and drinks is left behind on your teeth and sinks into the enamel.

The second type is mild enamel erosion. This is a common problem for people who have had braces. It leaves behind irregular white spots on the teeth.

The third type is enamel damage. When the tooth enamel is badly damaged, it allows a peek at the interior of the tooth, which isn't white. This can make the tooth look stained.

Why Enamel Wears Down

Damage to your enamel can come from a variety of causes. Everything from brushing your teeth too hard to eating abrasive foods or indulging in acidic drinks too often can do it to you. Unfortunately, once your tooth enamel is lost, there's no way for it to grow back. This means that without help from a dentist, most people who experience enamel damage like this are stuck with the discoloration.

What To Do About It

Speaking of dentists, if you've found yourself in the situation where teeth whitening doesn't seem to help your teeth, you're likely in the damaged enamel department. In this situation, you should stop whitening your teeth as soon as possible. Whitening them could damage the interior of the tooth since it's no longer protected by adequate enamel.

Instead, you should talk to a cosmetic dentist about veneers. Veneers are a simple cosmetic application that can perfect the appearance of teeth. As an added plus, they can help to protect the surface of your tooth that's lost its enamel.

Dental veneers are simply thin layers of porcelain that are shaped like a tooth. They're attached to the front of teeth with dental cement. This gives the appearance of a row of perfectly white, even, and straight teeth. It's the ideal for getting the smile that you want.

Don't keep struggling with ineffective teeth whitening treatments. Talk to your dentist about veneers.

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