Teeth Whitening

In-office teeth whitening

Take-home teeth whitening trays

Yellow teeth are a natural occurrence as you age because, over the years, the outer layer of your teeth (enamel) breaks down and flakes away due to chewing and biting.

Beneath the enamel is dentin, which is naturally yellow. As your dentin becomes more visible, your teeth appear yellow as well.

Other factors that contribute to stained or discolored teeth include:

• Eating foods that stain, like tomato-based pasta sauce or berries

• Drinking beverages with tannins, like red wine or coffee

• Taking medication with tetracycline

• Using tobacco

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You could also develop stained or discolored teeth due to poor oral hygiene, but you can lower your risk by brushing and flossing daily.

In-office teeth whitening can make your teeth up to *eight shades brighter in just one sitting. At the beginning of treatment, your provider covers your gums and tongue with a protective dam and applies a whitening solution to your teeth. They let the whitening solution sit for 10-15 minutes and then point a special light at your teeth.

The light triggers a whitening reaction that quickly eradicates stains and discoloration. Your provider repeats the same steps several times until you're happy with the results.

If you don't have time for an in-office teeth whitening appointment, consider teeth whitening trays. Take-home teeth whitening trays are plastic mouthpieces you fill with a whitening solution. You wear them for 3-4 hours each day as they gradually remove stains and discoloration from your teeth.