Why Are My Teeth Losing Their Whiteness?

If your teeth were once clean and white but have become dull and discolored over time, don’t fret. You have many options available to help in the burgeoning teeth whitening industry; in 2015 alone, Americans spent over $11 billion on whitening products and treatments. 

At Fluegge Family Dentistry, Dr. Matthew Fluegge and our team understand the positive message a bright, white smile conveys and want to give our patients the edge they’re looking for with in-office and at-home whitening treatments. Here’s more about why your teeth aren’t as dazzling as they once were and how you can get them back.

Why are my teeth losing their whiteness?

Teeth lose their whiteness due to a wide range of factors.

Intrinsic factors happen within the tooth structure. As you age, the hard enamel covering and protecting your teeth begins to thin, revealing the yellowish-brown color of the soft dentin inside. No amount of brushing can remove the color because it’s part of the tooth itself.

Extrinsic factors derive from food, drink, some medications, and lifestyle factors that cause the enamel to stain. Some of the biggest staining culprits include:

• Tea and coffee
• Colas
• Red wine
• Dark berries like blueberries and blackberries
• Tomatoes and tomato sauce
• Soy sauce
• Tobacco in any form
• Antibiotics like tetracycline

Various whitening methods can remove most of these kinds of stains. While there’s not much you can do to avoid stains caused by medication, you can cut back on staining consumables and avoid tobacco entirely. That’s not to say you can’t ever enjoy your favorite indulgences; just rinse your mouth afterward and brush after meals so they don’t leave a residue.

Regaining white teeth 

If your teeth are becoming less than bright, and you’re unhappy about it, you’re in luck. The Zoom!® System from Phillips, which Dr. Flueggee uses, can brighten your teeth up to eight shades in a single hour-long treatment session.

Zoom! is more effective than other systems because it removes discoloration of the outer enamel and reaches inside the tooth to whiten the inner dentin.

When you come in for your session, Dr. Fluegge places the whitening gel in a tray on your teeth and uses an LED light to activate the bleaching agent. The peroxide (active ingredient) penetrates the enamel, breaks up the pigments that cause stains, and allows your teeth's natural whiteness to shine through.

We also offer an at-home version of the Zoom! System, the Philips ZOOM Customized Home Whitening Kit, for patients who would prefer to whiten their teeth in the comfort of their own homes. With the Phillips at-home kits, you can expect to be up to four shades brighter in just 30 minutes. 

And if that’s not enough, you can build the effects with additional applications.

If your teeth are losing their natural whiteness and want to restore them, contact Fluegge Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment. Call our office at 509-888-3384 to schedule, or book online today.