Discolouration of Teeth.

The majority of the population does not naturally have teeth as pearly white and sparkling as those we see in celebrities and on tv, and this is completely normal. However, you can still have pearly white teeth and avoid discolouration and yellowing with some basic knowledge and care as well as a treatment from Philips Zoom Teeth Whitening with their dental in office treatments or at home treatments.

Discolouration can come in the form of darkening, developing white spots or turning to different shades. Although not considered medically dangerous, tooth discolouration can be disheartening or off-putting.

There are two main categories of discolouration, which are extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic is caused by anything that comes into contact with your teeth, affecting the enamel (the outer surface)

Intrinsic occurs in the inside structure of the tooth, the dentine, and is harder to treat.

The top offenders of discolouration include:

• Drinks such as coffee, red wine and tea.

These acidic beverages help chromogens attach to the enamel and cause staining.

• Dark-colored foods such as cola, chocolate, soy sauce and balsamic.

These contain a pigment-producing substance called tannin that sticks to the enamel and causes blemishes.

• Smoking or chewing tobacco.

These chemicals create a yellowish stain on the tooth surface.

• Excess fluoride found in certain water or overuse of toothpaste or supplements.

This can cause white streaks or dark spots on the teeth.

• Medication:

Certain prescriptions of antibiotics can cause staining for children, as well as women over 4 months pregnant.

• Genetics:

Certain people are born with thicker enamel or naturally whiter teeth.

• Aging:

Over time, enamel thins, which makes teeth appear more yellow.

• Trauma:

Trauma can also cause teeth to discolor

• Diet:

If your diet is more acidic, leading to an acidic environment in your mouth, this too can make your teeth more prone to discoloring.

How to prevent and treat discolouration:

The best way to prevent discolouration is to watch the type and quantity of food and drink you consume. Knowing the effects of certain substances can allow you to limit and control the extent of color change. Fizzy drinks, foods high in sugar and carbohydrates and very acidic foods all tend to wear down the enamel and should be taken in moderation.

Good dental hygiene is important to maintain natural tooth color, as yellowing is caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar. Removing this build up before it decays will allow for healthier and whiter looking teeth.

Including more calcium into your diet, whether through certain food such as milk or broccoli, or with a supplement, can prevent enamel erosion as well as strengthen the gums of your mouth.

Therefore, while having a completely white and sparkling smile does not come naturally, there are various ways to avoid discolouration and ensure your tooth color remains at top quality and health at all times.

You can prevent tooth discolouration with regular professional cleaning and good home care.

About Philips Zoom Whitening

Philips Zoom Whitening offers a safe and professional solution to stained teeth in just one session! Performed by a dental professional, the procedure is safe and effective, leaving you with your brightest smile for up to 24 months.

Both in office and take-home gels have a pH booster, meaning it’s completely safe for your teeth. All gels contain amorphous calcium phosphate, sodium fluoride and potassium nitrate to help remineralize and desensitize the teeth during the bleaching process.

In office whitening

Philips Zoom Whitespeed LED light:

An in-office procedure using our advanced technology LED light combined with 25% hydrogen peroxide gel to achieve results of up to 8 shades whiter in as little as 45 minutes chair time (excludes prep time)

A full Zoom Whitespeed procedure consists of 3 x 15 minutes in the chair, plus customised whitening trays and a home kit. Some practices will include a cleaning and take-home maintenance products to enable you to keep your teeth looking their whitest in as little as 30 minutes at home once a month.

Price range: From R5000

Take-home Whitening

DayWhite: For dramatic results in a minimal amount of time

These professional take home bleaching ampoules come in 2 strengths of hydrogen peroxide and are for bleaching during the day.

The 9.5% hydrogen peroxide gel can be placed in trays and worn for 30 minutes per time. This is ideal for sensitive teeth and home bleaching, including after in chair whitening.

The 14% hydrogen peroxide gel can be placed in trays and worn for just 15 minutes, and is ideal for maintenance only, so ideally only after the whitening end point has been achieved and your clinician has put you onto your maintenance program of either 15 or 30 minutes once a month.

• Wear time: 30 minutes, twice a day

• A noticeably whiter smile in just seven days

• Optimum results in two weeks

NiteWhite: This is a 10% carbamide peroxide professional take home whitening gel which needs to be placed in customised trays and worn for 4-6 hours per night. It is for more stubborn staining such as: Antibiotic stained teeth Non-Vital teeth (due to e.g., trauma) Extremely/ unusually dark or grey, brown staining

· Wear time: 2-4 hours at night

· A noticeably whiter smile in just seven days

· Optimum results within 2 weeks

Price range: From R2 500

Join the Philips Zoom Endless Whitening Program (offered by selected dentists only)

Now you can join Philips Zoom Endless Whitening Program. This is an agreement between you and your dental professional to improve your long-term oral health.

How to benefit from this program?

Once you have done the in-chair Zoom whitening procedure you are required to visit your dentist at least every 6 months for your oral and dental checkup. For your commitment you will receive a Free Philips Zoom DayWhite or NiteWhite teeth whitening syringe to keep your smile bright.

To find a dental professional near you visit: www.zoomwhitening.co.za/find-a-dentist