Help! My Teeth are Yellow

Think of the last time you checked your look in the mirror before dashing out of the house. We all do a little recon on uncooperative and out-of-place hair before we greet the new day, but many of us discover at one point or another dull, lackluster teeth that take on a yellow tinge.

Yikes! Now what? You brush your teeth and go to the dentist for professional cleanings. What’s going on? Don’t panic, says Ginger Rome, DDS, at The Dentists at North Cypress in Houston, Texas. Despite our best efforts, our teeth often reveal the evidence of a well-lived life, but there’s plenty you can do to turn up the brightness.

The anatomy of teeth
To better understand how staining and discoloration happen, let’s take a step back and look at the anatomy of teeth. Teeth are composed of four layers of tissue. Enamel, the outermost super hard layer, is probably the part of the tooth we are most familiar with.

Enamel does two important things: It gives healthy teeth their characteristic pearly white, opulent glow and acts as a protective shield for the inside parts of teeth. The next layer, dentin, is naturally yellowish or brown.

Dentin and enamel work together to protect the third layer, called dental pulp. The pulp layer is soft tissue sensitive to sensations since it houses nerves, blood vessels, and connective tissue. The fourth layer is cementum — hard connective tissue that covers the tooth root.

Despite the strength of the dynamic duo of enamel and dentin to keep teeth healthy and protected, things like poor hygiene and acidic foods, drinks, and tobacco can stain the enamel. It becomes clear how teeth can dull and discolor when you add breaches in the enamel or worn enamel that allows the yellowish dentin layer to peek through. That’s where teeth whitening comes in.

Professional versus over-the-counter teeth whitening
There is a wide variety of treatment options to whiten teeth, ranging from over-the-counter options like toothpaste, gels, and store-bought whitening kits to professional, chair-side whitening at your dentist’s office. For most people, the decision-making comes down to whether you want to manage the process at home or if you prefer to put the process in the hands of your dental provider.

While the control aspect of it may seem optimal for the do-it-yourselfer, there are definite differences between over-the-counter retail products and professional whitening services provided by your dentist. The main difference between retail products and in-office whitening services is the potency of the whitening agent and how long it takes to get optimal results. Your whitening goals and how heavily stained or discolored your teeth are may decide for you.

One appointment away from a bright, gorgeous smile
While there are differences between whitening services or products, they all work off the same principle – a whitening agent composed of hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide gets applied to teeth, and a chemical reaction transpires, lifting stains or discoloration.

The potency of ingredients comes into play, but so does the fact that many products have already lost their oomph by the time they’ve reached the store or the dentist’s office. That’s why The Dentists at North Cypress use the KöR Whitening system.

KöR Whitening is the first company to mandate door-to-refrigeration for teeth whitening products. KöR Whitening is an in-office treatment that leverages a proprietary whitening gel that can brighten your smile up to 16 shades in a single treatment session. With KöR Whitening, patients can maintain their epic bright smile using an at-home whitening system.

If you need to turn up the brightness on your smiles and want to learn if KöR Whitening is best for you, contact The Dentists at North Cypress by calling us today or scheduling an appointment online.