The holiday season may technically be over, but you may be still feeling the effects of a lackadaisical attitude regarding what you ate and drank at all of those festive gatherings. It’s common enough to gain a few pounds of “holiday cheer” in November, December, and into New Year’s. Work parties, friend’s soirees, family fun time – all of those treats, and even more than a few adult beverages not only effect your waistline, but also your smile. Red wine is a classic on cold winter’s day. However, you should remain concerned about food and beverage choices which cause dramatic teeth stains bound to make you look older.
Extrinsic Stains from Food Choices
Teeth stains are classified into the two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic. Stains on the surfaces of teeth are the most common. They are called extrinsic. Teeth whitening treatments help with extrinsic stains, but they won’t reach the internal structure of your tooth’s dentin. Fortunately, your holiday stains are going to be surface stains that are lifted quite easily with professional teeth bleaching procedures. Once you’ve whitened your grin, you may want to ditch the red wine, cranberry juice, candy and drinks with red dyes, coffee, and any dark foods or beverages which will cause a higher rate of extrinsic stains and less time with your newly whitened smile.
Treating Intrinsic Stains
Less common are stains which result from internal issues such as overexposure to fluoride, dental injury, or a reaction to certain medications. Because intrinsic stains cannot be bleached away, one of the most versatile treatments for covering up these sorts of stains is porcelain veneers. For a simpler procedure, dental bonding will help for dulling or discoloration which is localized to a small area. Tooth colored composite resin is the same material used in white dental fillings. For dental bonding, the resin is placed on dark spots, shaped, and cured to tooth-like hardness and texture. If you only have one or two teeth with intrinsic stains, you can also consider a dental crown color-matched to surrounding teeth. All of your options can be discussed with Dr. Engelberg at your initial cosmetic consultation.
ABOUT YOUR NORTHBROOK COSMETIC DENTIST:
Dr. Brent Engelberg and his highly-skilled team proudly serve patients and their families from Arlington Heights, IL, and all surrounding communities, including; Northbrook, Deerfield, Highland Park, Wilmette, Winnetka, Glencoe, Vernon Hills, Lincolnshire, Libertyville, Skokie, Evanston, Palatine, Schaumburg, Elk Grove Village, Rolling Meadows, and the Northern and Northwest Chicago Suburbs. To learn more, schedule a consultation online, or call our office today at 847-259-8030.
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