Tooth Whitening Can Uncover Undetected Dental Health Issues

Dental Detectives

Tooth Whitening Can Uncover
Undetected Dental Health Issues

Discolored teeth are common among many groups of patients. Those who like to drink red wine, coffee and tea drinkers and especially those who use tobacco are prone to tooth discoloration.

The increased use of at-home tooth whitening systems has caused an upswing in patients whose tooth discoloration cannot be rectified by simple use of over-the-counter whitening products.

One cause of discoloration that can’t simply be whitened away is age. As we age and the enamel on the teeth thins, the yellowish dentin inside the teeth becomes visible and casts a yellowish hue on teeth. When it comes to thinner enamel, no amount of whitening products will net a whiter smile.

Another common, yet rarely discussed, cause of discoloration in certain spots but not others is undetected tooth decay. When patients begin to use whitening products to improve the appearance of their smiles, the products can uncover staining caused by small cavities.

These usually look like brownish or blackish spots near the gum line. Patients often come in complaining that no matter what they do, the spots persist. Decay obviously cannot be treated with whitening products.

Still other patients seem to struggle with the concept that their teeth may get whiter when using whitening products, but unless they change the habits that cause the staining in the first place, their teeth simply will not stay white long, and frequent whitening can cause extreme tooth sensitivity.

As one of the biggest trends in dental care in the past several decades, tooth whitening has definite benefits and definite drawbacks. If it brings undetected concerns to the office sooner than expected, however, the pros of tooth whitening definitely outweigh the cons.