August 13, 2008
The Meaning of Life - Brilliant White Teeth?
If you have ever seen the Monty Python film The Meaning of Life, you may recall a scene toward the end in which the late Graham Chapman played the role of a heavenly lounge singer with a blindingly white smile - so white, in fact that it looked comical (which of course was the point).
In fact, no human (or any other mammal) has perfectly white teeth. Even the color we call “ivory white” - the color of an elephant or walrus tusk - is a somewhat “warmer” shade than the color of snow. Nonetheless, darkened, stained teeth are not particularly attractive or healthy looking.
Also known as teeth bleaching, “whitening” is perhaps the most popular, least expensive and most commonly performed procedure in the field of cosmetic dentistry. Natural teeth are never pure white, and would look unnatural in any event. However, there are several factors that can cause teeth to become stained over time, even for those who are very conscientious about dental hygiene. Tobacco use, consumption of tea and/or coffee, prescription drugs such as tetracycline and even illness can cause the best-kept teeth to turn yellow, brown or even blue. The objective of tooth whitening is not to make a person’s teeth the brilliant white color of snow or talcum powder, but simply to restore the teeth to their natural healthy color.
There are many “over-the-counter” (OTC) products available for those who want to attempt this type of cosmetic dentistry at home one their own. However, the American Dental Association does not recommend these, and if you choose to use one, you do so only under the advice of a licensed dental professional. One of the problems with these OTC (aside from their dubious effectiveness) is that the tray used for the application of the bleaching agent (which is usually hydrogen peroxide) is a “one-size-fits-all” proposition - meaning it is unlikely to fit anyone’s particular mouth well and can cause a great deal of discomfort.
On the other hand, your cosmetic dentistry professional will create a tray that is custom made for your teeth and follow a procedure that will address the specific cause of your tooth discoloration.
