In our Longmont Cosmetic Dentistry Office we hear the same complaint again and again, “No matter what I do, I just can’t get my teeth to look really white again!” Many patients are interested in whitening and refreshing their smiles because, let’s face it; your smile is the first thing that people notice about you! When you have sparkling teeth you look and feel better.

Unfortunately, as many of our patients reported, as we age our teeth change—often becoming darker and duller in appearance. This is to some extent an inevitable occurrence, because time and environmental factors alter dental enamel as we go through our daily lives.

Most patients are aware the certain foods and drinks can stain dental enamel. Some common culprits are wine, cola, coffee, tea, and tobacco. Additionally foods such as berries and chocolate may discolor enamel. These stains compound over time, becoming more difficult to whiten effectively.

What many patients don’t know is that in addition to staining, changes in the structure and density of dental enamel can also make your smile appear darker or yellower. The bright, white layer of dental enamel that young people enjoy gradually thins and becomes more see-through as we age. Under the dental enamel is a darker and yellow layer of a substance called dentin. Consequently, as dental enamel becomes thinner, more dentin is visible under the enamel—making teeth appear discolored.

While we cannot control these natural changes, thanks to modern cosmetic dentistry we can refresh the appearance of a patient’s smile using innovative treatment options. Some patients will be able to whiten their smiles with professional teeth bleaching treatments. Other patients with more extensive staining or discoloration may benefit from enamel resurfacing solutions like Lumineers. The important thing to know is that if you find yourself saying, “my teeth never look white!” you have options! To talk to a Longmont cosmetic dentist about teeth whitening options, give us a call at (303) 776-4229.