Dental Stains Resistant To Bleaching

While bleaching and laser treatments are often very effective in the treatment of dental stains, there are some types of staining that may be resistant to this type of treatment. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, make an appointment with your dentist. He or she will recommend the most effective treatment option for your type of stains. Here are some types of dental staining that may be resistant to bleaching treatments and what you can do about them:

Staining From Liquid Iron Supplements

If you have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, your physician may have recommended that you take iron supplements. While over-the-counter iron tablets may help raise your iron stores, prescription liquid iron may be better absorbed by your body.

Liquid iron can cause deep stains of the dental enamel, however, there are ways to minimize this risk. To reduce your risk for tooth staining from liquid iron, try diluting the preparation with water. In addition to this, consuming your liquid iron through a straw will help minimize contact with your teeth.

If the liquid iron makes contact with your teeth despite your best efforts to drink it through a straw, quickly rinse your mouth out with water and then brush your teeth. This will help remove the iron from your tooth enamel before it has a chance to set in. 

Congenital Intrinsic Staining

If your mother was prescribed the antibiotic tetracycline while pregnant with you, your teeth may have taken on a grayish or brown discoloration. This type of dental staining is known as intrinsic staining, and while bleaching will do little to brighten intrinsically stained teeth, other treatments will.

Porcelain veneers may be the preferred treatment option for intrinsic staining, however, unlike bleaching treatments, veneers cover up the stained teeth rather than eradicating the stain. The veneer "jackets" are affixed to the tooth so that the stain is no longer visible. Dental veneers are highly resistant to stains, look very natural, and are usually permanent. While a dental veneer can fall off your natural tooth, it is uncommon. 

If your teeth are stained, make an appointment with your dentist, who will determine which type of stains you have so that an effective treatment plan can be implemented. Whether your dentist determines that you should undergo bleaching treatments, bonding, or veneer treatment, he or she will make sure that you are happy with the results. 

Reach out to a professional like Aaron G Birch, DDS PC for more information.


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