Question from Kate Kinsella, Brighton:
What can I do about stained teeth?
My teeth look horrible from years of smoking and drinking coffee and red wine. What procedures are available to correct this problem – I have heard about dental bleaching – is this correct?
Teeth invariably stain over the years and as you have mentioned, some food and drinks are more prone to causing staining than others. There is a procedure available in your dentist's surgery which is known as professional teeth bleaching (or whitening) which can help to whiten your natural teeth and can eliminate those stains. There are some stains however, which will not react to bleaching such as stains which have been caused by certain medications. It is a good idea therefore, for you to visit your dentist for a consultation. If your dentist feels that bleaching will not produce the desired results, then he may recommend veneers or crowns. There are many home whitening kits available where you can do this process yourself at home. It can take weeks to get the results you desire compared with the immediate results you would get from a professional whitening treatment. The dentist will normally have a special ultra violet light which will produce better results. You may suffer from tooth sensitivity for a few days after having your teeth whitened but this should soon settle down and get back to normal.
