Despite impeccable brushing, your teeth remain naturally yellow? A dentist reveals the only truly effective solution to permanently brighten your smile.
Do you brush your teeth morning and evening, sometimes use whitening toothpaste and yet your smile remains yellowish? Rest assured: this does not necessarily mean that your teeth are dirty or poorly maintained. The natural color of teeth varies greatly from person to person, and simple brushing cannot always change their shade.
The shade of teeth depends above all on their natural structure. The enamel, which covers the tooth, is not totally opaque: it is slightly translucent. In some people, this enamel is thicker and reflects light more, resulting in whiter teeth. Conversely, when enamel is thinner, dentin, a naturally yellowish layer beneath the enamel, becomes more visible. Result: teeth can appear yellow even when they are perfectly clean. Age also plays a role. Over time, the enamel gradually wears away, revealing more dentin.
Even with daily brushing, certain habits promote staining and dulling of teeth: coffee, tea, red wine,
tobacco or even certain very colorful foods. Brushing helps remove some of the surface deposits, but it cannot change the natural color of the teeth. This is also why “whitening” toothpastes often disappoint. Their action remains limited and temporary, because they mainly act on superficial stains.
So, what is the truly effective solution? According to Dr Renaud Desouches, dental surgeon in Aix en Provence, the only method capable of truly lightening the color of teeth is dental lightening carried out by a professional. This professional treatment uses suitable whitening agents that act deeply on tooth coloring, while protecting enamel and gums. The protocol is personalized according to the natural shade of the teeth and the desired result. Unlike products sold commercially, lightening carried out in the office allows you to obtain a more visible and more homogeneous result. Dentists point out, however, that there is no universal “perfect white”. The ideal color remains the one that respects the natural appearance of the teeth and the balance of the smile.
After lightening, a few simple actions allow you to maintain the results for longer: limit tobacco, reduce coloring drinks and maintain good oral hygiene on a daily basis. Because in the end, healthy teeth are always more important than perfectly white teeth.
