Whitening treatments can be a great way to brighten up your smile. For people with dental implants, though, whitening your teeth can be easier said than done.
Traditional whitening materials don’t work on crowns and bridges and can actually damage them, so it’s important to do your research when trying to ensure your dental implants stay white and match the rest of your natural teeth. Keeping your dental implants in line with the color of your other teeth requires a little bit of foresight, but it’s very achievable.
Whitening Dental Implants
Dental crowns are made of porcelain or ceramic, and many whitening materials are either abrasive or won’t absorb into the artificial tooth since it is a nonporous material. That means you generally cannot lighten a crown that has become stained or discolored. In some cases, it’s possible to replace crowns that no longer match the rest of your teeth, but the simpler approach is to prevent stains and discoloration — for both your implant and your natural teeth.
Do Dental Implants Stain?
Dental implants are highly resistant to stains, so you typically won’t need to worry about stains themselves. The damaging aspect is their effect on the coating on the tooth. There are a few foods and materials that can erode the coating and make the implants more susceptible to stains.
That said, the bonding materials used in dental implants often respond more heavily to stains than the artificial tooth itself. As a result, some patients see a color change on the outside edges of the implant. Fortunately, a professional polish can usually get rid of these fairly easily.
How to Keep Dental Implants White
Taking care of your dental implants can help you keep them white as long as possible. Most of knowing how to whiten dental implants or keep them the same color as your natural teeth involves knowing what substances to avoid, including:
- Smoking and chewing tobacco: These substances can stain your natural teeth with a yellow or brownish tinge. They can also affect the functionality of the implants, making them less likely to stay in.
- Food and drinks with tannins: Tannins are included in many drinks and foods like coffee, red wine, tea and certain berries. These substances can corrode teeth and create stains. If you can’t resist, try drinking these beverages through a straw to avoid contact with your teeth.
- Abrasive toothpaste: An abrasive toothpaste can wear away at the surface of your dental implants, leaving them rough and susceptible to stains.
Another way to help keep your dental implants white is to brush and rinse your teeth after every meal. Some of the chemicals in certain foods and drinks are rough on your implants and your natural teeth. It’s always a good idea to brush and rinse about 30 minutes after meals to clear these damaging materials away.
Your Trusted Source for Dental Implants
As a leader in the dental community, Hiossen Implant is proud to produce dental implants and prosthetics that give patients lasting smiles. Contact us today to learn more about our products.
