The desire of many patients to have “flawless” teeth and a brilliant smile is becoming increasingly important in dentistry. Bleaching offers a treatment method for making even strongly discolored teeth bright within a short time.
Discolorations have many different causes. Among others the consumption of coffee, certain tea varieties, soft drinks, some spices (e.g., curry, saffron, curcuma) and other foods (e.g., soy sauce, cherries, bilberries, blueberries, and strawberries) as well as smoking promote the disposition of color pigments on the teeth and their absorption in to the tooth enamel. Additional factors influencing the natural whiteness of the teeth are, among others, certain medications as well as colored toothpastes and dental rinses. Last but not least, age and personal oral hygiene have a major impact on tooth discoloration.