What you eat and drink — as well as how well you clean and maintain your teeth after — has a direct impact on the health and appearance of your teeth. For instance, you might have noticed that avid coffee drinkers tend to have yellower teeth, or heard of someone cracking a tooth from biting into something too hard.

 In Geelong, cosmetic dentistry offers a range of solutions to address such issues and restore your teeth’s aesthetics and function. Let’s take a look at some of the most common diet-related teeth problems and the types of cosmetic dentistry services that might be able to help.

Stained Teeth 

If you’re a frequent consumer of strongly pigmented food and drink, your teeth might become stained over time as the pigments adhere to your teeth enamel. 

Tannin is especially known to yellow and discolour teeth, and it’s found in various types of beverages that people consume regularly, such as:

  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Red wine.

Other dark-coloured foods may also cause similar issues, including but not limited to cherries, soy sauce and balsamic vinegar.

 Solution

 A teeth whitening procedure may be suitable for restoring your pearly whites. This can be done professionally by a cosmetic dentist in Geelong, or on your own with a take-home kit.

 An in-house whitening treatment by a dentist typically takes 30-90 minutes per sessions and can deliver almost immediate results (up to eight shades whiter). Note, however, that results may vary depending on the condition of your teeth and general oral health.

If you prefer a take-home kit, you’ll still need to have a custom whitening tray made at the dentist’s to fit your teeth. You’ll then be given the correct gels and instructions on how to use it — this typically involves squeezing some gel into the tray and wearing it for some time. This option can be more cost-effective, but will require more discipline to achieve results. 

Worn Teeth 

If your teeth are worn down, a diet high in acidic foods might be the culprit. Examples of acidic foods include:

  • Citrus fruits
  • Carbonated beverages, and
  • Vinegar-based dressings.

 Excessive consumption of these can erode the enamel of your teeth, which can cause dullness, thinning, and surface flattening.

Over time, extensive erosion can result in your teeth becoming shorter and flatter, which in turn may lead to increased teeth sensitivity and difficulty chewing.

Solution

In cases of moderate to severe enamel wear, dental crowning — a tooth-shaped cap that covers the damaged tooth — can help protect your tooth from further erosion by restoring its original shape and size. This improves both jaw function and oral aesthetics.

After a digital scan of your tooth, your dentist should be able to show you the simulated results of your crown before the treatment starts. Besides being made to fit your bite and facial profile, the crown’s colour can also be modified to match your surrounding teeth. 

Cracked Teeth 

Microfractures or tiny cracks in your teeth can happen as a result of frequently chewing on hard foods, such as:

  • Ice
  • Nuts
  • Hard candies
  • Bone

 This is exacerbated if the tooth is already weakened due to the erosion of enamel from dietary acids. While the tiny cracks might not be noticeable, they can cause temperature sensitivity, swelling around the tooth, and pain when biting. Over time, they can also develop into bigger fractures if left untreated.

Solution

If the crack (or cracks) in the teeth are minuscule, dental bonding may be a viable cosmetic dentistry fix. This involves applying a tooth-coloured composite resin over the cracked area and hardened with a special curing light. The resin acts as a protective layer and minimises temperature sensitivity, as well as avoiding further tooth damage.

For more severe cracks, dental veneers could be more suited to address the issue. These thin shells are usually made from porcelain or composite resin and are bonded to the front surface of the damaged tooth with special dental cement. They provide more robust protection than dental bonding and also improve the aesthetics of a person’s smile.

Decaying Teeth 

Cavities are the result of bacteria in plaque attacking the tooth due to the overconsumption of sweet or starchy foods, such as but not limited to:

  • Cookies
  • Caramels
  • Sweetened fruit juices.

When carbohydrates are present in the mouth, the bacteria converts them to acids, which in turn can demineralise the tooth enamel. Severe demineralisation due to diet and improper cleaning can lead to the formation of cavities and later, more extensive tooth decay that causes pain and infection.

Solution 

Small cavities can be filled in with fillings that are made from either amalgam (silver) or composite resin material. The cavity is first cleaned before the filling is inserted, eliminating any remaining bacteria and stoppering the hole in the tooth. This strengthens the tooth and prevents further damage.

If the cavity is too large for a filling, a dental onlay might be recommended instead — a type of dental restoration that covers part of the tooth, but is not quite a crown. Usually made of porcelain or composite resin, onlays are more durable than fillings and can protect more of the tooth’s structure. 

Restore Teeth Function and Appearance with Dental Professionals 

Maintaining a healthy diet can significantly influence your oral health, especially when complemented by consistent oral care habits such as brushing and flossing regularly. However, if you’re experiencing diet-related teeth issues, it’s not too late to address them with cosmetic dentistry in Geelong. 

From teeth whitening for tannin-discoloured teeth to dental crowns for teeth cracked from biting down on too-hard food, cosmetic dentistry can provide targeted treatments for teeth troubles that restore and improve dental function, while also improving the aesthetics of your smile. If this sounds like a service you need, explore your options with your nearest cosmetic dentist today.