Chief complaint:

I take a Vitamin C supplement in powder form daily, which I mix in yogurt. Can ascorbic acid powder discolor Lumineers or my regular tooth enamel? Also, does it affect 'zoom' whitening results?

Thanks.

–Annie from Wisconsin

Annie,

I don't believe ascorbic acid power will discolor teeth, lumineers, or other dental work, nor will it affect whitening results.

Coffee, tea, tobacco, wine, and berries are the chief offenders as far as substances that contribute to the discoloration of teeth. The strong pigments affect the teeth gradually over the years, making them become duller, browner, or more yellow. The darkening process may not be apparent until after ten years, but it can become pronounced. Tooth whitening with an at-home tray system will soak into your teeth and oxidize away those tooth stains, leaving them bright and beautiful again.

Usually, an expert cosmetic dentist will suggest a brief one-visit touchup every year or two to minimize the re-staining effect of these foods that everyone eats. For more information, read our page about tooth whitening relapse.

The porcelain in Lumineers or in any porcelain veneers, doesn't absorb stain so long as it is maintained properly. Avoiding harsh abrasives and using Supersmile whitening toothpaste daily seems to provide the best protection against discoloration of cosmetic dental work.

–Dr. Hall

Other related links:

• Learn how to treat tetracycline stains. These are very dark stains that go deeply into the teeth, and they require porcelain veneers from a very experienced cosmetic dentist to cover them enough to create a beautiful smile.
• Here's some general information about whitening toothpaste.
• Supersmile® recommended for teeth stained with Peridex anti-bacterial rinse.
• Read about coffee stains on teeth.
• Read about the loss of enamel on the insides of the front teeth from bulimia.
• Click here for referral to an expert cosmetic dentist.
• Dinah asks Dr. Hall how realistic it is to get a perfect color match porcelain crown for her front tooth.
• A single discolored tooth is usually the result of a root canal treatment, and internal tooth bleaching is a treatment option.

This information is provided for you by the mynewsmile.com cosmetic dentist referral service, and was personally written by Dr. David Hall.