Our smile is our first introduction when we meet new people. Our oral health should be a major priority in our lives, but in reality, it takes a back seat. Yellowing and staining cause us to not be as confident in our smiles and ourselves. It is also a sign that our tooth enamel is weakening. There are many common causes of tooth discoloration, but there are also solutions to keep your smile healthy and bright.
Common Causes of Discoloration
We normally are not the most proactive at stopping discoloration. We have daily habits that are hurting our teeth more than we might know. What we eat and what we drink affect more than we know. Adding to that, we will not support those unhealthy habits with good oral hygiene. This intake causes tooth discoloration. While some want to blame it all on our habits, there is also a natural component to it as well. Aging, as well as our genetic makeup, are also factors in yellowing/staining teeth.
- Tea/Coffee
Dark-colored drinks like coffee, tea, and soda tend to stain your teeth when you drink them consistently. These are some of the biggest culprits of tooth discoloration.
- Smoking/Tobacco
Smoking or chewing tobacco can cause discoloration in your teeth. Over time the smoke and nicotine will leave surface stains that worsen the longer you smoke.
- “Staining Foods”
Foods that are high in processed sugars or acids, like candies and sodas, will wear on your tooth enamel and cause discoloration and will also increase your risk of cavities.
- Poor oral hygiene
Poor oral hygiene will lead to plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth causing yellowing. Poor brushing and flossing habits will lead to this buildup and give the appearance of yellowing/staining.
- Aging
When you age your teeth begin to naturally yellow as the outer layer of enamel wears away. As you age your teeth create more dentin which causes your teeth to have a darker appearance.
How to Help Whiten Your Teeth
While tooth discoloration is a common problem, it doesn’t mean that there is no solution. Having good oral hygiene, drinking more water, and eating healthy are all ways to help fight against discoloration. If the problem is serious you can look into over-the-counter or professional whitening assistance.
- Good Oral Hygiene
It sounds like a brainer but having a consistent dental hygiene plan involving brushing, flossing, and fluoride wash will help keep your pearly whites healthy. It will help stop tartar buildup and clean out harmful bacteria.
- Drink More Water
Water helps keep your teeth happy and healthy by keeping them strong and helps stop the formation of stains after eating and drinking. Drinking water will assist in washing away food debris.
- At-Home Kits
These can be found at your local pharmacies or general stores and they provide an at-home way to get tooth whitening done faster. Common at-home whitening products are whitening strips, special whitening toothpaste, whitening gels, and whitening trays.
- Diet Improvement
Eating healthier has many health benefits, keeping your teeth cleaner and healthier is one of them. Eating foods like strawberries, cheese, celery, and apples will help clean and protect your teeth.
- Professional Teeth Cleaning
For the best results for whitening your teeth, consult a professional. Professional teeth whitening and bleaching can remove stains, restoring teeth to their natural colors.
Tooth discoloration can be something hurting your confidence. Hopefully, with this information, you will have the tools to work on your smile and build back your confidence. On top of that, good oral health is an important aspect of your overall health. Abundant Dental Care has put together an infographic breaking down the common causes and solutions to tooth discoloration. I hope this helps educate you to make the best decisions for your oral health.
