The Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Over time, you will probably notice your teeth are not as white as they used to be. Don’t worry though as it is common, and a variety of factors cause this to happen. However, of course, we’d still want our teeth to look their best and always keep them healthy! Don’t you fret because thanks to modern science, there are effective ways to keep our set of pearly whites at its finest. But before we delve into that, let’s take a closer look at some of the most common reasons behind tooth discoloration.

Aging

Aging certainly brings about a lot of changes to us, our physical features undergoing the most obvious transformation. That includes our teeth, which apparently, also age through discoloration. If you compare a photo of yourself from when you were younger to your present photo, you may notice that your set of teeth now may not be as luminous as they were when you got your first set of permanent teeth. This is because of your enamel’s outer layer wearing out over time, which then brings out the natural color of the dentin – one of the major components of the teeth that is yellow in appearance.

Poor Dental Hygiene

While it is true that the teeth undergo discoloration through aging, there’s also a chance for young ones to experience teeth discoloration early if their set of pearly whites aren’t cared for accordingly. This is why dental hygiene greatly matters, whatever your age may be. The lack of proper brushing, rinsing, flossing, and general cleaning will lead to plaque and stain build-up, hence, turning your pearly whites into yellow.

Food, Drinks, and Medicines

These are one of the leading causes that contribute to teeth discoloration, but it’s not like they are entirely to blame since these are basically essential needs that we need to intake for our body. However, we can’t deny that some of the food and drinks that we intake have strong colorings or ingredients that leave stain marks on our teeth. This includes the likes of caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea, and soda. Foods with high starch content like potatoes and pasta also contribute to staining. Certain medications are also known to stain the teeth due to their chemical composition. Some antibiotics and antihistamines are some examples. Meanwhile, even mouthwash is found to play a role in teeth discoloration, despite helping kill off bacteria in our mouth and making our breath fresher. This is because of the presence of the chemical chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride that contribute to the staining.

Smoking

If you are a frequent smoker, there is a higher chance of your teeth discolor. This is because of the tobacco and nicotine contents that contribute to the yellowing of the teeth. Chewing tobacco also contributes to discoloration.

Previous Teeth Trauma Experience

A disruption in the enamel formation of the tooth can result in early teeth discoloration among children. Moreover, it also applies to adults who may have experienced a traumatic fall that impacted the teeth.

Excessive Fluoride

While fluoride is known to be beneficial for our teeth as can be seen in our toothpaste ingredients, an excessive application may contribute to discoloration in the long run, through a condition called fluorosis, where white spots appear on the teeth.

Bring back that pearly white smile with Infinite Dental Wellness in Glendale, CA

When it comes to teeth discoloration, don’t worry! It’s not the end of the world; there is a way to restore the glory of your pearly whites! Thanks to modern science for coming up with the process of Teeth Whitening, which is also a part of the services we offer here at our dental clinic in Glendale, CA. So why should you avail the Teeth Whitening at Infinite Dental Wellness? One of the many things that we take pride in is giving our patients all the available options that will suit their needs. We are always transparent when it comes to our assessment of your teeth’ condition. We offer our patients two types of dental services: one is where we offer treatment solutions that the patient can do at home (e.g. recommendation of a whitening toothpaste) or an in-office treatment which can be done at the same time with your regular cleaning schedule. Whitening trays come in a high recommendation as we believe it’s the fastest, effective way to whiten your teeth; and the best part is that you as the patient, get to have control over how white you want your teeth to be. To know more about it, you are very much welcome to schedule an appointment with our resident dentists if you are in Glendale, CA or nearby. Likewise, you can also give us a call at (818) 541 – 1110, and we’d be happy to answer any questions you may have!