When you notice tooth stains, you might immediately think about your morning coffee that you can’t go without. Or you may cringe because of the smoking habit you’re struggling to kick. Dark-colored foods and beverages and tobacco products can turn teeth yellow, but they’re not the only reasons. In fact, you may be surprised to learn what else might cause tooth discoloration.
What is Making Your Teeth Discolored?
Are you frustrated because you can’t figure out what is causing your teeth to appear discolored? Here are a few reasons it may be happening to you:
- You are consuming dark-colored beverages and foods. Coffee, tea, red wine, sodas, berries, and even soy sauce can leave behind darkly pigmented remnants on your tooth enamel. Over time, they can gradually stain your teeth.
- You neglect your oral hygiene. If you don’t brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, floss between teeth to remove bacteria, and rinse, plaque will build up over time and leave tartar, which is yellow and can make your teeth look discolored.
- You are taking certain medications. Antibiotics during early tooth development can cause stains that appear yellow or gray and are difficult to remove because they exist within the tooth’s layers.
- You have suffered trauma. Unexpected damage to a tooth’s enamel and dentin layers can impact how it develops, resulting in a stained appearance.
- You are using tobacco. Smoking and other tobacco products leave behind noticeable stains because of the nicotine and tar they contain.
- You are getting older. You may not want to hear it, but your age can cause tooth discoloration. Over time, your enamel wears down and thins, revealing more dentin, which can appear yellow.
What Can You Do to Address Tooth Stains?
If you want to do something about your discolored smile, your cosmetic dentist can recommend professional teeth whitening.
In-office or customized take-home kits can reveal a brighter smile in less time than anything you might buy over the counter at your local drugstore. Dentist-approved products contain high-grade bleaching agents that target not only surface stains but also those below the enamel and hard to reach.
If you prefer a skilled dentist to provide treatment, you will likely see results in as little as one hour. If you would rather whiten your smile when it’s convenient for you, take-home kits can produce a brighter set of teeth in about two weeks.
Combining professional whitening with good oral hygiene and regular dental checkups and cleanings can help keep your smile free of unsightly stains over time. Also, a few lifestyle changes can help you enjoy a brighter smile in the long run.
About the Author
Dr. Les Latner is one of fewer than 10 dentists to have earned accreditation from the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry and a mastership from the Academy of General Dentistry. He offers a wide range of aesthetic services, including teeth whitening, designed to improve patients’ smiles, no matter how severe the stains. If you are tired of looking at your discolored grin, contact us at (310) 477-1081 to schedule an appointment.