While a white smile may be aesthetically appealing, it is also the indication of good oral hygiene.
Teeth stains can occur for a variety of reasons, but there are sometimes negative influences that can cause discoloration. While genetics can play a part in teeth discoloration, there are also habits that you can avoid to limit teeth stains.
Why do teeth stains occur?
1. The Starting Color of Your Teeth
Everyone is born with a certain tooth color. This tooth color can range from yellowish-brown, to grey or greenish. Over time, these colors will intensify because of outside factors and your age. For those with a yellowish-brown disposition, you are a better candidate for bleaching than someone with a grey or greenish color.
2. Age and Teeth Stains
Teeth face wear and tear as you age, and the wear and tear starts to accumulate stains on your teeth. Teenagers normally experience dramatic changes, as the natural whiteness starts to give way to stains and discolorations. As you age, your teeth may require more and more maintenance treatments to keep a pearly-white appearance. You will really notice teeth stains between age 40 and age 50. Maintenance and proper dental hygiene can help to limit teeth stains, however, so continuous vigilance and action will help to protect stains and discolorations from taking over.
3. Dietary Habits
There are a list of foods and beverages that can aid in the staining of your teeth: red wine, teas, soda, coffee, oranges and other beverages with dark colors. Also, acidic food and drinks are culprits of teeth staining as well. The surface of your teeth will become more transparent, and yellow-colored dentin will be able to show through more visibly.
4. Smoking
Nicotine is known for tooth discoloration. It leaves brown deposits that the teeth slowly absorb.
5. Chemicals and Drugs
Fluoride is safe for teeth when the exposure is at recommended levels, but excessive fluoride can cause fluorosis. Fluorosis can appear as white, mottling stains on your teeth. Tetracycline can also cause dark grey or brown stains during tooth formation
6. Grinding
Teeth grinding is now more commonly associated with stress, and this continual grinding can cause micro-cracking. The biting edges of your teeth can start to darken when excessive grinding occurs.
7. Injuries and Trauma
Injuries and trauma can lead to cracked teeth. When the teeth are not repaired, your teeth can absorb large quantities of stains and debris.
8. Thinness and Translucency
Opaque and thick teeth appear lighter in color, but thinner and transparent teeth have less of the pigment that is required for bleaching. Unfortunately, transparency is a condition that cannot be corrected by teeth whitening methods.
Do you want to learn more about fighting teeth stains?
Call Olney Dental at (301) 250-1057 or contact us online for an appointment. And don’t forget to visit Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, and YouTube to connect with us on social media.