Teeth Stains: What You Can and Can’t Control

Teeth are designed to be white in color, but it is not always that simple. Due to an extensive list of factors, teeth can present themselves into more than 40 shades ranging from light to dark. For most patients, their teeth can change color and shades over time. You may have retained a bright white smile as a kid but now suffer from teeth that have a more yellow hue. Teeth can discolor for a wide variety of reasons, some of which you can control and some of which you cannot. In most cases, however, a cosmetic dentist can help you attain a bright white smile now with teeth whitening treatment.

Teeth Staining Culprits You Can Control

When we consider unsightly dental discoloration, we often think of the foods, drinks and habits that can stain them over time. This is the most common type of discoloration, and one that is also most easily reversed. You can control the following teeth staining culprits:

• Dark foods and drinks – berries, sauces, coffee, soda, red wine, etc.
• Over-fluoridation – too much fluoride while your teeth were developing as a child
• Tobacco Use – smoking cigarettes or chewing tobacco turn teeth yellow over time

Discoloration Factors Beyond Your Control

In some cases, there is nothing you could’ve done differently to prevent your dark, dull or discolored teeth. Here is a list of things you can’t control when it comes to dental discoloration:

• Genetics – the color of your teeth could be in your genes as well as your susceptibility to stains
• Aging – we lose enamel when we age, which reveals a more yellow dentin layer
• Medicine Use –certain antibiotics and other necessary prescriptions can cause discoloration
• Dental Injury – intrinsic staining can occur when a tooth has been internally injured and begins to show a gray or dark color

Your Solution to Discolored Teeth

White teeth can provide a dramatic boost to your self-confidence and even take years off your appearance. Depending on the severity and type of your tooth stains, a dentist can offer professional teeth whitening, cosmetic bonding or porcelain veneers. Regardless of the tooth shade you’ve inherited or created, we have ways to make it whiter and brighter at Gilreath Family Dentistry. Call now to learn your teeth whitening options!