With so many factors that can cause teeth to turn yellow, brown, or gray, it can be a challenge to keep your smile bright. Thankfully, a professional teeth whitening treatment from your Spring Lake dentist can restore the original gleaming hue of your teeth if you become unsatisfied with their color. However, understanding what can cause that tinge in your pearly whites can help you prevent it from happening in the first place. Your Spring Lake dentist reveals the three top causes of discoloration and what you can do to protect your beautiful smile.
Drinking Too Many Dark Beverages
Coffee, tea, and soda are hard on your teeth for two reasons. Firstly, these drinks often contain creamers, syrups, flavorings, or sugars that fuel cavity formation and lead to yellow tartar buildup. Secondly, they’re also very acidic in nature. This means that even if you drink diet soda or black tea and coffee, your enamel is still being softened, which allows the dark-colored particles to take hold in your teeth.
Fortunately, you don’t have to give up your favorite drinks to keep your smile shining. To minimize discoloration, limit exposure by finishing your beverage in a reasonable amount of time– no sipping all morning or afternoon long. When you’re done enjoying it, clean your teeth off with a quick brush or a swish of water to remove any lingering pigmented particles.
Smoking or Chewing Tobacco Products
Tobacco products are bad for almost every part of your body, including your teeth! The tar and nicotine they contain stick to your teeth and cause them to yellow and even become stained brown over time. They also drastically increase your risk of oral cancer, gum disease, and tooth loss to boot. Quitting tobacco use is by no means easy, but it’s worth it for both your smile and your overall health. Reach out to your doctor for more resources and your family or friends for support as you overcome this bad habit.
Problematic Childhood Events
There are several things that may have happened in your childhood that could cause your smile to change color now, like:
- Fluorosis: If your developing teeth were exposed to too much fluoride, you may experience a hypomineralization of the enamel called fluorosis, which causes white spots on the teeth.
- Trauma: A dental trauma from childhood that caused internal bleeding can occasionally lead to permanent discoloration of a tooth.
- Tetracycline: Taking tetracycline antibiotics before the age of eight can result in severe gray or brown staining of the teeth.
Avoiding what causes tooth discoloration is the best way to keep your smile bright. However, if you don’t like the color of your smile, a professional teeth whitening treatment from your dentist is a fast and affordable way to revitalize your pearly whites!
About the Author
Dr. Edward J. Dooley of Dooley Dental has been helping the smiles of Spring Lake, NJ and the surrounding communities look and feel their best for nearly 30 years now. With over 1500 hours of continuous education and numerous active memberships in organizations like the American Dental Association, it’s no wonder he was named one of the Top Dentists of New Jersey in 2019! He’s proud to offer a variety of cosmetic services to help you get the smile you’ve always wanted, including convenient take-home whitening kits. If you’d like whiter teeth, feel free to contact him for a consultation via his website or at (732) 974-2288.
