You only have one set of adult teeth, so taking good care of them is of the utmost importance. You know to brush twice a day and floss daily, but there is so much more to dental health. On this website, we've compiled articles to help you boost your personal knowledge of oral health and dental care. From brushing tips to ideas for snacks that won't case cavities, it's all here. We are not dentists, but we scoured the internet for factual information, and we're confident your dentist will approve of what you're learning. Grab your favorite tooth-healthy snack, and start reading.
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The Truth About Teeth
If You Take Good Care Of Your Teeth, Why Are They Still Becoming Discolored?
Lonnie Davidson
For some people, stained teeth are a direct result of neglect of oral health. Taking poor care of your teeth can lead to your teeth becoming stained, discolored, or worse. However, if you know that you've been taking good care of your teeth all along and are still seeing discolored teeth when you look in the mirror, what's to blame? Here's what you should know and what you can do about it.
What You Eat
Brushing and flossing can do a lot to keep your teeth from looking bad. As plaque and tartar accumulate, it can make your teeth look yellow or stained. Ensuring that this doesn't build up will help to prevent this from happening, but what you eat and drink is nearly as important.
Certain foods and drinks contain pigments that can be absorbed by the surface of your teeth, the enamel. Think of it as like dyeing a piece of fabric. If your teeth are exposed to these substances frequently, it can change the color. This includes things like wine, juice, soy sauce, and anything containing tomato.
Age
However, even if you avoid certain foods, most people will experience some level of teeth discoloration in their lives simply due to getting older.
What's considered to be teeth staining often isn't. Instead, it may be the interior surfaces of the teeth shining through the enamel. As you get older, especially if you brush your teeth harshly, the enamel tends to become thinner. When this happens, you can end up seeing the dentin underneath, which is usually brown or yellow. This can result in teeth looking bad even when they're sparkling clean.
What to Do
If you're not happy with how your teeth look, a dentist can help. It's a better choice than reaching for a teeth whitening product, because you don't know what's behind your discoloration and if the product will help. Professional-grade teeth whitening tends to work better anyway, and your dentist will ensure that your teeth are healthy so that it's safe to whiten them, which is sometimes a problem with thinning enamel. In this case, the dentist will treat the underlying problem first and then set you up for a whitening treatment.
It's understandable to feel frustrated by your teeth not looking their best, especially if you've been doing a good job of taking care of them. Thankfully, the fix is quick and easy. By reducing your consumption of staining foods and drinks and seeing a dentist for touch-ups, you can get back the white smile you remember having in years gone by.
For more information about teeth whitening, contact a local dentist today.
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