You may have noticed your teeth beginning to discolour. Perhaps they’re just not as white as they once were or they’re turning a completely different colour altogether. There are many reasons why this could be occurring. Luckily there are also plenty of ways to get your pearly white smile back. At Boon Dental, we offer professional teeth whitening that can take your teeth multiple shades whiter in just one session.
In this article, we discuss the different reasons your teeth may be changing colour and what that could be saying about your oral health.
Why do teeth get discoloured?
There are many reasons why the colour of your teeth could be changing. The reasons include factors such as diet or lifestyle, but also age and oral health issues. Let’s discuss a few of these reasons in more detail:
Food and beverages
It’s no secret that coffee and red wine can stain your teeth. But there are other culprits like coca-cola and even certain fruits and vegetables. This is completely normal and almost unavoidable (unless you give up every type of staining food/drink). Luckily, you don’t have to give up your morning cup of coffee, just make sure you brush your teeth regularly. You may also want to add in some teeth whitening to keep them extra sparkly.
Tobacco use
This is one that you might want to consider giving up altogether. The tobacco in cigarettes can turn your teeth yellow at quite a fast rate. It’s also not good for your oral health and can cause many other very serious issues.
Poor dental hygiene
Having good dental hygiene is good for both your smile and oral health. People who don’t brush their teeth regularly may notice them beginning to discolour. Good dental hygiene means:
- Brushing your teeth twice a day for two minutes
- Flossing once a day
- Using a fluoride-based toothpaste
- Limiting sugar intake
- Visiting your dentist for regular check-ups
Age
This one is unavoidable. Our teeth are never going to stay as white or bright as they were when we were children. Even with the best dental hygiene, your teeth will still begin to show signs of age. It’s a natural process that is also influenced by outside factors like diet and lifestyle.
So, what does my teeth colour say about my oral health?
It’s important to remember that your teeth colour can be due to outside influences and even genetics. But here is a guide to what the different colours can mean:
White teeth
You’ve probably noticed that babies have super white teeth. This is because baby teeth are more calcified than adult teeth. If you see an adult with super white teeth, it may be due to exceptional dental hygiene, genetics or cosmetic treatments.
Yellow teeth
Yellow teeth typically indicate staining. It means your enamel (the outermost layer) has been affected by diet or lifestyle. It can also indicate plaque or tartar build-up. A trip to the dentist for a professional clean and excellent dental hygiene can help to reverse the yellowing. It’s the easiest type of discolouration to fix as it only affects your teeth’s surface.
Light grey teeth
You may notice your teeth appear darker or slightly grey when you lose your baby teeth and gain your permanent ones. This is natural. Your permanent teeth are more complicated and structured so show more colour. They also continue to darken with age. It’s normal and unavoidable.
Brown teeth
If your teeth appear brown, it’s likely due to prolonged and ignored staining. Smoking also causes your teeth to turn brown after long-term use. It may also be because of injury, certain medications or genetics. However, if you see brown spots this can indicate tooth decay, so make sure you contact your dentist.
What treatment options are available to whiten teeth?
There are plenty of whitening options available on the market. Some are simply flash marketing, but others do truly work. The quickest and most effective way to get a whiter teeth colour is with professional teeth whitening. This can only be done by a qualified dentist. It takes about an hour, and you’ll leave with sparkly white teeth.
You can also try out a whitening toothpaste but avoid over-using it. You should only use it a few times a week as the whitening ingredients can be damaging. It’s also important to avoid whitening toothpaste with abrasive ingredients such as charcoal. These types of ingredients can damage the surface of your teeth.
How Boon Dental can help
Your teeth colour can affect your self-esteem and make you feel self-conscious. At Boon Dental we believe everyone should feel proud to show off their smile. Luckily, with modern dentistry, it’s easy to get your pearly white teeth back. If you’d like to know more about teeth whitening, give us a call.