Your smile says a lot about you, including your personality, hygiene, and overall health. A bright, white smile not only indicates good oral health; it also draws people to you and makes you appear younger, friendlier, and more attractive. Unfortunately, there are many factors that can discolor your teeth and compromise your smile. These include things you can control like what you eat and others that are beyond your control, such as age and genetics. The good news is that professional teeth whitening Orlando procedures offer an opportunity for you to reverse the effects of teeth discoloration. However, the only way to get and maintain good results is to understand what causes teeth discoloration. Here is a look at five everyday factors that can cause your teeth to turn yellow, brown, or black.
Some Diseases and Trauma
According to medical experts, tooth discoloration can occur due to medical conditions that prevent your tooth dentin and enamel from developing. These conditions may develop in adulthood but are more common in childhood when the tooth structures are forming. In some cases, they result from infections contracted by pregnant mothers during gestation. But discoloration can also be a result of oral trauma from a sport or other impact injury. The damage usually decreases blood flow to the tooth, leading to structural problems, dead nerves, and infection.
Poor Dental Hygiene
The easiest way to discolor your teeth is to fail to brush or floss them regularly. Poor dental hygiene practices allow your teeth to develop food and plaque build-ups, which can cause infections like tooth decay and gum disease. In addition to harming your teeth, these conditions can change the color of your enamel.
Foods and Drinks
As you would expect, the foods and drinks you consume can have a lasting impact on the color of your teeth. Color-rich foods like beetroots, red wine, colas, tea, and coffee, and the most common culprits. However, seemingly harmless foods like potatoes, pasta, and fruits can also discolor your teeth. Fruits like oranges, for instance, contain citric acid which can compromise your enamel and make it appear dull over time.
Medications
Your teeth may discolor because of the medications you take. Some medications like chemotherapy and head and neck radiation can cause discoloration. Other drugs like doxycycline and tetracycline affect enamel formation when prescribed to children under 8 years old and can also lead to discolored teeth. For adults, common mouthwashes and rinses containing cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine have been shown to cause staining alongside antipsychotics, antihistamines, and antihypertensive medications.
Age and Genetics
Medical researchers have found a genetic component to the color of the teeth. Apparently, some people naturally have thicker enamel and brighter teeth than others and this feature may run in the family. But beyond genetics, your age can be to blame for your discolored teeth. The outer layer of enamel in your teeth wears away as you age. This exposes the underlying dentin, which is yellow.
Schedule a Teeth Whitening Appointment Today
As you can see, something as mundane as your breakfast preference can cause your teeth to lose their natural white hue. Fortunately, dental experts can help clean your teeth and restore your smiles through professional teeth whitening procedures. These treatments are varied but mostly involve the use of bleaching solutions and curing lights to break down pigments on your enamel and brighten your teeth. So, if you have noticeably stained, discolored, or dingy teeth, call your dentist today to schedule a cleaning or consultation appointment.
