Tooth discoloration is an inevitable result of daily eating and drinking and it’s nothing you can ever totally avoid. Regular brushing and flossing can help but will never fully be able to protect you from this natural phenomenon. Although you can never completely keep your teeth white and free from any type of discoloration, it does help for you to know what causes this unwanted effect and can possibly avoid these things. Do not fret, come into Castle Rock Dental Health to learn more about the cost of cosmetic procedures.
Drinking Dark Colored Beverages
Dark-colored beverages such as red wine and coffee are major contenders when it comes to tooth discoloration. Since most people drink coffee or tea every day the darkness from the coffee or tea grounds touching your teeth day after day really takes a toll on the color of the tooth itself. Basically what happens to your tooth as you consume these liquids is that the dark color of the beverage clings to your teeth and throughout the day slowly starts to dye the white color to a brownish tint. You could avoid this from happening if you were able to brush your teeth directly after drinking the coffee, tea or red wine; however, for most this is nearly impossible to do.
Too Much Acidity
Another factor that contributes to tooth discoloration is eating or drinking things that have too much acidity. Foods high in acid will cause the outer layer of your teeth called the enamel to break down more quickly and therefore allow more discoloration to occur. It is easier for the dark colors that stain your teeth to affect them if they are at a more vulnerable state, which is caused by the acid in foods. Foods such as lemons, oranges, gravy, and even salad dressings are all very high in acidity and will cause your teeth to discolor more quickly. You can avoid this type of breakdown by acid by simply brushing your teeth more often and practicing good dental hygiene.
Old age
The reasons behind tooth discoloration can be summed up pretty simply by the overall effect of old age. As you and your teeth age the enamel will naturally start to wear down, exposing your tooth’s calcified tissue called dentin which just so happens to be yellow in color. As the enamel breaks down, dentin begins to show which will naturally then make your teeth look more yellow rather than white as they would if the enamel was still strong. Visiting your dentist regularly and keeping your teeth healthy and cared for is one way to try and keep that enamel strong for a longer period of time. You can also use fluoride to help keep your teeth strong but be careful because too much fluoride has been shown to also create yellow looking teeth.
Although it is very likely that you will experience tooth discoloration eventually in your lifetime it’s important to know why this happens and how it can be delayed. Keeping your teeth clean through regular visits to Castle Rock Dental Health with Dr. Linda Ludin is the number one priority, white or not.
