Are you unhappy with your smile because your teeth are discolored? Bright, white teeth are ideal, but many people find that over time, their pearly whites lose their luster. They may take on a yellowish hue or otherwise darken. Your dentist in Ormond Beach is here to explain why teeth become discolored over time and what you can do about it.
Why Teeth Change Color
There are several possible reasons why teeth change color:
- Food and beverage choices. Dark foods and drinks, such as coffee, blueberries, and wine, can stain your teeth. Furthermore, acidic beverages can attack tooth enamel and lead to discoloration.
- Poor oral hygiene habits. If you don’t brush and floss as you should, your enamel will wear away, letting the natural yellow color of the dentin underneath show through.
- Smoking or chewing tobacco exposes your teeth to many substances that can stain them.
- Medications and medical treatments. Cancer patients may find that chemotherapy causes their teeth to become discolored. Infections in pregnant women can have a similar discoloring effect. Some prescription medications can also cause your teeth to lose their luster.
- Your DNA plays a role in determining how thick and how bright your tooth enamel is.
- As you grow older, you may find that your teeth no longer shine like they used to.
- It is possible that injuries can disrupt enamel formation, meaning that teeth will have a yellowish hue.
Reversing Discoloration
Whether it is possible to reclaim the bright smile you’ve been missing may depend on why your teeth are discolored. Talk to your dentist about your options for teeth whitening in Ormond Beach. You may have several choices in front of you, including:
- Professional-strength white strips. These are 80 percent stronger than the ones you’ll find at your local grocery store.
- Custom-made whitening trays. They’re fitted to your teeth, and you use the along with a strong bleaching solution to tackle those stains.
- In-office whitening. In as little as one visit to your dentist, your smile can become several shades brighter. You can go back for a second visit to experience even more dramatic results.
Each whitening method has its pros and cons. Some are more prone to cause tooth sensitivity but are very fast, while others are gentler but may take a week or two to work their magic. Whichever route you choose to a brighter smile, you can look forward to having pearly whites that are as bright as the Florida sunshine.
To maintain your new look, be sure to follow your dentist’s recommendations. You may have to avoid certain foods and beverages, use a whitening toothpaste, and return to your dental care provider for whitening touchups once in a while.
Lots of things can cause your teeth to change color, but thankfully, you don’t have to live with a dimmed smile.
About the Dentists
Drs. Andrew Nawrocki and David Brown are your dentists in Ormond Beach. They provide general and cosmetic dentistry and are happy to help their patients achieve the smiles they’ve always wanted. If you have questions about professional teeth whitening, contact our office at 386-677-1046.