Have you ever stared into the mirror trying to figure out why something about your smile feels off somehow? It could be due to the color of your teeth. Have you ever wondered why your teeth are stained yellow or brown in the first place? A dentist in Collinsville has the answers. Keep reading to learn about five of the most common causes of tooth discoloration.
1. Dark Beverages
While many Americans can’t really start their day without a cup of coffee or tea, the truth is that these drinks stain your teeth. Even if you drink lighter-colored versions of these beverages, they still cause discoloration. Dark sodas and red wine also result in stains on your pearly whites. To combat this, drink darkly pigmented beverages through a straw. The liquid will then bypass the fronts of your teeth.
2. Smoking
Among the plethora of oral and general health problems that smoking can cause is tooth discoloration. The nicotine and tar in cigarettes will turn the enamel of your teeth yellow over time. If you smoke long enough, your teeth could even become brown! If you need help kicking the habit, ask your doctor or dentist for resources to assist you.
3. Too Much Fluoride
If you accidentally ingested too much fluoride as a child, it could cause you to develop white spots on your permanent teeth later in life. This condition is known as dental fluorosis. While these white spots are completely harmless, they can be annoying when they stand out in your smile.
4. Certain Medications
If your mother took certain antibiotics like tetracycline while she was pregnant with you, or if you took it as a child, you may have developed a gray or brown hue in your teeth.
5. Trauma
Maybe you fell off your bike when you were younger and hurt your tooth. If it caused internal bleeding, that may have created a permanent stain on that tooth, even as an adult, that can only be removed with professional teeth whitening treatment.
Speaking of which, your dentist in Collinsville offers teeth whitening services that can easily brighten your smile by six to eight shades. Undo the damage caused by the habits described above and attain a smile you can be proud of!
About the Author
Dr. Michael Lavinder has more than four decades of experience in the dental field so far. For more than 30 of them, he has maintained an active membership in the Academy of General Dentistry. Throughout the course of his career, he has taken about 900 hours of continuing education courses to stay abreast of the latest techniques that modern dentistry has to offer. His practice, Collinsville Dental Associates, offers teeth whitening to brighten your smile. To learn more, visit Dr. Lavinder’s website.