Your smile is one of the first features people notice about you, so making sure it looks its best just makes sense. The problem: Sometimes no matter what you do, you can wind up with tooth stains and discoloration — even if you’re careful about the foods and drinks you consume.
At Dental Arts of Hoboken, Michael M. Moawad, DMD, and Jessica Listwa, DMD, offer both in-office whitening and at-home whitening kits using professional-strength ingredients to help patients in Hoboken, New Jersey, enjoy optimal results. In this post, our team helps you learn why teeth lose their whiteness — even when you do all you can to avoid it.
Foods, beverages, and tobacco
These are probably the best-known culprits when it comes to tooth stains and discoloration. In general, foods and drinks that obtain deep pigments — natural or artificial — can wind up leaving some of those pigments behind. When they penetrate your tooth enamel (the outer layer of your teeth), they can cause stains that can’t be brushed away.
Other foods and drinks contain high amounts of acids or sugars, softening or weakening your enamel and making it easier for pigments to penetrate. Some foods and drinks — like energy drinks, wine, and coffee — contain both acids and pigments, making them even more likely to leave stains behind.
Tobacco products contain nicotine and other chemicals that turn teeth yellow or brown over time. Plus, these products can lead to gum disease and a smile that looks older and more worn.
Medications
Some medications, including certain antibiotics and allergy medicines, can cause staining, too, especially when used for prolonged periods of time. Unlike foods and beverages that leave stains in the outer layers of your tooth material, medications cause discoloration inside the tooth (sometimes called intrinsic stains).
Age
Dull-looking teeth tend to be more common as we get older. That’s because years of wear and tear take a toll on your tooth’s outer enamel layer — the layer that makes your teeth look white. As enamel wears down, more of the underlying dentin shows through. Since dentin tends to be yellower than enamel, this can leave your teeth looking dull, dingy, or discolored.
Inadequate oral hygiene
If you’re not using proper brushing and flossing techniques, you could be leaving plaque behind — and that plaque can quickly turn into hard, yellowish tartar deposits that can’t be removed with brushing and flossing. Improving your habits and sticking with twice-yearly professional cleanings can help prevent tartar and polish teeth so they look well cared for.
Tooth damage
Superficial cavities and deep decay can both cause a tooth to look discolored, and so can other types of tooth trauma. In these instances, a tooth-colored filling may help, or you may benefit from a veneer or crown to cover the tooth and provide added strength and protection.
Professional whitening, veneers, and crowns are all great ways to correct tooth discoloration, no matter what’s causing it. To learn how we can help your smile look its best, call our office at 201-429-3641 or request an appointment online today with the team at Dental Arts of Hoboken.