Many people strive to keep their teeth looking pearly white. But over time, several factors may cause your teeth to become discolored. If you feel unhappy about the color of your teeth, it can be a serious blow to your self-esteem.
Your dentist can recommend several treatments that can brighten your tooth color. However, you can also make efforts to preserve the beautiful, natural color of your smile.
You can better protect your smile’s aesthetics when you know what can cause stains on your teeth. Read on to learn about four ways you might develop dental discoloration and what these changes mean for your oral health.
Dark Tooth Stains
If you notice dark spots on your teeth, they could be caused by the substances you consume. Dark foods and beverages get their color from naturally occurring particles called tannins. When you eat or drink, tannins transfer to your teeth, leaving dark stains on your smile.
Efforts to reduce the risk, such as sipping dark drinks through a straw or diluting the beverage with milk, can lower the likelihood but not eliminate the risk entirely. So you should pay attention to your diet and how it affects your tooth color. Red wine, coffee, and tea are all examples of items that could stain your teeth this way.
Dark or brown spots on your teeth might also develop as a symptom of tooth decay. So do not ignore these stains on your smile. Visit your dentist for cavity treatment and cosmetic dental solutions.
Yellowing in the Teeth
Your teeth might turn yellow due to consuming staining agents as well. But yellow dental discoloration can also result from enamel erosion. Your durable enamel may wear down over time, especially as you age.
When this occurs, the thinned and weakened enamel will expose the underlying dentin layer of your teeth, which can look yellow. Talk to your dentist about restoring damaged enamel and keeping your smile bright.
Dull Tooth Color
If your tooth seems to grow dull in color, you might have developed nonvital tooth pulp. This can happen if you suffer impact trauma either acutely through a blow to the face or gradually from habits like teeth grinding.
An injury that reaches the pulp can damage internal blood vessels. Then, if blood cannot flow properly to the tooth, you form what is known as a dead tooth.
This is not necessarily a dental emergency if you have no other symptoms. But it may warrant extra monitoring from your dentist to prevent an infection. Plus, you can ask your cosmetic dentist in Asheville about ways to brighten your tooth color.
White Patches on the Teeth
The formation of white spots on your teeth can disrupt your beautiful smile. This discoloration can develop when your enamel loses calcium and essential minerals that make up its structure.
Enamel cannot regrow, but you can discuss remineralization with your dentist to help strengthen your teeth again. You may also need bonding or veneers to restore the appearance of your smile.