Are your teeth the color you want them to be? It is natural for teeth to become discolored over time from eating pigmented foods and aging, but it is still something so many people are self-conscious about. Have you ever thought about what the color of your teeth may say about you and your lifestyle? Continue reading to learn more from your dentist in Dublin about why your teeth are the color they are as well as what you can do to whiten them.
What Do the Various Tooth Color Shades Indicate About People?
Find out what some common tooth shades can tell us about oral health:
- White: When you are young and growing, it’s when your teeth look the whitest. Children aren’t exposed to as many pigmented foods and beverages, and primary teeth are more calcified than permanent teeth are. The layer of the tooth that is beneath the enamel, known as dentin, is a much lighter yellow color in baby teeth than adult teeth, so it does not show through as much.
- Light-Gray or Light-Yellow: Permanent teeth aren’t as naturally white as baby teeth because of the tooth’s structure. The dentin is more yellow, and the enamel darkens as you age. Ultimately, when the dentin begins to show through your teeth over time, they are likely to end up a light-gray or light-yellow color.
- Yellow: Even though your teeth darken as you age, if yours appear to be more on the yellow side it probably means they have become stained by the foods and drinks you are consuming. If you like to drink coffee, tea, or red wine on a regular basis, this yellowish change can occur.
- Brown: If your teeth are brown, this is likely the result of yellow stains worsening. It can happen due to age, injuries, medication, and genetics. Some common culprits are smoking and chewing tobacco.
What Can Your Dentist in Dublin Do About Tooth Discoloration?
In addition to regular brushing, flossing, rinsing, and dental cleanings, you could opt for teeth whitening with your dentist to reverse discoloration. Purchasing teeth whitening kits over the counter doesn’t usually give you the dramatic results that you are hoping for. Instead, you could ask your dentist in Dublin about in-office teeth whitening or at-home whitening kits.
When you need immediate results where your teeth are whitened many shades in one appointment, in-office whitening is the way to go. With take-home kits, you wear gel-filled trays as directed for 10-14 days until you reach the shade you desire.
If your tooth color isn’t satisfactory, you don’t need to accept it as your new reality. Your Dublin dentist can offer multiple avenues to reach the gleaming smile you desire!
About the Practice
At Distinctive Smiles of Dublin, our practice focuses on a positive experience for our patients. Our dentists and staff appreciate the confidence placed in us, so we take extensive continuing education courses to improve the services we offer. When your teeth aren’t as white as you’d hope for, all you have to do is decide if you want to pursue in-office whitening or select an at-home kit. To regain your bright smile, you can make an appointment on our website or by calling (614) 792-1800.