Pearly, sparkly, shiny, eye-catching, room-lighting, bright white is the shade most of us seek for our teeth. You know that color, the one that turns heads when the wearer of it flashes a genuine toothy grin. The market is flooded with all different types of at-home and in-office teeth whitening products and procedures to lighten and brighten the color of your teeth. It's good to be aware of the foods, beverages, medications, and otheractors that can cause tooth discoloration though.
The fix is easy, but knowing what is causing your teeth to become discolored is important. In some cases, you can prevent your teeth from becoming less-than-ideal white by just eliminating certain foods and drinks and kicking certain bad habits.
Certain factors are out of our control when it comes to keeping our teeth white though. Age is one of them. As we age, the protective enamel on our teeth begins to erode. Beneath this protective layer is the less dense dentin layer of our teeth. Dentin absorbs food color and in turn, causes your teeth to become different shades of not-white.
Certain antibiotics, such as tetracycline and amoxicillin can also affect the shade of your teeth, as well as certain medications for allergies and high blood pressure. Illnesses that affect the liver, as well as chemotherapy and radiation treatments can cause teeth to turn an undesirable shade. A third uncontrollable factor is genetics.
The good news is, if you are unhappy with the color of your teeth due to these uncontrollable factors, there is a whitening option that is perfect for you. At Parker Dentistry, we offer a variety of affordable and effective whitening options. You don’t have to live with the tooth color you have been given if you are not happy with it!
Be wary of…
Foods and Drinks that Stain Your Teeth
Coffee
Tea
Red wine
Soy sauce
Beetroot
Curries
Tomato sauce
Balsamic vinegar
and…
Foods and Drinks that Eat Away the Enamel on Your Teeth
White wine
Artificial sweeteners
Carbonated drinks
Citrus
Another important factor to consider when trying to prevent your teeth from yellowing is your daily oral hygiene practice. If you aren’t brushing and flossing your teeth at least twice a day, and you aren’t staying on top of your bi-annual professional teeth cleaning, the color of your teeth could be significantly affected. It is also imperative to drink water and brush your teeth after eating or drinking foods and beverages that can cause staining and enamel erosion.
If you are concerned with the color of your teeth, ask your dental hygienist or Dr. Blake or Dr. Steve about the whitening options that are available and best suited for you at your next visit.