Reasons for Teeth Changing Color

Well, you know how you got that stain on your favorite pair of pants, or that white blouse. You know that birds eat berries and like to leave a nasty stain on the nice painted surface of your car, boat, trailer or even deck. But, how about your teeth? What made your teeth change color?

Multiple Factors

There are three main types of tooth discoloration, Extrinsic, Intrinsic, and an age related combination of both. Let’s look at extrinsic first, an area that you actually had control over and didn’t know it.

Extrinsic staining

You have really enjoyed your cup of coffee in the morning or your glass of red wine in the evening. These are two major culprits towards the staining of your teeth. Then you can include a cup of tea or a cola flavored soda. The extrinsic part of your tooth is the outside enamel. These particular items have intense color pigments and will, over time, attach to the white enamel. Let’s not forget smoking or chewing tobacco; two other major contributors. With continued use the stain, usually yellow or brown, simply grows.

Intrinsic staining

This is the second factor that you really don’t have control over. The intrinsic portion of your tooth is the inner structure or dentin. The dentin can become a darker yellow if you had an accident, such as a fall as a child that traumatized your teeth. Many children are subjected to antibiotics when young and these can also cause a change in your dentin. If your tooth has been subjected to nerve mamage or experienced any decay the dentin will naturally become a darker yellow.

Age, the third factor

As you grow older the enamel will slowly become thinner. This natural process will allow the dentin to show through more prominently.

An Easy Solution

If you put value into one of your biggest assets, your smile, the discolored teeth can very easily be corrected. You can do a home remedy, or you can see a cosmetic dentist and push the envelope a little further by having the whitening done professionally. To start off on the right foot, a dentist will clean your teeth first, then do an evaluation looking for any other negative factors. Once you have a green light the whitening process is simple and will be completed in one to three visits. A type of bleach is used to work on the stains, breaking the surface area of the stain down. Everything is relative, they may not be perfect but there will be a huge improvement.

Continuing On

Proper care on your behalf will extend the life of your whitening until you need to get your teeth cleaned again, and maybe even beyond. It depends on your brushing habits and if you still enjoy your coffee, wine, tea or tobacco. There is very little risk involved, so you may be having your teeth whitened, and changing their color, on a regular basis moving forward.

Fix those discolored teeth today. Contact Iowa Dental Group Today!