If only our pearly whites could stay pearly white forever. But alas, the nature of tooth enamel is that it will discolor over time, depending on your health, eating, drinking, and lifestyle habits.
This being said, there are ways to avoid severe tooth discoloration throughout your lifetime. But just know that a small measure of discoloration is only natural, and cannot be avoided forever.
So, what causes white teeth to fade? Learn all about the top causes and how to keep your teeth in top shape in this blog.
Tooth Discoloration: Why and How It Happens
Perfectly straight, bright white teeth may be on everyone’s Christmas wishlist, but the reality is that tooth discoloration is just a part of life.
There may be certain causes you cannot control, such as how you age, or injuring your mouth in an accident and damaging certain teeth. These situations disrupt tooth enamel development which can cause teeth to discolor permanently.
Luckily, we have professional tooth whitening to save the day — if you’ve yet to try it out, learn more on that. For now, it’s best to understand the top causes of tooth discoloration and what you can control:
1. Highly Acidic Food and Drink
When your teeth discolor, it’s not always a sign of tooth damage, rot, or infection. Most of the time, your teeth are just stained by what you eat and drink.
Some of the top beverages that cause stains on teeth include coffee, tea, soda, and wine. Some types of food also create conditions within the mouth that can lead to staining. This includes starchy food items such as pasta and potatoes.
Other food items that can also stain your teeth include curry, soy sauce, tomato sauce, and other condiments. These foods create an acidic environment in the mouth, making your teeth more vulnerable to stains.
A good way to avoid discolored teeth and extrinsic stains is to brush your teeth after eating these foods or drinking the above-mentioned beverages. Try not to consume these types of foods and drinks in excess, too.
2. The Use of Tobacco Products
It’s no secret that tobacco use can cause tooth discoloration over time. Whether you choose to smoke tobacco or chew it, the nicotine in tobacco products yellows the teeth, which can turn into brown stains over time.
Tobacco use is one of the worst things you can do for your oral health. Not only does it stain your teeth, but it can lead to gum disease, recessive gums, and tooth loss when combined with poor dental hygiene.
3. Illness/Disease
There are certain illnesses and diseases that can impact the development and regeneration of healthy tooth enamel. Without a healthy layer of tooth enamel, this can cause the dentin layer below the enamel to yellow and tarnish over time.
Some of these diseases include diabetes, oral cancer, HIV, anemia, leukemia, and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. To add to this, the treatments for some of these diseases can also discolor teeth, such as radiation and chemotherapy.
4. Certain Medications
There is a list of medications that can actually do a fair amount of damage to your oral health and the color of your teeth. This is particularly relevant to developing children and the antibiotics doxycycline and tetracycline.
Certain mouthwashes that contain the ingredients cetylpyridinium chloride and chlorhexidine can also lead to discolored teeth if used over a long period of time. Be cautious when using antihistamines, antihypertensive medications, and antipsychotic drugs.
Become the Best Version of Yourself, Today
Tooth discoloration is a natural part of life — sometimes it’s avoidable, and sometimes, it’s just a part of how you might age. There are options to keep your teeth in good condition though, so it’s all about preventative maintenance and regular dental checkups.
Looking for motivational content on how to become the best version of yourself? Check out the rest of this site — we offer articles on self-improvement, productivity, stress relief, and more!