4 Reasons Why Your Teeth Aren't As White As They Were

Dentist Blog

If you've noticed that your smile doesn't seem as bright as it used to be, then your teeth might have changed colour. They might more of a yellow shade. Or they might have staining on them.

This can happen for a few different reasons. What are they?

1. You Aren't Paying Enough Attention to Your Teeth

It's easy to become a little complacent about cleaning your teeth. People sometimes get out of the habit of brushing twice a day. Or, they might not always put the right amount of effort into the process.

If you don't clean your teeth thoroughly and at the right times, then they won't look as clean and bright as they should. A layer of plaque can make teeth look a little grey. If this plaque hardens into tartar, then it might make your teeth look yellow.

2. You Smoke

Smoking isn't just bad for your general health. It can also affect your teeth. From a cosmetic point of view, tobacco will turn teeth from white to yellow or even brown.

So, if you're a smoker or use tobacco products, then this could the reason your teeth aren't as white as they used to be. Tobacco stains the teeth, and you'll find it hard to remove this discolouration at home even if you stick to a stringent toothbrushing routine.

3. You Eat and Drink Dark Things

The things you eat and drink can affect the colour of your teeth. For example, if you eat a lot of dark-coloured foods like berries, then they can stain your teeth. Dark drinks like coffee, red wine and black teas have the same effect.

Here, your teeth look duller because of staining. They don't change colour as such, and, if you have them cleaned, then you could restore their natural whiteness.

4. You Have Health Problems

In some cases, your health can affect the colour of your teeth. For example, if you have an eating disorder where you vomit a lot, then stomach acids can erode your tooth enamel. Your enamel gives your teeth their surface whiteness. If you lose some, then the underlying yellow colour of the tooth is more obvious.

Some medications can also change the colour of your teeth. For example, some antihistamines cause staining. Some drugs give you a dry mouth as a side-effect. If you have a dry mouth, then your oral health suffers because you have a reduced flow of saliva. This can also change the colour of your teeth.

If you want to whiten your smile again, then contact your dentist. They can help you work out where the problem lies and find a solution for it. For example, you might simply need a professional clean to remove stains. Or, you can have a teeth whitening treatment to make your smile dazzle again. 

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22 April 2022

Dental Checkups: Preparing for Your Checkup

Hi! My name is Sarah, and as a busy professional, I understand the importance of making the most of my time. That includes everything from having productive working lunches to making the most of my dental checkups. I have created this blog to help you maximise your dental checkups. In these posts, you can learn how to prepare for your checkup, which questions to ask during your checkup and more. I am also going to have posts explaining why checkups are critical to your dental health as well as the health of your entire body. Happy reading, and thanks for visiting my blog!