Cosmetic Dentist in Walnut Creek Discusses Discoloration

Taking proper care of your teeth helps to keep them bright and white, but you might have noticed some color changes recently. Even when you take steps to ensure a quality oral hygiene routine, you might still struggle to maintain the luster. Here are some reasons that this might be happening.

The Food and Beverages You Consume

Foods and drinks are notorious for staining the teeth. Items such as coffee, red wine and tea have all been known to discolor the enamel. Many of these contain Chromogens, or color pigments that attach to the tooth enamel.

To avoid this, drink with a straw to ensure that the stain-causing foods and beverages don’t come in contact with your teeth.

Tobacco

There are two chemicals found in tobacco: nicotine and tar. Both of these lead to a stain that is hard to remove from the teeth. Tar is naturally colored dark while nicotine is colorless. When nicotine mixes with oxygen, however, it turns into a yellow hue.

Age

Underneath your tooth enamel is a layer referred to as dentin. This soft part of the tooth gets exposed after the enamel begins to wear off. This happens after years of brushing and wear. As the enamel wears off, the yellow color of the dentin begins to shine through.

Medications

Numerous medications come with a side effect of tooth darkening. If you are unsure if one of your medications might be the cause, speak to your doctor.

Children who are exposed to certain medications while the teeth are forming can suffer from discoloration even into their adult years. This is true whether they are a baby at the time or through the womb.

Trauma

When an injury occurs in the mouth, it is possible for the teeth to change color. This is because your tooth will produce more dentin as a result of the trauma which is yellow and darker than the enamel.

Some of these things you can prevent while others are unavoidable. Either way, your cosmetic dentist in Walnut Creek can help you to find a treatment that will make you feel better about the brightness of your smile.

Dental Care of Walnut Creek can be reached at (925) 937-9017, please call us today to schedule your next appointment.