Reasons of the Teeth Discoloration

March 3rd, 2009 by TeethBleachingPlanet | Filed under Dental Hygiene, Facts

It’s possible that stained teeth are not entirely your fault.

When you consume foods and condiments that are rich in pigments, it can cause your teeth to stain. Some examples of these foods are berries and cherries, other dark fruits, balsamic vinegar, soy sauce, and curry. The pores of your teeth will open if you eat acidic foods. When this happens, your teeth will stain easily.

Drinking certain liquids, like coffee, tea, and red wine can cause staining of the teeth. Remember that anything that will discolor a white T-shirt may also discolor teeth. Keep a look out for very hot or very cold liquids. Changing the temperature of teeth causes them to expand and contract. This permits more staining to occur more easily.

Of course, smoking contributes to stained teeth. Nearly all of the discoloration caused due to smoking can be removed if you see to it in the beginning, but as time passes, the staining goes deeper into the enamel and then becomes harder to remove. Smoking will stain your teeth in the long run.

Chewing Tobacco: Individuals who chew tobacco sometime have brown or black stains on the enamel. The stain is seen more on the bottom teeth where the tobacco is kept.

Bad Dental Hygiene: Brushing, flossing, lack of regular dental check-ups and cleanings will help in keeping your teeth strong and white.

Brushing Too Much: What? Can people really brush their teeth too much? Yes, of course. When you brush to much with an abrasive toothpaste using a hard bristle brush, you will brush the enamel off your teeth.  You should know that most whitening toothpastes are quite abrasive. When this happens the dentin shows. This has a yellow coloration, which shows through. For this reason, dentists advise the use of soft bristle brushes.

Illness and Medications: When you take medications like acne treatments, antihistamines, arthritis medications, and antidepressants, it can cause your teeth to become discolored.  This is especially true of long term use.

Discoloration can be caused by some antibiotics such as doxycycline and tetracycline. Younger children are more at risk of this.

There can be a discoloration of teeth as result of chemotherapy.

Teeth can be stained by mouthwashes that contain the chemicals cetylpyridinium chloride or chlorhexidine.

Aging: As people get older, their teeth show more stains. The enamel also becomes thinner through wear and tear. When this happens, the dentin layer of your teeth shows through the enamel. This will make your teeth look dull and yellow.

Fluoride: Drinking water that contains high fluoride levels may cause tooth discoloration. This happens a lot with children who swallow their toothpaste when they brush, causing fluorisis. Chalky white patches on the teeth can be caused by fluorosis.

Genetics: Some individuals have a brighter enamel on their teeth naturally.

Injury: A very hard hit may lead to nerve problems, which in turn may discolor a tooth. Although whitening lightens the tooth temporarily, it really needs to be seen by a dentist.

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