Have you noticed that your teeth don’t seem as white and bright as they used to be? Are you diligent about brushing and flossing but just can’t seem to make a difference? There are many factors that can affect the colour and brightness of your teeth – some within your control and others beyond it. Here are some of the most common causes of tooth discolouration and things that you can do to help get whiter teeth.

Natural Causes for Tooth Discolouration

One of the leading natural causes for tooth discolouration is your genetic makeup.

Tooth discolouration is related to the formation of your teeth, which is controlled by your genetics. The outer layer of your teeth is called the enamel, which just happens to be the hardest substance in your body. Enamel is naturally porous, and the size of the pores in your enamel can affect how easily your teeth stain. Enamel with smaller pores can be resistant to staining while enamel with larger pores can be more prone to it.

Tooth discolouration is related to the size of the pores in your enamel and the types of foods and drinks you consume. Which brings us to our next point …

 

How Your Diet Affects the Colour of Your Teeth

It’s probably no surprise that your diet has a significant impact on tooth discolouration. While solid foods can cause teeth staining, drinks are the more likely culprit.

Coffee, red wine, cola-based soft drinks and black teas are some of the most common drinks that can cause teeth staining. Foods like dark berries and pasta sauces are also known to stain teeth, too, but the drinks we listed are more commonly consumed than these types of foods.

Your diet is one of the factors that affect tooth discolouration that you have control over, so if you want to work towards brighter teeth then consider avoiding the food and drinks that cause tooth discolouration.

 

What You Can Do to Whiten Your Teeth

There’s probably not a lot you can do about altering your genetic makeup, so here are a few things that you can do to help whiten your stained teeth:

• Avoid Teeth Staining Foods – avoid coffee, red wine, black teas and cola-based soft drinks that are known to stain teeth to help reduce tooth discolouration.
• Brushing & Floss Regularly – would we really be doing our job if we didn’t include regular brushing and flossing as part of our recommendations? No, we would not! Brush and floss after every meal to help remove any residual tooth-staining substances from your mouth.
• Use the Proper Dental Hygiene Tools – make sure that you’re using a good toothbrush and the good quality toothpaste when you brush. You should replace your toothbrush at least every three months or when you start noticing the bristles beginning to permanently bend outwards.
• Visit Your Family Dentist! – we have several different teeth whitening options for different timelines and budgets. We have a take-home tooth whitening kit that can help whiten your teeth over the course of a few weeks, but if you’re looking for immediate results then we also offer in-office Zoom whitening treatments. Contact us now and let’s talk about which option is best for you!

 

If you asked them, most people would want a whiter, brighter smile. Who wouldn’t? But there are factors that affect the colour of your teeth, some within your control and others beyond it. Your genetic makeup is one such factor that is beyond your control, but what you eat and drink and your oral hygiene habits are other factors that you do have some control over.

Orion Dental is a full-service family dentist with offices in Milton and Scarborough, so if you’re looking for some help on teeth whitening options, give us a call at our Milton dental office at (905) 636 – 9770 or our Scarborough dental office at (416) 291 – 0306 and let us help you get the brighter, whiter smile that you deserve!