Here's Why Having Discolored Teeth Isn'T Necessarily Your Fault

Having stained or discolored teeth often carries some stigma with it. You might feel like you're eating the wrong things, engaging in bad habits, or otherwise not taking very good care of your oral health. Maybe you've tried using a whitening toothpaste and the problems are still visible. The thing is, having discolored teeth doesn't always mean that it's something you've done to yourself. Here's one potential cause for your teeth looking the way that they do that's no fault of yours.

Not Staining

When people see yellow or brown teeth, they often assume that those teeth are stained. However, that's not always the case. While staining can make teeth look this way, oftentimes it's just a matter of wear and tear on your teeth. Believe it or not, this kind of damage can cause your teeth to look less than white

Wear and Tear

Wear and tear can change the color of your teeth by thinning out your tooth enamel. This tough substance protects your teeth from outside invaders and from damage, but when it wears down, it can allow the inner tooth to shine through.

Underneath white enamel, the remainder of your tooth isn't actually white. It tends to be brown or yellow, as that's simply the natural color of dentin, the next layer down. There's nothing wrong with dentin being this color, and it doesn't mean that you've been taking poor care of your teeth.

How it Happens

Most people experience some enamel thinning as they age simply from the use of one's teeth. Acid and harsh brushing can make enamel wear down more quickly, so those are two things you can potentially control. However, if you don't drink acidic beverages much and use a light touch when brushing your teeth, it doesn't mean that you won't experience this problem.

Discolored teeth are more common in older people in part because their enamel tends to thin out naturally. Seeing your dentist regularly can help to avoid this problem. Using whitening products at home won't typically help with this issue, simply because at-home whitening products tend to focus on removing surface stains. However, a dentist can get your teeth back to how they used to look.

If you think that your teeth have weak or thin enamel, you should contact a dentist. Dentists can help to strengthen enamel by restoring their lost minerals, and in severe cases, they can use other methods to repair and protect your teeth from further damage and discoloration, by using treatments like veneers or fillings to cover the damaged portions of your teeth. From there, if whitening is necessary, they can give your teeth a brilliant sheen and quick results that you wouldn't be able to get from at-home products. Talk to a dental clinic like Pinon Hills Dental if you're dissatisfied with the color of your teeth to get to the root cause and to have it corrected.

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