Do you strive to keep your smile looking pearly white and bright? Many factors may threaten the color of your teeth. If you suffer from tooth discoloration, you could feel a blow to your confidence. With help from your dentist, you can find teeth whitening solutions that will enhance your tooth color if this happens.
But dental discoloration can manifest in multiple ways. And the way your teeth may change in color could indicate an underlying oral health problem.
Make sure you visit your dentist to find the right treatment for your cosmetic and restorative dental needs in the wake of tooth stains. Read on to learn details about four types of discoloration that may form on your teeth and what they can mean for your overall oral health.
Dark Dental Stains
If you form brown or black stains on your teeth, they can appear stark and disruptive against the white of your natural teeth. In many cases, this dark discoloration comes from staining agents in items that you consume, such as dark-colored foods and beverages like red wine or coffee.
The substances that give these drinks and foods their color can transfer to your teeth and absorb into your enamel where your toothbrush cannot reach to get rid of them. You will need a dentist to use bleaching tools to lift and remove these stains to make your smile bright again.
These dark stains might also form if you suffer from tooth decay. Your dentist can eliminate this type of discoloration when they treat cavities and restore your oral health. Ignoring these stains might mean decay will advance, so seek prompt evaluation if you notice this change in your smile.
Yellow Teeth
If your teeth start to appear yellow in color, this can also happen due to staining agents in foods, beverages, and other substances. But yellowing teeth can also occur if you suffer from enamel erosion.
Enamel serves as a durable outer shield for your teeth, but under pressure, enamel might wear down over time. This can reveal the more vulnerable interior of the teeth, which is more yellow in color. Enamel will not regrow on its own, so you will need to talk to your dentist to resolve this issue.
Grey or Dull Tooth Color
When the teeth start to turn dull in color or seem grey, this could be due to an injury within the tooth pulp. The pulp of the tooth contains blood vessels that keep the tooth healthy. If the vessels suffer damage or a blockage, then blood cannot flow as needed to the tooth.
When this happens, the tooth becomes non-vital. While not always a dental emergency, it can affect the tooth’s color and make it more prone to infection. You can discuss monitoring the tooth’s health with your dentist as well as look into cosmetic enhancement possibilities.
White Spots on the Teeth
You want to keep your teeth looking white and bright. But creamy white spots on the surface of the teeth can disrupt the smile’s appearance. This type of discoloration can form if you suffer from demineralization, or a loss of calcium within the teeth.
This weakening of the teeth can affect your dental health too. Discuss preventive dental care that can fortify your teeth and make your teeth look even in color once again.