One of the first things people notice about you is the quality of your smile, and it’s only natural to want to make a good impression. However, if your teeth are tinted more yellow or brown than pearly white, you might remain tight-lipped rather than grin confidently or engage socially with others.
Your dentist can provide one or more cosmetic services to improve your appearance, but if you’re not careful, you could restain your enamel. Continue reading to learn 3 potential culprits that can leave your teeth looking worse for wear and how to avoid them!
Cause #1: Diet
Although some dental discoloration is due to reasons beyond your control, like genetic conditions or medical concerns, many patients develop problems due to their habits. For example, consuming overly dark foods and beverages over time can eventually deepen the hue of your enamel. This is because pigmented particles cling to plaque on your pearly whites, leaving your teeth looking dirty.
You can avoid this by watching what you eat! Limiting your consumption of ingredients known to stain, like berries, coffee, tea, or wine, keeps new stains from developing.
Cause #2: Poor Oral Hygiene
Did you know that enamel is the hardest substance produced by the human body? It’s even stronger than bone, but that doesn’t make it completely invincible to harm. Acids from the food you eat and bacteria in your mouth can wear down your protective outer layer, allowing germs to penetrate the surface. As it thins, more of the darker layer of dentin beneath shines through, leaving your teeth looking muddy.
Brushing and flossing twice daily is essential for preserving your oral health and your appearance. Consistently removing plaque, leftover bits of food, and other debris helps prevent common problems like cavities, gum disease, and other types of damage. It strengthens your teeth and gums to avoid thinning enamel.
Cause #3: Smoking
According to findings published by the CDC, current smokers are twice as likely as former smokers and four times as likely as those who never smoked to develop poor oral health. Tobacco products contain nicotine and tar, which can tint your teeth.
Not only that, but nicotine is a vasoconstrictor, meaning it reduces your blood flow and oxygen levels and renders your body unable to deliver essential nutrients to your teeth and gums. At the same time, it suppresses your immune system so you’re less likely to fight off infections, like gum disease. Quitting smoking is an effective way to reduce the likelihood of many dental dilemmas, like discoloration, cavities, periodontal problems, and even oral cancers.
Fortunately, your dentist offers several treatments that can improve your appearance, so whether you opt for teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, they can give you a beautifully bright grin to improve your confidence.
About the Practice
At Advanced Smile Design, you and your family benefit from two dentists with 15+ years of combined experience helping people of all ages build and maintain happy, healthy smiles. Dr. Patel and Dr. Gandhi collaborate to provide a comprehensive menu of services to meet all your needs under one roof, including cosmetic procedures. They take the time to get to know you, then tailor treatments to your unique needs for truly individualized attention. Then, they combine a caring approach with state-of-the-art technology to improve your comfort while delivering accurate results meant to last. You can request a consultation on the website or by calling (215) 659-3334.
