Are Your Teeth the Colour of Your Summer Tan?

Discolored teeth

If you have discoloured teeth, you may feel embarrassed to smile, which makes you self-conscious. But remember that no one has naturally perfect white teeth, and it’s common for teeth to get discoloured with age. 

A variety of problems cause tooth discoloration. It’s important to understand these potential causes if you want to maintain a pearly white smile. A lot of people experience discoloured teeth. The natural ageing process causes teeth to become discoloured when the outer enamel wears away. 

This week we will briefly examine common causes of tooth discoloration and what you can do to prevent it. Next week we will look at treatment options to help whiten discoloured teeth.

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

There are many grounds why your teeth may darken. These include:

  • Genetics: One can determine the whiteness of your teeth by the enamel thickness defined by your genetics. It explains why some people have naturally whiter teeth while others don’t.


  • The Natural Aging Process: As mentioned earlier, we are all born with a predetermined thickness of enamel. With age and the natural and unnatural wear and tear our teeth go through, enamel may start to erode. It reveals more of the underlying yellow dentin.


  • Eating or Drinking Certain Foods and Beverages: Some certain foods and beverages can stain your tooth and contribute to tooth discoloration over time. A general rule of thumb is if it can stain a white shirt, it can most likely stain your teeth. So, it is a good idea to brush your teeth immediately after eating things like cherries, mango, orange, tea, coffee, wine, and coloured soft drinks.


  • Poor Dental Hygiene: When you don’t brush and floss daily and thoroughly, it can lead to a buildup of plaque and stains from the foods and drinks you consume. It causes the darkening of teeth.


  • Tobacco: Both smoking and chewing tobacco can stain your teeth and lead to tooth discoloration.


  • Trauma to Your Teeth: Any trauma to teeth, whether it’s due to sports injury, accident, or from a fall, damages the nerve in the tooth and results in discoloration.


  • Certain Dental Materials: Some fillings materials used in dentistry, such as amalgam, can stain your teeth and cause grey or black discoloration.


  • Several Diseases: There are some diseases, and their treatment can cause staining. Such examples include radiation and chemotherapy, primarily if the concentration is in the head and neck region.


  • Medications: Certain medications, such as a group of antibiotics known as Tetracyclines, can discolour teeth if given to children in an early phase when their teeth are still developing. 

Preventing Tooth Discoloration

As we all know, prevention is better than cure. While it can’t always help, there’s a lot you can do to prevent or minimise discoloration of your teeth. It includes:

  • Reducing the consumption of foods and drinks that discolour teeth or if you do consume them, brush your teeth immediately once you eat or drink. 
  • Improving your oral hygiene with thorough brushing, flossing, and regular dental cleanings and checkups.
  • Quitting smoking altogether.

Tooth Discoloration Treatment in Aspendale Gardens, VIC, Australia 

It may be necessary to see your dentist about what he can do for stains that do not disappear despite all your efforts. Aspendale Gardens Dental Care is a perfect choice if you’re looking for the top dentists in Aspendale Gardens, VIC, Australia. Contact us today to book your appointment.

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