Are your teeth losing their previous shine? Are your teeth no longer white and the colour is fading away? If you are dreaming of a stronger, brighter, and healthier smile, then this blog is your right destination.
Many people suffer from teeth discolouration and are looking out for effective solutions that can help whiten and brighten their teeth. So, in this blog let us get a better understanding of the reasons behind the problem that helps in providing a better and long term prevention of the condition.
Top 10 Common Causes of Teeth Discoloration
Stains on teeth is a very common problem that many experience. It can be a result of natural ageing of the teeth, or by the food and beverages that you consume or also with the oral hygiene that you maintain. Therefore, the top most common causes of teeth colouration are summarized below:
- Tea & Coffee – It is a well-known fact that tea and coffee are best in staining your teeth. Black tea contains stain-promoting tannins which could significantly discolour your teeth. Black tea stains more in comparison to coffee, which is chromogen-rich but is low in tannins. Herbal, green, and white teas have less staining effect in comparison to coffee and black tea and can actually be a better option for tea lovers.
- White & Red wine – Red wine is well known for staining or discolouring your teeth. It contains acids, tannins, chromogens which can significantly damage the enamel of your teeth and also leave external stains. Did you know that white wine has a more damaging effect on teeth colour than red wine, because of the different chemical components it contains!
- Berries – Even berries such as blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, grapes, cherries, and pomegranates also cause staining on your teeth, because of their intense colour.
- Soft drinks – Carbonated water or cola and similar other soft drinks can damage your teeth. These drinks are rich in acids, sugars, chromogens, which can be harmful and cause a staining effect on your teeth.
- Sweets – Chewing gum, hard candies, popsicles, or similar sweets are well-known to discolour your teeth and can also harm the teeth because of the presence of sugars.
- Sauces – This may sound a bit weird, but sauces can also affect the colour of your teeth significantly. Tomato, soy, and other similar sauces can cause a stain on your teeth and damage the natural colour.
- Tobacco – We do see a lot of advertisements on how tobacco affects our oral and dental health. Smoking is not only harmful for teeth but also causes staining and teeth discolouration, because of the presence of nicotine and tar in tobacco. Nicotine is naturally colourless, but when it combines with oxygen molecules, converts into yellow colour.
Tar, on the other hand, is a dark residue and when you smoke, nicotine and tar gets inside your tooth enamel through microscopic pores and starts piling up. As a result, your teeth will appear to have yellowish and brown stains.
- Poor dental hygiene – It is very essential to maintain proper dental hygiene not only to help yourself from tooth decay, infections, or any damage, but also for the prevention of discolouration and staining. Regular brushing and flossing your teeth can remove plaque and stains from tobacco, coffee, or other sweet candies. This is one of the best ways to fight staining and discolouration.
- Dental disease and Medication – Your teeth enamel and dentin can be affected by several other oral and dental diseases, which leads to tooth discolouration. Treatments such as chemotherapy or head and neck radiation can also create a serious effect on your teeth discolouration.
Medications such as antibiotics tetracycline and doxycycline can cause teeth discolouration in children. Surprisingly, even mouthwashes and rinses can also cause stains on your teeth, as they contain chlorhexidine and cetylpyridinium chloride.
- Ageing and Genetics – Advancing age and even genetics can cause teeth colouring. Enamel on your teeth gets worn away as you age and starts revealing the dentin which is present underneath, whose colour is yellow.
Genetics also plays an important role as some people are born with naturally brighter or thicker enamel than others.
Can Teeth Discoloration be Prevented?
If you want to prevent teeth discolouration, then you have to make certain lifestyle changes. These could be like cutting down on alcohol, smoking, coffee, and improving your overall dental hygiene through regular brushing, flossing, and a regular visit to your dentist, every six months.
If your teeth discolouration or staining is due to natural reasons such as ageing or genetics, then these questions cannot be answered. But you can still try out brushing your teeth with herbal-based toothpaste such as Smyle Herbal toothpaste.
Enriched with the goodness of neem and clove, Smyle herbal toothpaste makes it easy to take care of your teeth and gums. It is 100% vegetarian, vegan, and does not contain any Fluoride, Triclosan or Carrageenan. This toothpaste is entirely safe for your family and kids as well. So, why wait? Give it a try. Smile healthier and brighter!