Columbia Smiles

Causes of Tooth Discoloration

Jan 18, 2012 @ 03:37 AM — by Nicholas Pournaras, D.M.D.
Tagged with: Tooth Discoloration Stained Teeth Teeth Whitening Porcelain Veneers

If you want to have a smile that looks great and makes a winning impression, it has to be bright, white, and clean. The thing is, not everyone has a perfect smile. There are things that you can do about it, however. On the one hand, you could look into various options for cosmetic dentistry treatment, but you can also do your best avoid the different substances that can stain your teeth. The team here at our Columbia, SC cosmetic dentistry office would like to identify some of those substances right now and also provide you with treatment options for brightening your smile.

One major cause of tooth discoloration is tobacco. Whether you chew tobacco or smoke cigarettes or cigars, it can have a major affect on the appearance of your mouth. You’re no doubt well aware of the affects that tobacco products can have on your overall health as well, so this is just another reason to quit.

There are a couple of common beverages that many of us know and love that can stain the teeth. Coffee and tea can both leads to dingier smiles over time. The same is true with cola soft drinks regardless of the brand. If you’re a wine drinker, you should know that red wine will darken that smile of yours gradually. Foods such as blueberries, beets, and curries will also lead to discoloration after a while. Essentially, if it can leave a stain in white clothes, it’ll lead to stains on your teeth in time.

It has to also be noted that the aging process will also have an affect on the whiteness of your smile. This may be due to changes in your body over the years or simply the fact that your teeth have been exposed to so many staining agents over the course of your entire life.

In order to whiten your smile, it’s important that you look into Columbia, SC teeth whitening. Teeth whitening performed by a dentist can brighten a smile by several shades. For very serious stains on the teeth, porcelain veneers would be a better option.

If you have stained teeth and would like more information on how to improve the appearance of your smile, be sure to contact our Cayce, SC cosmetic dentistry office today.